Context matters. Changing the comedian, changes how measured the response appears. Chris Rock dragged Jada before at the Oscars. Rock is also equally aware of the sensitivity/politics around Black women’s hair and alopecia. Smith and Rock are roughly the same age and they’re from similar backgrounds. That context matters, and it effected Smith’s reaction and effects the pop culture response to the event.

People also try to fight stand-ups all the time in less aristocratic spaces. That’s why there are bouncers at comedy clubs. This wasn’t a comedy club that you accept getting dragged on though. This was a highly public event where light joking is expected but not in that level of poor taste.

I still don’t think violence is the appropriate response. However, I don’t think in the moments Smith reacted with calculated efforts. Very much a Britney Spears attack the paparazzi harassing her type of moment. Should Spears have attacked the paparazzi? Violence is wrong, but I get why she did it.