Halle Is Berry Sorry for Making Jew Joke on Jay

Halle Berry by Lester Cohen/WireImage.com

Halle Berry is repenting for letting slip on The Tonight Show an off-color joke. An audience member at Friday's taping tells the New York Post that Berry — while showing Jay distorted images of herself using her iMac's Photo Booth tool — suggested that a large-nosed version "looks like my Jewish cousin." (Cue awkward silence.) Berry later asked Jay to clip the quip, and he did, but her gaffe came to light anyway. Says the tab's source, "She should be ashamed of herself."

And she is. Berry phoned Page Six to explain how the joke actually originated with a Jewish assistant who made the "cousin" observation just before the taping. "I so didn't mean to offend anybody," she says. "It was just supposed to be a silly segment. I am so sorry, and I apologize." You mean you're zayt moykhl?

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Posted by

Matt Webb Mitovich

Oct 23, 2007 9:19 AM

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OK how long before the PC police get a hold of this one?
Posted by nyjoey77 Oct 23, 2007 9:38 AM Report Abuse

I am sick of people making a big deal out of some jokes!! Can we have fun, people?!!
Posted by john_c11 Oct 23, 2007 10:08 AM Report Abuse

What a complete and absolute non-issue. Which means, of course, that it will become an issue.
Posted by Nick Oct 23, 2007 10:13 AM Report Abuse

Waiting for Jesse Jackson to chime in about this injustice also.
Posted by Howstone Oct 23, 2007 11:41 AM Report Abuse

First off, way to drop the Yiddish, Matt. Unfortunately, according to Omniglot (and my mother, who's fluent), zayt moykhl means "Excuse Me".

I agree with all of you who say that this isn't a big deal, and that someone will try and make it into a big deal (where's Al Sharpton to scream about this one?) But I have to ask: Can someone please explain to me how this is different than the "nappy headed hos" comment that got Imus fired?

Posted by Howstone

Oct 23, 2007 11:41 AM

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I'm a big Halle fan and won't this against her, but she needs to be careful about what she says -- especially when she's always quoted about the inequalities against blacks and other minorities in the movie/tv industry.
Posted by Spider-Man Oct 23, 2007 11:45 AM Report Abuse

Does this mean she has to go to Rehab now?
Posted by ZZZ999 Oct 23, 2007 11:49 AM Report Abuse

First off, way to drop the Yiddish, Matt. Unfortunately, according to Omniglot (and my mother, who's fluent), zayt moykhl means "Excuse Me". Zayt moykhl, I did my best on short notice!
Posted by Matt Webb Mitovich Oct 23, 2007 12:10 PM Report Abuse

At least in Imus' case the word "hos" was derogatory; this is just about the most common Jewish stereotype and has been used to death in every conceivable media outlet. She shouldn't be apologizing for anything, except it maybe not being that funny, but that's not her job anyway.
Posted by Nick Oct 23, 2007 12:19 PM Report Abuse

Berry later asked Jay to clip the quip, and he did, Jay Leno, once again proving just how much of a gutless shill he really is.
Posted by alynch Oct 23, 2007 12:33 PM Report Abuse

Can no one take a joke anymore??? I'm tired of it, it was not malicious or mean spirited ... give me a break. Certainly there are more important "injustices" we could be spending our time on.
Posted by teri22 Oct 23, 2007 12:48 PM Report Abuse

Come on poeple - laugh a little! What ever happened to "laughter is the best medicine"?
Posted by Ranger99 Oct 23, 2007 12:56 PM Report Abuse

If Jay were Jewish, it probably would have gotten a laugh. Of course, since he is one of the worst interviewers ever, he was unable to help her out of her predicament. Carson or Letterman would have made it work!
Posted by achyfakey Oct 23, 2007 12:58 PM Report Abuse

So a black woman can make a jewish joke, but a jewish guy can't make a black joke. I love america.
Posted by PicassosLeftEar Oct 23, 2007 1:09 PM Report Abuse

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