Rep. Pressley: Alopecia is "not a line in a joke"

• Pinkett Smith and Pressley have both spoken publicly about struggling with alopecia, a condition in which scarring and permanent hair loss develops as a result of inflammation and the immune system's attacks on hair follicles.

What she's saying: "My life's work has always been about trauma & healing," Pressley tweeted. "I’m a survivor - I don’t endorse violence in any form."

• "Let’s talk about what it’s like to live with #alopecia," she said next. "The deeply vulnerable & difficult moments that our families see. Appreciation post for those who hold us down & support us when we’re at our lowest points. They see us, fully."
• "Our bodies are not public domain. They are not a line in a joke — especially when the transformation is not of our choosing. I’m a survivor of violence. I'm a proud Alopecian. The psychological toll we carry daily is real. Team Jada always. That’s that on that."
• Immediately after Smith slapped Rock, she'd initially said, "#Alopecia nation stand up! Thank you #WillSmith Shout out to all the husbands who defend their wives living with alopecia in the face of daily ignorance & insults." The tweet is now deleted.

The big picture: Alopecia is the No. 1 cause of hair loss in African American women, according to dermatologist Yolanda M. Lenzy.

• In a 2016 survey of 5,594 Black women, nearly half reported experiencing hair loss.

Worth noting: Smith apologized for the incident during his acceptance speech for his Best Actor win, saying in an emotional speech, "Love will make you do crazy things."

• The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has condemned Smith's actions and said it will launch a formal review.