The New Intimacy

Did Will Smith respond appropriately?

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Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Every so often a celebrity is taken unaware by a reporter's questions or actions. In some cases the reporter is to blame — take for example the "jerk" that squirted Tom Cruise with water — and sometimes the celebrity is just being a diva, for example, Paris Hilton.

At a recent MIB3 premiere in Moscow, a reporter got a little too friendly with Will Smith and got a smack to the face.

VIDEO HERE.

Do you think Will Smith responded appropriately?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Yes, that reporter was way out of line.
43  (90%)
Yes, though I think he misunderstood the reporter's actions.
1  (2%)
Yes, for a reason I will share below...
No, it was a harmless hug & kiss.
No, he should not have used physical violence.
4  (8%)
No, for a reason I will share below...
I'm not sure.
Other/Llama
Total votes: 48
Poll is closed
05/18/2012
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Contributor: Ansley Ansley
No one is allowed to touch anyone without their permission. Period. If his natural instinct was to backhand the guy to prevent further contact, then so be it. He didn't hurt him and he didn't use excessive force.
05/18/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
And unbelievably, that reporter was still smiling when he got slapped!
05/18/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Rossie
And unbelievably, that reporter was still smiling when he got slapped!
Wouldn't you, after being slapped by Will Smith? I'm sure if you look close enough there were dollar signs in his eyes.
05/19/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
I've done a little more digging around, and according to TMZ the man "is a [Ukranian] television reporter who often kisses celebrities -- it's his schtick."

To me, the "reporter" crossed a line. I wouldn't want anyone I didn't know and didn't invite kissing me on the lips either, and I completely understand Smith's initial response. However I thought the slap was unnecessary. He'd already pushed the reporter away and there was no further threat at that point. To me, Tom Cruise handled his "incident" better.
05/19/2012
Contributor: K101 K101
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
Every so often a celebrity is taken unaware by a reporter's questions or actions. In some cases the reporter is to blame — take for example the "jerk" that squirted Tom Cruise with water — and sometimes the celebrity is just being a ... more
OMG! Wow! That blew me away! I don't keep up with celeb news at all. I could usually not care less, but the Will Smith is what caught my attention in your post so I watched it. Dayyuuuum! I can't blame Will. Hell, you don't go around slobbering on someone's dang mouth. Nobody has the right to just go up and kiss you. That's kind of risky too. He deserved the slap! If some stranger walked up and kissed me, I'd kick em' in the nuts. That is so crossing the line. He was like forcing Will's face in position to kiss him! I'd have been furious. He couldn't just settle for the hug? STINGY! lol Ha Ha.

If he'd have actually punched him and continued to, in a violent manner, I'd be unsure, but I think he handled it perfectly. He barely slapped the guy from the looks of it and if you're going to force a kiss on someone, you better expect a slap! I think it was good that he stood up, you know, showed that he isn't going to take treatment like that. I mean, he wouldn't want some douche bag forcing their kisses on his children and I think Will is a pretty good role model for his children and in general. I don't follow celeb stuff though so I may know less than I think. Lol.
05/19/2012
Contributor: K101 K101
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Wouldn't you, after being slapped by Will Smith? I'm sure if you look close enough there were dollar signs in his eyes.
Yea! No kiddin'. I figured he set out with the plan to kiss Will so he could say "I kissed Will Smith," but I bet his plans were about money.
05/19/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
I like him, he seems like a good guy. It's not like he flat out beat the guy (like some have). I can understand when someone reacts in a way that Will did, I know that stuff comes with fame but they gotta get tired of it once in awhile. And not everyone is cool with a kiss on the cheek like others are. I don't know why the guy did it but I know in some cultures it is perfectly acceptable to kiss the cheek of someone you are greeting (though some are reserved to those you know personally/well) but people should still respect boundaries, especially cultural ones that are intrusive like that, if your aren't sure, don't do it! But my guess is the guy just did it to do it. Just because Will may go on a talk show and kiss/be kissed on the cheek or greet his friends that way doesn't give a stranger the right to do it.
05/19/2012
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
I clicked the wrong one in the poll. I meant to select the second one, where he may have misinterpreted the reporter's actions. I have French friends, so I'm used to the whole kiss on the cheek thing. It's normal (though I'm unsure of the social graces of Ukraine). Though that reporter did seem overly familiar and obtrusive. I see nothing wrong with Will's actions. And, beyond that, the slap didn't seem that much. Seemed to be a regular guy slap, to me.
05/19/2012
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
Personally, I would've done the same thing, except it probably would've been more like punching the person vs slapping.

My reason for thinking he had every right to do this?

Yes, I understand in some cultures kissing is totally cool. And I'm fine with that. In fact, I have a few friends from other countries, and a way of greeting someone you care about is a quick peck to each cheek, but this guy was like full on attacking his FACE with those lips! He kept going in, even when it was obvious that our buddy Will was not wanting any of it!
05/19/2012
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Wouldn't you, after being slapped by Will Smith? I'm sure if you look close enough there were dollar signs in his eyes.
Hmmm, never thought of it that way.
05/19/2012
Contributor: VelvetDragon VelvetDragon
It didn't look like he hit him hard, either, it wasn't like he hauled off and belted the guy. It was like a little, "Hey man, pay attention, that is not okay."

But if someone kissed me without my permission, regardless of "social cultural norms", they'd better watch out, I will defend myself.
05/19/2012
Contributor: Love Obsessed Love Obsessed
The guy just kissed him on the cheek,he didn't grab his butt.I do think he reacted inappropriately I think people in general are overly defensive had that been me I would have just let that small shit go.It happens all the time especially with being little.I'm surprised he's not used to it being a celebrity.
05/19/2012
Contributor: lovekink lovekink
wow that was just awkward to watch!
05/19/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I probably would have just pushed him away, but that slap was harmless.
05/19/2012
Contributor: BG529 BG529
wow.... i really couldn't be famous!
05/19/2012
Contributor: mmmmm mmmmm
The slap was harmless
05/19/2012
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
Personal space. That's all it is.

There is being chased by the press, which I beleive has to do with their job a little. Then there is this type of situation which is uncalled for.

I know when people I don't know lean in to hug or kiss me I pull back and if they advance even more, I walk away. Then there are those that think it is funny to try to kiss or hug the foreigner. They end up very quickly learning that it is not ok.
05/19/2012
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
Will Smith was right to bop him one. It was just a harmless, letting the guy know, do not violate my space. At the end Will said the guy had tried to kiss him in the mouth too! That's just wrong from a stranger with who knows what that mouth has been up to! I would have done the same as Will did. Yucky to the extreme!
05/19/2012
Contributor: ksparkles16 ksparkles16
it may of not been the right thing to do, but I honestly would have done that too. It would of pissed me off to be violated like that.
05/20/2012
Contributor: Bullfroggy and Rose Bullfroggy and Rose
He handled it better than most would have.
05/20/2012
Contributor: G&L G&L
I would have punched the reporter he just back handed him and not that hard.
05/21/2012
Contributor: Khanner Khanner
Sorry, but if some weird guy tried to kiss me I'd hit them much harder than that, although to me it looked like he was trying to give a European cheek kiss.
05/21/2012
Contributor: Inwitari Inwitari
I think he acted appropriately. I also don't think it's fair that some people are acting like he should of let this stranger kiss him just because he is a celebrity. They still have a right to their own private space and the right to not be attacked (grabbing a stranger is a form of attack).
Just think about it this way- would people be reacting differently if this had happened to a female celebrity? People would most likely be outraged and think the guy should be arrested.
Either way- a stranger grabbing someone is not right. Dude is lucky he got a little slap and not a full blown punch.
05/23/2012
Contributor: Alx Alx
Just because Will is male it's as if HE's the one out of line, but had it been Jada treated like that? OHOhHHOHOoo, the outrage!

The reporter got what he deserved. Minimum.
05/23/2012
Contributor: zeb zeb
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Wouldn't you, after being slapped by Will Smith? I'm sure if you look close enough there were dollar signs in his eyes.
Yeah I agree with that
05/24/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Alx
Just because Will is male it's as if HE's the one out of line, but had it been Jada treated like that? OHOhHHOHOoo, the outrage!

The reporter got what he deserved. Minimum.
Jada wouldn't have been approached like that though. Especially not if Will Smith was standing beside her. I mean that would just be asking to have your face bashed in.
05/24/2012
Contributor: Falsepast Falsepast
He kissed him on his mouth OF COURSE he did the right thing. That is just...wow. He got lip raped XD
05/24/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
This Just In! Reporter Apologizes for Kissing Smith
05/24/2012
Contributor: Sundae Sparkles Sundae Sparkles
I think he did the right thing... but why did he go in for the hugg in the first place... If I was Will Smith I wouldnt just hugg anyone they might get to "emotional" and try to kiss me
06/01/2012