Sandra Bernhard Cut From Benefit After Palin Gang-Rape Joke

BOSTON — A women's shelter on Wednesday cut headliner Sandra Bernhard from its annual benefit after she said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be gang-raped if she ever visited New York.

Bernhard's made the remarks last month during her one-woman show in Washington before Palin visited New York to campaign. Bernhard said Palin would be "gang-raped by my big black brothers" during a diatribe in which she also criticized Palin for opposing abortion rights.

Many guests at Rosie's Place, a Boston shelter, have been victims of violence, public relations director Leemarie Mosca said.

"In light of our mission, we don't think violence against women is a laughing matter," she said.

Mosca said the shelter expected to book a replacement before the Oct. 16 luncheon "Funny Women ... Serious Business."

"Right now, our main focus is our event and making sure the event is a success," Mosca said. "And for us, that means not including Sandra Bernhard at this time."

A representative for Bernhard had no immediate comment on the cancellation.

In a statement on her Web site, Bernhard said the gang-rape comment was part of a larger piece from her show about "racism, freedom, women's rights, and the extreme views of Gov. Sarah Palin _ a woman who doesn't believe that other women should have the right to choose."

"I certainly wish Gov. Palin no harm _ I'd just like her to explain to me how she can hold such outrageous views ... and then go back to Alaska," she said.

Comments

[lavisiter]

I am DEEPLY grateful for the way the executives at "Rosie's Place", (the women's shelter) have handled Sandra Bernhard and her comments about "gang-raping" Palin. And I hope it gets the attention of mainstream media. I hope it stands to instruct Sandra Berhard and other men and women who have participated for partisan reasons in this kind of psychologically violent misogyny and sexism during this election to get Obama elected. This kind of violence was also heaped on Hillary Rodham Clinton and very little was done about it during the primary. And soon after Sarah Palin was nominated it all began again and INCLUDING on the Huffington Post in more suble ways with videos trying to humiliate Sarah Palin as "a woman." It is ALL perpetuates violence against women and young girls as they watch it happen. It has also been particularly sad to hear some "feminists" who decided for partisan reasons to perpetuate the same kind of violence - in varying forms against women candidates, including the SILENCE during the primary of people like Eve Ensler who is in the business of violence against women. It has been profoundly troubling to watch and feel powerless to do anything about it. All we can each do is stand up in principle - not for partisan politics like the executives at "Rosies Place," have done. Bravo for them! Write them a letter and thank them! They "get it" when SO MANY do not !

[Palemoon]

I admire how everyone just skips right over my post, asking for information or a link to where the proof is that Sandra made this comment. She has denied, and Huffington Post ran a story denying it as well.

Now then, these most recent two posters. Where are you getting your information from? I want to be enlightened so that I can read it myself.

[charon]

Bad taste doesn't get much worse than the remark Bernhard made.

[WarriorLemming]

Thanks a lot Bernhard give the McCain camp something to talk about rather than the economy maybe you aren't so cool anymore girl.

[Ave-Gabrielle]

I can't find anything funny about a black man raping a white woman. Since so much fear is put out there about black men, black men don't need anything more or negative said about them. I can't find anything funny about rape. I love Sandra Bernhard and she's almost a political genius when it comes to comedy. But I'm not that mad at Sarah Palin over her choice to be pro-life. My vote will speak for me. Sandra Bernhard needs a reality check or some therapy because she's been WAY out there with her comedy for over twenty-years. Either she's isolated or hanging around the wrong people. And she's a mom too, so, please Sandra--right now NONE of us needs your kinds of jokes right now. Black men don't need it. Black women don't appreciate it. Not fair to Palin (who I can't stand). Not funny for any white, brown, in between women, not any color or minority or religion--not funny to women and leave the black men out of your jokes, at least for now!

[zephyrus]

woof

[Palemoon]

I'm confused.

Two days ago, Huffington Post ran a story about the Sandra Bernhard joke as being just a rumor and that it wasn't true. Even citing Washington Post's articles to prove how the joke was not only not even told, but how it was manipulated, twisted around and then used against Sandra. One of the main culprits, being Matt Drudge, who has been known to lie as much as President Bush.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/02/sandra-bernhard-denies-re_n_131326.html

That's the article I am referring to. And now this present article of Oct 4, written by the AP and not by Huffington Post, now claims that Sandra did say it.

Where's the story in which Sandra says that she did say it? Or does it exist?

[melpol]

Free speech must be protected even if offensive.

[goldbry]

Yes, her speech is protected. She can say whatever she wants, and I would defend her right to anyone. That doesn't mean a group committed to fighting violence against women has to provide her the platform.

Joking about gang rape is best done somewhere besides at a women's shelter benefit. Believe me, a lot of the women they're trying to help have been raped in terrible ways, and even a joke can hurt.

[melpol]

I am for absolute freedom of speech. It is the best way of keeping the bad guys out. Any attempt to limit what we can say is the real evil.

[lavisiter]

melpol: Then as far as you're concerned the hate laws on the books that attempt to protect human beings like gays, blacks and other minorites should just be abolished and we can just have one big FREE FOR ALL of violence on our streets against these or any "peoples?" This is the kind of extreme liberal thinking that I find as frightening as the "religious right wing zealots," - religious extremes by the way that most libereals I know and hear speak about want to abolish!

[PanFx]

Looks like some people need to get a sense of humor.

She is a comic, people. She wasn't saying this on top of some public soapbox in the hopes of getting a reaction, like Fred Phelps and family. She was doing her shtick in a nightclub, where people paid to see her. If you don't like it, don't pay to see her.

There is a thing known as free speech, which our Constitution guarantees -- regardless of how much it hurts your delicate sensibilities. If you are really that concerned about r@pe victims, go to a local women's shelter and volunteer. Chance are the most vocal indignants on this board are the ones least likely to volunteer.

[Gould123]

That joke was as dumb, as when Mccain joked about a woman being raped by a gorrilla. But mccain and Bernhard has a right to free speech! Should we suspend Mccains candidacy for his raw rape joke to? He's not even a comedian!

[Mattie]

She has a right to free speech, and people have a right not to hire her if they don't like her speech. She is disgusting, rape isn't funny, there is no joke ever about rape that could be funny. Simple as that!

[glake]

Live by the mouth, die by the mouth. Sandra can't un-explain a remark like this, regardless of what she wants to explain what she meant or what the context may have been. This is just a reflection Sandra's thinking and how she reasons out what she says after the fact. In this instance, poor Sandra can't have it both (or more) ways.

Remember, she gets paid to say stuff like this. Her "act"/personna is about outrageousness.

Rosie's Place, purpose, and the benefit are on another galaxy far, far away. There are a ton of women comediennes who are way more appropriate and funny - and would bring in more peeps and $'s than Ms. Berhard.

Bravo to Rosie's Place for having standards and the chutzpah to do the right thing.

[nunzia]

disgusting.

[lejman]

ugh

[lmab]

Don't forget McCain's story about the women being raped by the gorilla. ............Johnny No Class.