Will Smith went low by slapping Chris Rock. In his attempt to justify it, he went even lower | Joseph Harker

The actor cited the father of Serena Williams as another man who protects his family. But there is no comparison: Smith has no excuse

Will Smith has spoken. Chris Rock has spoken. The Academy has spoken. Even the Los Angeles Police Department has spoken. But the person I really want to hear from has remained silent.

What does Jada Pinkett Smith think of her husband slapping the Oscars host? What was it that caused Smith to switch from laughing at Rock's joke about her GI Jane" look to, less than 10 seconds later, striding onstage, slapping him, marching back to his seat and shouting to the stage, Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth". After which, in case anyone watching might still have thought it was some kind of pre-rehearsed skit, he shouted the same thing again, and twice as loud.

Joseph Harker is the Guardian's senior editor, diversity and development. He is a former editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper Black Briton