Oscars 2012: Billy Crystal's Blackface Impression Draws Criticism (VIDEO)

-- Some are questioning Billy Crystal's impression of Sammy Davis Jr. in his opening number as Oscar host.

As part of Crystal's opening montage, he parodied Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris," going back in time to the 1920s. Then Crystal, performing as Davis in blackface, popped up and suggested they go kill Hitler.

Crystal played Davis the same way many times on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1980s, but that didn't stop hundreds from questioning the bit on Twitter.

When Octavia Spenser won supporting actress for "The Help," comedian Paul Scheer tweeted her win "shows just how far we've come since Billy Crystal performed in Blackface."

Comments

[jfparham1]

08:06 PM on 04/09/2012

I don't know what the controversy is all about but I am African American, I love Billy Crystal and always will. He's one of the greatest comedians of all time, and I love his Sammy Davis impression. I understand and fully support the need to quickly identify and call out potential racism but I don't think this is one of those times especially since the man has been doing this impression for over 20 years. As for as those saying that he's a has been, "worn out" comedian keep one thing in mind. One day we'll all be old has beens and shadows of our formers selves but the difference between you and Billy Crystal and that when you get "old and worn out" now no one is going to invite you to host the Emmy's. Hell, no one is going to ask you now, let alone when your old and worn out. Remember one thing while you're sitting on your couch hating on him, HE'S STILL HOSTING THE EMMY'S AND YOU'RE NOT.

[Mara Valensuela]

01:21 AM on 03/03/2012

You know what I missed? The public outrage when the Wayans brothers did White Chicks!!...although now I think of it, that movie was so bad every living being should be outraged by it!

[Sara Hirsch Berlan]

12:21 PM on 03/02/2012

I did not get it. I.E. Billie C.. in blackface, did not remind my of Sammy D. And the Hitler comment
made no sense in the snippet of video frame.

[thomas paine]

12:16 AM on 03/02/2012

If this was blackface then Eddie Murphy was doing whiteface in Coming to America (Jewish guy in the barber shop).

I'm equally not offended by both.

[slobberdawg49]

09:14 PM on 03/01/2012

Title should have read "Paul Scheer criticizes Billy Crystal for appearing in makeup. Blackface leaves the lips and eyes white, and is way darker. The look is the joke. Make up is made to look at least semi-realistic. I don't understand the controversy.

[BustMyChops]

08:18 PM on 03/01/2012

Title should read "Some comedian, who nobody knows, named Paul Scheer criticizes Billy Crystal in blackface." This article doesn't site anyone else who had a problem with it. This is a non-story and a joke of an article.

[Mike Obosky]

07:16 PM on 03/01/2012

PEEPS YA NEED TO GET OVER IT BILLY AND SAMMY WERE GREAT FRIENDS,SAMMY WAS THERE AT THESHOW

[aintstudyingyou]

01:29 AM on 03/02/2012

You must have made a mistake with that last bit. Sammy was not "there at the show," as he's been deceased for many years now.

[Mara Valensuela]

01:22 AM on 03/03/2012

In spirit????????????

[mypalsal33]

05:15 PM on 03/01/2012

oh get over it already waaa

[mypalsal33]

05:14 PM on 03/01/2012

get over it what a bunch of whiners ... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Threadsline]

03:41 PM on 03/01/2012

Black face? Al Jolsen did black face. This wasn't black face.

[JonG345]

03:23 PM on 03/01/2012

This is not blackface, this is an impression. Blackface is when someone impersonates a "black person" caricature that offensively shows negative stereotypes, not when someone does an impression of an individual. This impression is so old that Sammy Davis Jr. himself even approved of it when he was still alive. Daryl Hammond did Jesse Jackson on SNL for years and it wasn't a big deal. SThis is the same exact thing.

[emmettsmom]

03:04 PM on 03/01/2012

Even Davis' daughter complimented the skit and recognized that her father would have loved it. It was impersonation, an honoring of the comedian, and well done. More interesting, how is it that nobody seems at all offended by the sacred sexal mixology of Niki Menaj? That was an insult to all people of faith, not just Christians. But I guess religion is just not politically correct these days.

[Claireify]

02:48 PM on 03/01/2012

Headline is skewed. This is NOT Blackface.

[The Tank]

02:16 PM on 03/01/2012

If you prick me, do I not bleed?
If I do a Sammy Davis Jr. impression,
do you not think it's funny.

No...no, apparently you do not.

[Kate Lynn]

10:40 AM on 03/01/2012

I actually think that if the impression is tastefully done, there should not be an issue. I thought he did a great job with the Mr Davis' impression

[Greg Thrasher]

10:46 AM on 03/01/2012

Really..It had the stench of racism all over it..

[Kate Lynn]

10:51 AM on 03/01/2012

What about the Wayans brothers impersonating white girls?

[Johnnie Taylor]

07:48 PM on 03/01/2012

Explain why "it had the stench of racism all over it."
I'm really looking forward to this answer.