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Jerry Lewis' Telethon Slur Is Deemed "Unacceptable"
Jerry Lewis by Denise Truscello/WireImage.com
The 42nd annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon not only raised a record amount of donations on Monday — $63,759,478 — it also raised eyebrows when Lewis at one point referred to a piece of stage equipment as a camera man's "illiterate f----t" offspring. (See video at TMZ.com.) In response, GLAAD president Neil Giuliano issued a statement saying, "Jerry Lewis' on-air use of this kind of anti-gay slur is simply unacceptable.... Our nation's media have done an admirable job this year holding public figures accountable for their use of anti-gay slurs, and I hope they continue to do so with Mr. Lewis."
This perhaps explains the Isaiah Washington action figure they were giving out at the $1,000 level.
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Sep 4, 2007 1:05 PM
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Here we go again!
Should we expect the same ol' blame the closeted camera guy, which leads to him coming out, which leads to Jerry denying it, then saying he did indeed used the word? Followed by a PSA, which leads him to saying people are attacking him because he's white, then concludes with an interview on Larry King.
Because that is such the norm in Hollywood!
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Sep 4, 2007 1:25 PM
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I didn't hear that comment, but I watched portions of the telethon and I heard a number of things from Mr. Lewis that offended me; not specific slurs, but comments that supported sterotypes. You can try to excuse him by saying that he's "old school," coming from an era where such turns of phrase were acceptable, BUT...considering he's trying to gather public support around an important and very worthy cause, someone in his circle should be telling him that such comments are no longer acceptable in society.
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Sep 4, 2007 1:36 PM
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Who cares??? Why does this have to be national news every time someone says something offensive?? I live in a very Jewish and Black community, I've been called so many horrible things by black people just walking on the Sabbath to Synagogue. You know what I do? NOTHING. I ignore it. Some people are old school, some people don't know better, some people believe what they are saying. BUT WHO CARES.
We need to stop being so sensitive. When Amber on BB8 made those anti semitic comments I was upset but I didn't want the whole world to stop about it.
People need to worry about more important things. The man has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for a very serious illness. Let's move on, don't make this a story and hurt the guy. Who cares! Get over it.
I wonder if anyone would have even cared if he said THE REAL F WORD?
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Sep 4, 2007 1:43 PM
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Please, this is different Cee, because he said it at a telethon that was aimed at kids. THAT'S what should be offensive!
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Sep 4, 2007 1:46 PM
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If nothing happens to him, then this will be such a double standard. I'll be looking to see what happens.
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Sep 4, 2007 2:02 PM
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It's too much. It's enough. One offensive word does not make a bad man. Don't tell me your so perfect that you never thought a bad thing or even worse SAID a bad thing about any other type of person. Don't try to claim you never once reinforced an offensive racial or religious or cultural stereotype.
None of us are perfect, just because he was in camera doesn't make it any worse. He has raised 2 BILLION dollars single handily for charities for horrible illnesses. Was he wrong to say it? Yes. But thats life. Tough luck. Some people just don't know any better. When did people lose the right to be offensive in America.
I'm more offended on a daily basis by what the Hollywood "celebrities" do and say. I'm offended by how young girls look up to the Lindsey's and the Paris's and the Britney's.
Those are real problem, ruining our youth.
This is just an 80 year old man who may or may have not made one offensive comment in 30 years of doing a multiple hour telethon all the while raising BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
It's enough. Time to tell the PC Police to take a break.
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Sep 4, 2007 2:03 PM
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Wait! Cool it! I've never once said that I was perfect. I basically said that he said it at a place where he shouldn't have. I don't know where you get off bringing that into the picture!
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Sep 4, 2007 2:08 PM
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Because we all jump like animals on a piece of red meat every time someone, anyone, says anything even remotely offensive.
Also the telethon is not aimed at kids, it's for everyone. Kids don't call in pledges. I think this is a perfect example of the PC Police over reacting. We are all making this a bigger story then it should be. None of us will ever come CLOSE to doing the amount of good he has done. So let's just worry about some more important things for once.
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Sep 4, 2007 2:15 PM
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Slurs by public figures are very different from slurs uttered by uneducated street trash. Public figures choose to be so, and they should be held accountable for what they say and do.
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Sep 4, 2007 2:17 PM
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Again, I'm not dogging on him. I basically said that it was unecessary at that time, kids were there and they didn't need to here that! YOU'RE going off your knocker acting like a chicken with it's head chopped off.
Now who's overeacting?
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Sep 4, 2007 2:22 PM
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Oh, The72John, like I didn't see that coming. We're becoming a mob like pitchforks and torches cliche. Punish the offenders!! Anyone who defends them, punish them too! To the gallows!
Come on already. We're all so self riotous. You think someone os gonna say "well that 80 year old guy used a homophobic slur, it must be ok!" COME ON.
Let me repeat myself. TWO BILLION DOLLARS. That's how much he has raised for SICK CHILDREN. All the calls for punishment and demanding action is ridiculous. It's over the top. The man has earned enough goodwill that the most people should say is "Wow, I'm shocked he would say that, I hope he realizes it was wrong and someone close to him helps him understand why its offensive and that the world has changed"
... end scene.
We don't need to force him to go to rehab or kill his credibility or make him go on Larry King. Or Oprah! our reactions are over the top. We need to calm down.
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Sep 4, 2007 2:24 PM
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Big star, my comments are more aimed at the overall tone here, the overall comments here and on other tv and entertainment blog. Not everything I'm saying is aimed directly at you. I'm commenting on the whole picture here.
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Sep 4, 2007 2:26 PM
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Our reactions are over the top. We need to calm down.
Oh you mean like how you just posted that "Britney uses f-word"? Now you're being a little biased. Come off your pedestal!
Excuse my overreacting!
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Sep 4, 2007 2:27 PM
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