‘Today’ host Craig Melvin roasted for Will Smith ‘rage’ commentary

nypost.com:

Will Smith’s Oscar punch aided “this long-held perception…that men of color can’t control their rage and anger.”Melvin has talked openly about raising his biracial children as a black father and called the Best Actor winner’s actions “really disappointing.”The 42-year-old host has two children, son Delano, 8, and daughter Sybil, 5, with his white sports anchor wife Lindsay Czarniak.He said on air Monday morning: “It was really disappointing.”“If you’re rearing a boy, especially in this country, you spend so much time talking to our kids about keeping your hands to yourself, controlling your emotions and then there’s also this long-held perception in this country that man of color, especially, can’t control their rage and their anger and to see someone who’s been that beloved for decades – it was troubling on so many levels,” he added.Melvin’s comments quickly drew comments on Twitter.

Michael Todd Brown tweeted: said: “You never cease to amaze me. You also have a duty to represent and protect ‘men of color.’ Your on air comments did nothing but add fuel to an already volatile situation and are nothing more than another form of Black on Black crime.”Jonathan Green wrote: “You are wrong Craig, Men of Color has nothing to do with Will slapping the heck out Chris Rock.

In the Black culture, if you talk about our mother, and our wife we will kick your a-s. Maybe you need to come to hood and visit again.”However, Mike Villa tweeted: “Have to say that was a very eloquent observation by @craigmelvin on the @TheTodayShow about the Oscars “Slapgate”,” and tweeter LaShawn added: “Craig Melvin was 100% correct!