The Slap Hear Around the World

[BL42]

If so, I feel it highlights an interesting dynamic in their relationship and dare I day possible insecurity on the part of Smith?

Bingo.

I'm not one to follow celebrity gossip, but am aware enough to know Jada regularly and openly disrespects Will Smith. She's stated publicly she didn't really want to get married to Smith but her mother encouraged her, she openly pines for the late Tupac Shakur and says how he'll always be #1 in her heart, she has not-so-quiet affairs including a several year long one with the friend of her son and than pulls Smith into a broadcasted interview about it where he breaks down and apologizes for her.

Who knows what's Hollywood PR and what's real, but she seems like trash whereas he comes off as the nice guy trying to keep his family together and weakly excusing her actions.

When Will said "keep my wife out of your mouth", Chris Rock if he wasnt in so much shock, had a golden opportunity to respond in many soul crushing ways which its good he didnt.

Who knows - this is speculation on my part - but after Smith screams at him I get the distinct impression Rock is about to roast Smith into the next century. Rock gets a huge smile/smirk on his face and says "Woah, I could...oooh, ok..." but then decides to go on with the show. I mean Rock is a professional comedian who I'm sure has plenty of experience with hecklers. This his medium. He could've spent the rest of the show slaying Smith about his relationship with Jada, but I think (rightly) thought better of it in the moment and took the high road.

Methinks Will needs a few DB lessons
You cannot nice her nice her back especially when you do things that show you put her on a pedestal.
A woman has to respect you before she can be attracted to you

Agreed. He needs to start standing up for himself, instead of turning himself into a clown show. She clearly doesn't respect him, and he looks like a fool.

I was amazed, even shocked, at how well Chris Rock handled this. His response made Will even more immature!

and impressed by Chris Rock's composure

I couldn't agree more. He was completely caught off guard, and why shouldn't he be? Who expects an A-list movie star worth hundreds of millions of dollars is going to assault you on stage in front of thousands of people and the world watching on TV...over a joke. Yet, despite that, he regains his composure and goes on with the show professionally. No question he came off better than Smith.

Smith started the sucker punch with a closed fist - although he comes down with an open hand, the sound of the impact sounded more like a punch than a slap. Perhaps some primitive part of Smith’s brain thought better of it as the punch was headed towards Rock’s face and opened his fist.

Probably. Could you image a punch connecting solidly? I mean he's a pretty big in-shape guy would has trained as Mohammed Ali and action roles. Plus Rock is completely caught off-guard as he has no reason to expect he's about to get assaulted. As bad as the slap was a knock out punch would've been devastating. I did see some speculation as to what would've happened instead if Dave Chapelle or Joe Rogan would've been there instead of Chris Rock lol