Will Smith, The Oscars, And Warriors of Love
“I know to do what we do you have to be able to take abuse and the way people talk crazy about you and in this business you gotta have people disrespecting you and you gotta smile and act like that’s okay….”
- Will Smith, Oscars Acceptance Speech for Best Actor, 2022
Happy Spring Everyone!
It never ceases to amaze me how wisdom can arrive in the most unexpected moments.
And, on Hollywood’s biggest night, here it came.
Did you see it?
LOVE was in the house last night at the Oscars, and there was plenty of standing.
From the rich and diverse slate of nominees and winners, to the always tweetable acceptance speeches, I could feel the wheels of evolution turning on an old industry that is trying its best to keep up with an ever-changing world.
No question, the Oscars have had their share of triumphs and scandals as celebrities have found their voices and had their hands slapped many a night. From the awkward to the endearing — we’ve just about seen and heard it all.
And, through the maze of hashtags, we’ve been able to follow the range of perspectives as each of us cultivates our own commentary on what really mattered.
The most common 2022 hashtags began with #OscarsFanFavorite and #OscarsCheerMoment and ended with — #willsmithslapschrisrock.
I promise, I’ll get there in a moment.
But before I do, I want to add a new one #OscarsStanding.
We’re living in very strange and uncertain times. Times that are being shaped and defined before our very eyes. And as we emerge out of over two years of living in captivity, we are learning how to be with each other again.
Plain and simple — but yet oh, so complex.
We are learning what to do with our masks — literally and metaphorically.
We are learning if war is still acceptable — sadly, it is.
We are learning if more glass ceilings are poised to be shattered — thankfully they are.
We are discovering in many ways how to walk again, and like a stumbling toddler we’re trying to determine where the true boundaries are. Especially as more of us arrive in our full skin.
From Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s distinctly raised “just a moment” to pause the rolling credits, to Gaga’s fierce “I got you” on the arm of Liza Minneli’s wheelchair, to Will Smith’s “keep my wife’s name out your f&%&& mouth” in the toe to toe with Chris Rock — we are becoming even more unapologetic about what we stand for and what we’re willing to fight to protect.
The days of grinning and bearing it are over. We are all in our feelings now….embracing our humanity like never before.
And if that night was any indication — it will be messy, painful, shocking, and deeply inspiring.
We are realigning with a new set of values, as we make Swiss cheese of the status quo. Now is the time to be very intentional about what we stand for, and to bring all of the passion and emotion that these moments require.
Yet, this is also the time to learn how to harness patience, grace, and compassion with ourselves and each other as we all endeavor to figure it out.
It is my hope that Will and Chris find each other and model what it takes to realign and find common ground. This is our work to do as well, to wrestle with our demons of old while we discover what is newly being awakened inside.
In his final acceptance speech, I think Will tried to explain it as best as he could.
“In this time in my life… in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world…. I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people…. I want to be a vessel for love… I want to be an ambassador for that kind of love and concern… I know I look like the crazy father, but love will make you do crazy things.”
Amen, Will. Amen.
Let’s keep finding our feet, y’all. Let’s keep redefining in the name of LOVE.
I adore you,
Rha
