I agree that legally there are no grounds to punish Smith. As I said in the article, the bigger issues is how Hollywood and black leaders respond. The industry and the black community will lose credibility if Smith is not held to the same standards that white people have been held under less egregious circumstances. Equality requires consistent treatment for all.

Also, this incident is quite different than a mere bar brawl because it occurred on live TV in front of millions of people, including children who aren’t typically allowed into bars. The message this sends to our younger generations needs to be carefully considered.