Sask. comedian says Oscar joke, like most comedy, is subjective

By Teena Monteleone

Chris Rock’s joke at the Oscars about Jada Pinkett Smith was more subjective than offensive.

That’s according to Saskatchewan standup comic Kelly Taylor, who said it was Will Smith’s reaction to the joke that was no laughing matter.

“As a comedian, the first thing that went through my head was like, ‘Didn’t he get moved to Bel-Air to avoid this stuff?’ ” Taylor said, referring to Smith’s character on the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Smith smacked Rock across the face after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife’s hair loss, caused by a condition known as alopecia. The incident triggered intense opinions on whether it was the funnyman who went too far with the joke or if Smith’s reaction was justified.

“Do they think they’re better than anyone? It was a joke. Who cares? That’s how big their ego is, that nobody can make a joke about them?” Taylor said.

The comedian from Prince Albert said he personally stays away from poking fun at things like medical conditions, but said often crowds want to hear a joke without it being sugarcoated.

“I think you can laugh at anything. Humour often comes from the darkest places,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen people laugh at stuff like that before and some even like that comics address stuff like that. I don’t think it’s bad. I think jokes can get a lot worse than that.”

Taylor said comedians shouldn’t have to worry about the repercussions of their words, especially if a crowd knows what it’s getting into. Rock’s joke paled in comparison to digs by previous Oscar hosts like Ricky Gervais.

“That’s what comedians do. They joke,” Taylor said. “They booked Chris Rock knowing what he is like as a comedian.

“If I book a corporate event, I know I’m going to be squeaky clean, but if it’s a comedy club, I might be more offensive. If you don’t like that kind of joking, seek out a comedian that you know is clean.”

While the majority of humour is universal and appeals to most, Taylor acknowledged dark or aggressive humour isn’t meant for everyone and can be subjective.

“Some people love it. Some people love to get picked on and they will seek out the front row. They want to be a part of it,” he said. “But sometimes you don’t know what’s going on. Maybe Will and Jada got into a fight before the Oscars and she was in a bad mood and she would have laughed nine times out of 10, but they caught her on a bad night.”

Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said it condemns the actions of Smith, who went on to win best actor minutes after the incident, and will launch a formal review.

In a statement Monday, the film academy said it will also “explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law.”

— With files from The Canadian Press