Dutty Berry thinks Chris Rock’s bald head joke was ‘cheap’

Will Smith's infamous slap on Sunday night at the Academy Awards [Oscars] continues to make waves, and not only on comedian Chris Rock's face.

While presenting an award, Rock joked about the clean shaved head of Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, who has alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss. Moments later, Smith strode from his front-row seat to slap Rock firmly across his face, repeating the phrase 'keep my wife's name out your f***ing mouth' once he returned to his seat.

Local cultural commentator Russhaine Jonoy Berry, better known as Dutty Berry, says though the joke was 'cheap', consideration must be given to whether or not Rock knew about Pinkett-Smith's condition.

"It [the joke] never needed to be said ... cause he's there to introduce an award. He wasn't one of the hosts, but sometimes as a comedian, when you're there you feel the need to just rift and go off the top of your head and just do something," he said. "If he honestly didn't know or was aware that Jada had alopecia, then his joke as a comedian would be innocent. But if he definitely was aware that she has alopecia and still said it, then me ago call it like it is: in poor taste."

Pinkett-Smith first announced her alopecia diagnosis in 2018. Rock had compared Pinkett-Smith's head to the military cut worn by actress Demi Moore in the 1997 movie G.I Jane.

"Jada, I love you. G.I Jane 2, can't wait to see it," the comedian said laughing. Clearly unimpressed by the comment, Pinkett-Smith rolled her eyes. Moments later, Smith delivered the smackdown.

Berry said that while he understands the rationale behind Smith's actions, the optics did not look good.

"Regarding the rationale in terms of the idea of protecting his black wife in a public stage, you know people can relate to that and empathise, but probably not this setting or this context. I don't even think Jada knew that is what Will was going to do 'cause had she known, she herself would not have wanted him to ruin his big moment by doing something like that," he said.

Though Smith apologised during his Best Actor acceptance speech for playing Richard Williams in King Richard, he later posted an official apology to Rock on Instagram, denouncing violence.

"I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong," part of the post read. But this is not the first time tensions have been high between the comedian and the Smith family. While hosting the 2016 Oscars, Rock also took jabs at Pinkett-Smith for not attending the event. Berry told THE STAR that because of those comments, Rock should not have shared his bald head joke.

"So you know it might have appeared, with him saying that, that he has an agenda against the Smiths," he said.