TWISTED SISTER’s JAY JAY FRENCH: ‘It’s Time For Comedians To Stop Making Fun Of People’s Appearances’

TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French believes that “it’s time for comedians to stop making fun of people’s appearance[s].”

French made his comment just a couple of days after actor Will Smith stormed onstage during this year’s live Oscars broadcast and smacked Chris Rock across the face before returning to his front-row seat and yelling a profanity-filled threat at the comedian.

The confrontation took place after Rock made a joke about Smith‘s wife, calling Jade Pinkett Smith “G.I. Jane” in reference to her bald head, which she has previously explained is due to the medical condition alopecia.

On Tuesday (March 29), Jay Jay, who battled prostate cancer in 2018, took to his Twitter to write: “No one should ever hit another person like @willsmith did to @chrisrock . Among many issues this created at the #AcademyAwards2022 I think it’s time for comedians to stop making fun of peoples (especially woman) appearance it is degrading and unnecessary”.

When one person asked “Why especially women?”, French responded: “Because woman, in general, are judged by their appearance far more than men and culturally we, as a society, need to move past that if we are to evolve. Having said that, insult humor is part of who we are so that may never happen”.

One musician who apparently doesn’t share French‘s opinion is FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares, who has been defending Rock on Twitter. In one exchange with a fan, Dino said that Rock “didn’t know” Pinkett Smith had a medical condition and pointed out that Chris is “a comedian” who “was hired to roast the actors” as the host of this year’s Oscars. He went on to say that he didn’t think Rock‘s joke was “cruel,” explaining that “people have said worse to [their] kids”.

Other musicians, like KISS frontman Paul Stanley, have criticized Hollywood for giving Smith a standing ovation when it was announced at the Oscars that he won best actor for “King Richard”. Smith‘s Oscar victory occurred several minutes after he slapped Rock.

On Monday, Paul tweeted: “Wait… Chris Rock makes a bad joke about Jada Pinkett‘s appearance. Will Smith walks onstage hits him in the face shouts out obscenities & later in tears accepts an Oscar saying ‘Love makes you do crazy things’ to a STANDING OVATION?!? WTF Hollywood. That’s not WOKE. That’s WEAK”.

The following day, he elaborated: “What personal issues would embolden someone enough to walk onstage and ASSAULT another person? THEN how could an audience of people who believe themselves morally and socially conscious watch & spend the rest of the night cheering him? Sad and scary.”

Although most people believe that stand-up comedy is about pushing boundaries and making people laugh and by its very nature is meant to provoke, in recent years telling jokes has become controversial, with some topics completely off limits. Several months ago, Dave Chappelle faced backlash for making quips about the trans community.

Smith first apologized about the incident at the Oscars, expressing his sorrow to the Academy and his fellow nominees in a tear-filled speech while accepting his “Best Actor” trophy. A day later, he went further in an Instagram post, saying that “violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive” and calling his behavior at the Academy Awards “unacceptable and inexcusable.”

The Academy has condemned Smith‘s actions and started a formal review around the incident.

Chris is scheduled to make his first public appearance since the Oscars Wednesday night at Boston’s Wilbur Theater, where he will perform as part of his “Ego Death” world tour.

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