To the editor:

I have been a fan of Will Smith since the ’90s. When he won his first Oscar I thought it would be just as exciting as when Leonardo DiCaprio did. But that excitement was dissipated since he assaulted another person on Live TV right before accepting his award. Will Smith should have never been able to accept the award. He should have been arrested on the spot for assault.

As a victim of bullying and abuse all my life, I am not surprised that we are so OK with what happened. But it breaks my heart and is a testimony to how broken our country is morally. Assault is wrong and should be condemned. Violence is wrong and should be condemned. But I see more and more rationalization and celebration than condemnation.

People will argue that Chris Rock shouldn’t have made a joke about Will’s wife. Well, Chris Rock has this thing called freedom of speech and has always been known for off-color jokes. Will Smith does not have the right to assault someone over those jokes.

This is no longer about Chris Rock who, I’m sure, has forgiven Will. This is about someone who is an icon and influencer showing with his actions that violence IS the answer.

I love Will Smith, but violence is always wrong and he should be in jail right now. That is the example he should be setting for kids now, not that violence is OK.

Sean Hartman

Cape Coral