Jenny McCarthy: Denis Leary Is "Stupid"

Us:

Outspoken actress Jenny McCarthy has plenty to say to Denis Leary, who makes jokes about autism in his new book Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid.

"Whoo! First of all, let me tell you, the autism community has received probably 10,000 emails [saying] 'Go kill him!' 'Go yell at him,'" McCarthy, 36, told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush.

"[But] it's so hard to even get up enough juice in me or energy in me to even try to fight someone that is obviously stupid."

Autism activist McCarthy is featured in the current issue of Us Weekly discussing how her son recovered from the brain-development disorder that impairs a person's ability to communicate.

Read the whole story: Us

Comments

[Mnemanth]

Why is she commenting on words she admittedly hasn't read? "He's stupid!" So childish.
As for Mr. Leary: Hello, people! Read what the man wrote! Get over your political correctness, and face the fact- more and more, everyday, we're quick to identify our childrens problems, our pets problems, and- YES- even our own problems to the latest fad medical condition and run on down to get our prescription.
"Yes, Billy was diagnosed with autism. But thanks to *fill in the blank* he's doing so much better."
"Oh yeah! Well, my Janie was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, and thanks to her *multiple prescription combination of your choice* she's doing better still!"
"Oh yeah!! Well...."
Do you see how this goes?
Yes, autism is a challenge faced by many of our young. But, to listen to the news- and snake oil commercials- every kid has it! I think this was the point that was trying to be made, and if you don't get it you're part of the herded masses.
We should all strive to support a noble cause, but sometimes supporting a cause means throwing the bs flag when you see it.

[crutnacker]

To be fair, Denis Leary was only repeating something he heard from Bill Hicks.

[RobinSeattle]

No, that is only 95% of Leary's act. The autism thing he stole from Michael Savage.

And Jenny McCarthy criticizing Leary is pretty hilarious. All her intelligence was derived from plastic surgery, if you get my drift.

[HummusGringo]

Honestly, get over yourself. Why do some people think it's automatically 'funny' to poke fun at someone's intelligence based on their background in entertainment? It makes no sense. Jenny McCarthy is actually of above average intelligence. If you see her interviewed recently, this should be obvious. She's not a stupid woman. She's not ultra-brilliant, but she is not stupid.

You: "Gee... blonde hair + breast augmentation = mentally deficient.­.. I gotta write that down! People will adore me for coming up with that!"

[rasputin999]

GEE Jenny McCarthy, don't be so-blonde. Denis Leary was not having a go at sick kids, he was having a go at parents who blame illness for their dum, fat, stupid children.

[bluekatz]

Did Jenny say she cured her child of autism? If so then autism is not a disability but an aliment. If this is in fact a disability then would this not require extensive research to pinpoint the cause? Humm..some­times I wonder is people use their children to get attention! I say Dennis is right about some of the parenting and before jumping on old Dennis read the entire thing. Yes, a comedian can be say horrible things but you all cannot say you have not thought of this at some point. Americans are too darn sensitive. Grow a pair.

[timezone]

Jenny, anyone with a brain knows Denis' comments were stupid, insensitive and without any basis. He's not even worth your time or trouble to think about. Great job you've done with your child and I wish you all the best.

[nolajam]

Jenny McCarthy seems to be proving DL's point - some Americans are stupid and lazy.
He says his comments were taken out of context, and she herself says she didn't read the chapter.
Why bother paying attention when you can jump to outrage and call someone else stupid?
I'm not suggesting she, or you, timezone, buy his book to discover what the chapter actually says.
I'm suggesting you take a moment to read what he says in this whole article and perhaps not jump to the conclusion he called parents of (actual) autistic children stupid.
If it seems too ridiculous to be true, it usually is.

I'll add to DL's assessment of many Americans (besides lazy and stupid): Reactionary. Righteously Indignant. Loud.

[timezone]

nola, I AM VERY familiar with Denis Leary's work and this article and his "style" of using provocation to get a "rise" out of people. That's what he does. So I DO get it. I WAS a big fan of his at one time. But in his "joking", he can and does go over the line on some issues. Just because some says "just kidding" when their heinous remarks upset people, doesn't mean it is ok to say it.. The difference between being a comedian and being anything else, is KNOWING what is funny and not just amusing yourself ticking off people, which is what he seems to do. He has a right to free speech, I have a right to say what he said was appalling and insensitive, not matter what "spin" he wants to put on it.

[MNmommy]

Jenny McCarthy - Indigo Child believer, DAN! Protocol schill is calling someone else stupid?

Well OK then.

http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=346">DAN!%20Protocol%20For%20Dummies
http://www.indigochild.com/

[Big0725]

Are you speaking English?

[MNmommy]

Are you capable of understanding English?

http://www.childrenofthenewearth.com/free.php?page=articles_free/mccarthy_jenny/article1

[booker52]

Jenny, Don't let stupid (that being Denis) get to you. That would be easy. Just keep up the good work you do. He was trying to get cheap publicy and he did, too bad it was on the back of children.

[LiberalProfessor]

Leary's material has been awful ever since Bill Hicks died. Leary is simply offensive, not funny, and nothing the man writes will be a shadow of the humor and profundity he stole from Hicks.

R.I.P. Bill.

[hypnotoad72]

He can speak for everyone else, but Leary sucks because he's just a loser. I'm sure those who bought his book can't fathom the cruel irony either...

[Toonadude]

I liked Jen before the wax.

[Talullah]

I say Ms. McCarthy your eloquence is equal only to your comedic talents!

[LiberalBuzz]

Hey Jenny, go away. While I respect your fight for autism, try reading what Denis has said since then.

He's a freaking comedian and that was part of his schtick. Sometimes we as a country as just so thinskinned.

[hypnotoad72]

I concede, what you say makes sense. Having been on both sides of the issue, you're right - thank you for posting, and reminding.­..

[raker]

I saw a clip of Jenny McCarthy being interviewed in which she said her child was cured of autism. All right then.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

I've seen her interviewed too. And I've been around a number of autistic kids.

My 2 cents -- kids can be helped on the so-called "spectrum.­"

Autism's not so binary. It's complex, but that's no reason to denigrate it.

[Mickey7]

The real spectrum of pervasive developmental delays formerly known as autism has been taken over and diluted by a lot of self-diagnosis and militant parents with more passion than knowledge. It's not their fault, but they are not helping. If Jenny McCarthy "cured" her son, than his underlying diagnosis was not true autism. He may have had other serious developmental delays, but it is really cruel for her (unintentional, I know) to suggest that a cure exists. It suggests that if parents just do everything right, their child will get completely better. As so many parents know by painful experience, this is simply not the case and it adds extra guilt and unrealistic expectations to these families who are already struggling. I think Denis Leary was insensitive, but I also think Jenny McCarthy really does not know what she is talking about and she is not a good advocate for people with real pervasive developmental delays.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Key phrase: "development disorder."
As opposed to: "incurable disease."

[raker]

According to the CDC there is no cure for autism. I suspect that people touting cures are either in denial about their child's autism, or maybe their child never had autism in the first place.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Denis Leary can b*tch-slap American parenting till the cows come home and I will be the first to applaud.

But not when he takes it out on kids with disabilities.

[NTO08]

Going from being "edgy" to being an A-1 a--h--- in record time.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Good point. I regret the use of the pejorative phrase above, but not the general themes.

[eman]

way to go jenny- i am so proud of you and jim.

you are both my hero's !


dennis is a fool- his type of glib remarks about autism hurts a lot of people and the whole cause.
i think if he learns more about it he will come over to our side .

go get em jenny. YOU RULE!

[NTO08]

Jenny, though not immensely talented, has certainly shown an affnity for being a caring, loving Mother, wanting to help her and other parents find ways to make their autistic chld's lives better...I doubt Dennis would find autistic children a subject for ridicule if his child was suffering from it.

[readinggirl]

I think Denis was just being a comedian; every joke can't be a gem. My husband's a comic, and it is a very hard job. (And BTW snootybooty, I knew Bill Hicks, and Denis didn't steal his act.) I think Jenny is being sensitive; sometimes you have to let it roll off your back because people don't "get it". The press is most likely blowing this out of proportion. I have a son who is diagnosed with ADHD and ODD, and I can tell you it is a nightmare. And I know exactly which immunization changed him. If I had it to do over again... What is so difficult is that society judges you for feeding them the wrong food, not making sure they get enough exercise, poor discipline, too many video games, etc. It's a lot easier to stand on the sidelines and judge people. So the jokes from people who've never had to actually go through it do hurt, even if it's veiled as humor.