Wednesday, September 5. 2007At Least He Knows How to Apologize Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Get Their Fag On As you might remember, I've been keeping my eyes peeled regarding how and why and when people (particularly straight folks) use "faggot" and its variations in public discourse. So here are a few news tidbits on Jerry Lewis' recent fumble into maligning the faggily-inclined: Jerry Lewis Echoes Isaiah, Apologizes (E! Online), September 4, 2007 GLAAD goes after Nutty Jerry (Queerty), September 4, 2007 Jerry Lewis Apologizes for "Fag" Slur (Towleroad), September 4, 2007 What's particularly weird about this one is that it was during a Telethon to raise money for children. In what universe is the usage of any slur in that situation even close to okay? Could you imagine him running up and down the stage going: "Here's Candy, the 'spic ho. And Larry, the nigger lardass..." What a world, what a world. Trackbacks
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Well said Big Mouth.
In his response to the incident Jerry Lewis said it was just a bad choice of words so I wonder what he thinks would be a better choice of words? Sissy? Queer? Fageleh? Lewis adds, "In the family atmosphere of the Telethon, I forget that not everyone knows me that well." Wait, so if he doesn't hold prejudices against queers why is he telling us that it's OK to say it to people that know you well? Clearly his idea of family and mine are very different.
To be perfectly honest, on the one hand I find it a little hard to come down on him, because you know he has all kinds of gay friends. I mean, he's Jerry Lewis - not Ann Coulter or Paris Hilton or Isaiah Washington - he's been in the business forever. If he were in a room full of his queer buddies, they'd probably all laugh.
On the other hand, it's not like he was at some political rally or caught on cell phone cam during a party or backstage on his set. He was in front of kids and parents raising dough for the mentally challenged... huh? What crazy backwards land are we living in these days?
Actually you're right Big Mouth and if I were hanging with him backstage or a bunch of us were having dinner I'd might be among his gay friends laughing. I think it's all about context and a sense of propriety and he since he wasn't just kicking back with some friends that's the issue as you said.
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2007-09-11 01:32
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