The so-called “slap heard round the world” might have confused the international audience that watched the Academy Awards. Laughing a moment earlier at Chris Rock’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, Will Smith got out of his chair, walked up and smacked Rock in the mouth. Constant replays showed the incident. But live viewers in the United States saw the video feed stop and lose sound, getting only a sense that Will Smith had hit Rock. Some viewers might have wondered whether they saw a comedy sketch interrupted by a poor video feed. But then came Rock, clearly shocked, trying to explain he meant only to tell a joke, and in response, Will Smith dropped the “F” bomb. Twice. Less than an hour later, Will Smith gave a tearful acceptance speech upon receiving the Best Actor Oscar. He held himself up as a role model. He held himself up as a victim of free speech. He apologized to everyone, except Rock, and then the actor ...