Spike Lee: "I'm Not Rich Rich"

UPDATE:
Apparently The Observer buys old New Yorker interviews, as this Spike Lee first appeared in last September's issue, and is now re-appearing for Lee's "Miracle at St Anna" UK release with no disclaimer that it is not original.

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Spike Lee gave a long interview to Britain's Sunday Observer, and explained to the reporter that despite a Manhattan townhouse, Martha's Vineyard home and kids in private school, he is not wealthy:

He told me he had always intended his kids to go, as he did, to state schools. "But my wife put the kibosh on that," he said. Lee balks at being described as wealthy. "It's not rich rich," he told me. "Rich is Spielberg. Lucas. Gates. Steve Jobs. Jay-Z! Bruce Springsteen. I'm not complaining. But that's money. Will Smith. Oprah Winfrey - that's a ton of money. Compared to them, I'm on welfare!"

The interview, which took place at intervals in 2008 before Barack Obama's election, also relays Lee's distaste for the Clintons and Cindy McCain:

"Who's going to be the vice-presidential pick?" Robin Burgess, the session co-ordinator and Blanchard's wife, asked.

"As long as it's not Hillary," Lee said.

"You know," Blanchard said in a wondering tone, "we got friends uptown who say they can't stand Michelle. I mean, what about McCain's wife?"

"Stepford wife," Lee muttered.

"I used to like Bill Clinton," Blanchard said.

Lee shook his head. "They showed their hand," he said.

Comments

[cobobs]

I like to be poor like you, Spike!

[Flagrantlover]

I like Spike! Even though he never directed anything as hilarious and controversial as this: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-152460894465175765&hl=en

[Trilby]

No rich people ever think they are rich enough. They are focused upward, toward the people richer than themselves, not downward at the likes of me and (probably) you.

[Pastprologue]

I know.

Madoff fiasco tells the whole story.

[Pupster]

We all do that.

[kottison]

Why does everyone hate Spike Lee?

[robXdion]

The Malcolm X film still has them upset after all these years. And the portrayal of Italians in Brooklyn, while although accurate was quite fair. But people still resent it. Nevermind they don't live anywhere near BedStuy and have never seen what Spike is talking about.

Spike's an outspoken black male that shines a light on societal injustices and that makes people uncomfortable. He brings attention to short-changing blacks involved in history and society. People want to forget that the 80s and early 90s was a rac.ial cauldron. That in a nutshell is why they ha.te him.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

formula for a typical robXdickhead post:

cut 'n' paste and recycle posts already used on the same thread to seem "wise"........

[DocJerome]

Sadly, I think you are correct.

[Sparty1]

I love me some Spike Lee. He can do no wrong in my eyes, although that Summer of Sam movie stunk.

[leatherbunny]

They don't - they just can't wrap their brains around his art because that makes them have to stop and actually think!

[1099]

Spike hates white people plain and simple.

In my opinion, he can hate whoever he wants and keep making his movies. People will see them if they want to and he can get richer. Good for him. This is America after all.

[redlinemetro]

boo hoo

[pipetoe]

That is messed up talk.

[HarryParatestis]

hey, but raising white guilt can make you only so much money - but he cares about his "brother", while he is spending money on Knicks tix.

[GodfatherofSoul]

Yes, because you don't care about people if you spend money on entertainment.

[Sonny50]

Face up to your black gulit.

[leatherbunny]

Raising white guilt? What kind of comment is that. Whites should feel guilty still.

[Pastprologue]

For what?

[Pastprologue]

Guility fow what?
Black racism?

[Strywever]

Sorry, but I haven't done anything to feel guilty about. You don't know me, and you have no business judging me, just as I have no business judging you for anything other than that comment.

[Aesthete]

I do find it rather unfortunate that so many think that telling the truth about history is an attempt to raise white "guilt." It's true that my ancestors were brought to America as slaves, but I write about them because they were fascinating people with a fascinating story to tell, not because I want to make someone feel guilty. I have been given an amazing oral history of my family and most people I've encountered, black or white, want to hear about it. It makes no sense to me why anyone ought to feel "guilty" about it. The history of my family also gives me a clue about who I am and what I'm made of. Far from being some whiny litany about past injustices, it gives me the courage and confidence to press forward and to know that God heard the prayers of those who came before me.

[ApolloniaCreed]

Atleast he knows...

[devilyousay]

There are a lot of people who would like to be as "poor" as poor old envy driven Spike Lee.

[ApolloniaCreed]

Hi pot, meet kettle... guess what?

[Pastprologue]

Shut ya noise.

[pinksghetti]

I understand where is coming from after reading the entire article in the Guardian. Most of his movies with the exception of "Inside Man" haven't made over 10 million domestically so he probably isn't real rich and he also has trouble getting financial backing to make his movies. Anyway, he is my favorite director and I enjoy his movies because of his unique style.

[Aesthete]

Yes, Spike Lee is gifted and has a unique style. He also seems a bit angry and I think it's a barrier to greater mainstream success. I'm glad, however, to see the emergence of more African-American directors (i.e. Tyler Perry, etc.) just so we have more stylistic variety and intra-racial diversity.

[JScott]

Ever notice he's got those Marty Feldman eyes.

[rzzza]

hes not sayin hes not rich, hes saying he could be much richer

[rzzza]

i like spike lee. oh and im white.

i like clint eastwood too. their beef is none of my concern.

as for this article, oh well. all hes saying is he could be richer, i see no problem with it.

dont ever be satisfied with what you got spike, the day you rest on your laurels is the day you start to die.

you dont want to be one of those old men on a park bench feeding the pigeons with crumbs of bread. never stop working.

[ADunafraid]

He probably spends $100,000 a year on courtside Knicks tickets and he thinks he is not wealthy.

[harriettubman]

I use to never agree with a word Spke said in print but now that he's getting older I agree with him on some issues.

Spike has great potential as a director/producer and could've been wealthy as Tyler Perry had he not shot off at the mouth so much. Sometimes we need to sit back and assess a situation before mouthing off. Everything is not a civil rights issue.

[Topfeeder]

I think he has mellowed some with age and no doubt becoming a parent has given him some new perspectives also. I always found merit in his films but his personality did raise eyebrows. True, that he has never sold out!