Tuesday was the premiere date for CNN+ but chief media correspondent Brian Stelter recorded an Oscar special of his new show Reliable Sources Daily on Monday to cover the elitist spectacle and the so-called “slap heard round the world.” Amid their conversation, Stelter opined about how surprised he was that more people on the right, specifically Fox News didn’t support actor Will Smith getting up on stage and assaulting comedian Chris Rock.
“And it’s interesting, as you said, people are taking sides on this. But the way it’s breaking down is really interesting,” he said to CNN entertainment reporter Chloe Melas. And according to Stelter’s warped expectations, he imagined conservatives being for violence:
Like, I expected to turn on Fox and just hear all defense of Will Smith, you know, boys will be boys. But actually, there’s a lot of law and order arguments from the right, right now. So the right has split on how to feel about this one.
Stelter’s understanding of conservatives seems to be solely based on the caricature CNN gaslights their viewers with.
In reality, conservatives don’t support open marriage like Will and Jada Smith have, support free speech, and aren’t for assaulting people based on what they say. It’s the left that resorts to violence to shut down speakers and assail opposition.
“Yeah. It’s very interesting. I think some people actually want Will Smith actually prosecuted,” added Stelter’s media lackey Oliver Darcy.
Darcy then noted that there was also the aspect, that some on the right were brought up, that Smith was able to get away with the assault because he’s an elitist:
I’m hearing – at least seeing on Twitter and whatnot, people say that if this was anyone else but a Hollywood elite star, they would have been prosecuted are at least, you know, they would face some charges. Whereas Will Smith is able to do anything because of his celebrity status.
And to seemingly drive the point home, he noted how bizarre it was to watch the other celebrities applaud Smith later in the night. “I thought it was really strange how everyone was applauding Will Smith basically defending his use of violence and the way he acted toward Chris Rock,” he said.
Stelter called it “interesting” while Melas agreed and point out that Smith got a “standing ovation.” “But then you saw Serena Williams put her head in her hands during Will Smith’s speech and sort of like shaking her head,” she added as a contrast to the rest of the room.
Moments later, CNN senior entertainment writer Lisa France suggested that the reason no one called the police on Smith wasn’t that he was a celebrity, it was because they knew the police would abuse him.
“It’s not just about Will Smith being a celebrity and the police not being called,” she said. “As a black person, you don’t ever want to call the police on another black person because you know how black people get treated by the police.”
Adding: “So, I don’t think it’s just about the fact that Will Smith is a huge celebrity. This was, you know, something that happened between two black men. And so, you know, you got to think about that a little bit as well.”
Stelter’s response was to affirm “It’s definitely a factor here.”
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN+’s Reliable Sources Daily
March 28, 2022(…)
BRIAN STELTER: Diddy did say that [Will] Smith and [Chris] Rock did reconcile after the altercation.
And it’s interesting, as you said, people are taking sides on this. But the way it’s breaking down is really interesting. Like, I expected to turn on Fox and just hear all defense of Will Smith, you know, boys will be boys. But actually, there’s a lot of law and order arguments from the right right now. So the right has split on how to feel about this one.
OLIVER DARCY: Yeah. It’s very interesting. I think some people actually want Will Smith actually prosecuted. I’m hearing – at least seeing on Twitter and whatnot, people say that if this was anyone else but a Hollywood elite star, they would have been prosecuted are at least, you know, they would face some charges. Whereas Will Smith is able to do anything because of his celebrity status.
I think one other thing too Brian and Chloe, we haven’t really talked about the audience in the room. I thought it was really strange how everyone was applauding Will Smith basically defending his use of violence and the way he acted toward Chris Rock.
STELTER: Ah, interesting.
DARCY: I was just very strange seeing all the applause.
CHLOE MELAS: A standing ovation. Yeah.
STELTER: Interesting.
MELAS: But then you saw Serena Williams put her head in her hands during Will Smith’s speech and sort of like shaking her head.
(…)
LISA FRANCE: Can I just speak to something else? Yeah. It’s not just about Will Smith being a celebrity and the police not being called. These are two black men. There’s a racial aspect to it as well. As a black person, you don’t ever want to call the police on another black person because you know how black people get treated by the police.
So, I don’t think it’s just about the fact that Will Smith is a huge celebrity. This was, you know, something that happened between two black men. And so, you know, you got to think about that a little bit as well.
STELTER: It’s definitely a factor here.
(…)
