Everyone's talking about the slap on Oscar night, but no one is talking about what led up to it.

Jada Pinkett Smith is coping with the fallout from a new and life altering autoimmune condition called alopecia. She has been brave and open about it on social media, sharing her experiences for others undergoing similar challenges.

As people with chronic illnesses ourselves, we understand how traumatic this can be. The beginning stages of a new diagnosis are some of the most heart wrenching and vulnerable times, leaving you feeling shaken and unsure of your place in the world. Jada Pinkett Smith is publicly grieving the loss of the life she knew and rewriting her entire future even as her appearance is changing before our very eyes.

Chris Rock, someone who made an entire documentary on black women's hair, bullied her on an international stage. Shame on him. If she had lost a limb or a child, would he have ever thought to make a joke about something so horrific? Someone needed to stand up for her in that moment.

There were plenty of other chances for people to stop him. His speech was scripted; others must have read and approved it. The Academy could have cut off his mic before the words even left his mouth.

Instead, Will Smith, the man who has been by Jada's side through all her struggles, stood up for her in the way that no one else would. We should all be so lucky to have family willing to fight for us that way. He is a hero, and everyone is vilifying him for the method he used to silence the hate speech being lobbied against his wife. Everyone else failed her in that moment.

Chronic illness is not a joke. Disability is not a joke. Chris Rock owes an apology to Jada Pinkett Smith and the disability community at large for his actions that night. We need to be shining a light on people with disabilities. We need to be focusing on the real issues at hand and not just the juicy headlines. Jada Pinkett Smith is the real hero here, and we should all be lauding her courage.

Please sign our petition if you agree that Chris Rock should apologize for his outrageous behavior and cruelty towards people with disabilities.

For more information on alopecia and to donate to the cause, please visit:

https://www.naaf.org/