A GRIEVING mum who lost her son in a one punch attack has warned that the incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock at last night’s Oscars “unpicks” the good work campaigners are doing to raise awareness.

In 2010, Maxine Thompson-Curl’s life was changed forever after her son, Kristian, was killed during an unprovoked one punch attack in the toilets of K2 nightclub in Consett.

Kristian, who was 18 and lived in Burnopfield, suffered a severe brain injury after hitting his head on piping following the punch.

Read more: Academy Awards 2022: Will Smith punches Chris Rock at Oscars

He died in hospital ten months later.

Since Mr Thompson’s death 12 years ago, his mum has campaigned tirelessly through setting up the ‘One Punch UK’ group to raise awareness of the impact of one punch deaths - educating people along the way and speaking to 54,000 schoolchildren along the way.

Despite making real progress in teaching young people to make the right choices, Mrs Thompson-Curl has now reacted to the incident at last night’s Oscars' ceremony, which saw actor Will Smith strike presenter Chris Rock following comments made about Mr Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.

The Northern Echo: Kristian, who was 18 and lived in Burnopfield, suffered a severe brain injury after hitting his head on piping following the punch. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.Kristian, who was 18 and lived in Burnopfield, suffered a severe brain injury after hitting his head on piping following the punch. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.

During the ceremony, Mr Smith entered the stage after hearing comments from Rock, which referred to his wife as “GI Jane 2” – before returning to his seat and shouting twice: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth.”

In the aftermath of the incident, celebrities, and members of the public from across the world took to social media to express their shock.

While most people have condemned the ‘flashpoint” at the Oscars, the One Punch UK campaigner has expressed her frustration at setting her work with “highly influenced” young people back several years.

The Northern Echo: Since Mr Thompson’s death 12 years ago, his mum has campaigned tirelessly through setting up the ‘One Punch UK’ group to raise awareness of the impact of one punch deaths. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.Since Mr Thompson’s death 12 years ago, his mum has campaigned tirelessly through setting up the ‘One Punch UK’ group to raise awareness of the impact of one punch deaths. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Mrs Thompson-Curl said: “A lot of people have said things about the incident about the Oscars, we’ve seen an inundation of social media reactions and messages.

“While some can just post online and think it’s funny or serious or violent, we should be teaching children that there’s consequences to their actions.

“Most of the world saw last night that Will Smith can strike Chris Rock and still win an award – is this the lessons we should be teaching people?

The Northern Echo: Will Smith strikes Chris Rock at last night's Oscars ceremony. Picture: PA MEDIA.Will Smith strikes Chris Rock at last night's Oscars ceremony. Picture: PA MEDIA.

“Children are very influenced, and he could have just simply walked away. While we’ve spoken to tens of thousands of people, the work has been undone with one incident.

“Chris Rock could have tripped over, like Kristian did. Kristian did nothing wrong that evening but fell and paid the ultimate price.”

Despite seeing the Oscars incident as an “easily avoidable” moment, the One Punch UK campaigner has cited that it will be used as a case study in the future to teach children their right from wrong.

The Northern Echo: Maxine Thompson-Curl and Anthony Curl from One Punch UK. Picture: ONE PUNCH UK. Maxine Thompson-Curl and Anthony Curl from One Punch UK. Picture: ONE PUNCH UK.

She added: “We’ll do some campaign work around this incident and turn the negative impact into a positive to help people.

“We’re trying to teach people not to use their hands and to walk away or wake up with the consequences and the awful feeling that you’ve just taken someone’s life.”

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