Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Says Will Smith Slap Perpetuates Black Stereotypes
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar criticizes Will Smith, saying the star's violent outburst at the Oscars helps perpetuate “stereotypes about the Black community.” Born Lew Alcindor before changing his name when he converted to Islam in 1971, Abdul-Jabbar is well-known as an NBA legend and the league's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points. Throughout his long career, Abdul-Jabbar has been outspoken about various social issues, namely the unfair treatment of African Americans in the United States, even protesting the 1968 Summer Olympics to raise awareness about the issue.
The 94th Annual Academy Awards aired this past Sunday night on ABC, an event dedicated to honoring the year's best films, which was unfortunately overshadowed by Will Smith storming the stage and slapping Chris Rock in response to a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The joke in question teased Pinkett Smith for her short hair, the result of an autoimmune disorder called alopecia. Rock's controversial joke and Smith's violent response has started a public debate about when comedy crosses a line and if Smith's actions were warranted, with various celebrities weighing in and coming down on various sides.
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Now, Abdul-Jabbar is the latest to condemn Smith's actions, which he believes help perpetuate “stereotypes about the Black community.” In a Substack column titled “Will Smith Did a Bad, Bad Thing,” the NBA legend shared his complete thoughts on the matter, including how Smith's violent outburst "advocated violence, diminished women, and insulted the entertainment industry." Read the relevant portion of Abdul-Jabbar's column below:
«When Will Smith stormed onto the Oscar stage to strike Chris Rock for
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