Courtney Hazlett, MSNBC Talking Head, Calls Spike Lee "Uppity"

Update 4:19 PM EDT: MSNBC.com has just released the following statement from Courtney Hazlett:

"Today on 'Morning Joe' I chose my words poorly in describing the relationship between Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee. I take my responsibilities as a journalist seriously and know that words can have a strong impact. I sincerely apologize to Spike Lee and to the viewers for my comments."

Original Post: On Friday's "Morning Joe," MSNBC gossip "reporter" Courtney Hazlett used a insulting — and perceived by many to be racist — word in describing the Spike Lee-Clint Eastwood feud that began last month in Cannes. Introducing today's developments, in which Eastwood smacked Lee down with a "shut your face," Hazlett described how the feud began:

"During the Cannes Film Festival...Spike Lee got really uppity about Clint Eastwood and about how there were no African Americans involved in the filming of 'Flags of our Fathers' or 'Letters from Iwo Jima.'"

Watch or scroll to keep reading:

While the literal definition of "uppity" is "taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station," it is largely seen to have a racist connotation when applied to African Americans (witness the 2007 outcry after Salon labeled Obama "uppity" and then quickly swapped the word out for "smug").

Courtney Hazlett pens a column called "The Scoop" for msnbc.com, generally a mishmash of other people's day-old reporting couched as her own. For example, today she "reports" on an OK! Magazine story, an In Touch story and a Us Weekly story (which hit newsstands Wednesday) before rehashing this weekend's new releases. She frequently appears at the end of "Morning Joe" reporting others' entertainment stories.

Gawker labeled Hazlett's use of the word uppity a "VideoUhOh"

This isn't Hazlett's first faux pas. Less than an hour after news of Heath Ledger's death broke, Hazlett was on air calling Owen Wilson's suicide attempt a "dress rehearsal" for Ledger's death. Ledger's death was later ruled an accident.

Comments

[piper1233]

What a great country we live in, you can openly make a racist comment in the national media , apologize, and move foward as if it never happened. The only outrage seen in the press in the one that keeps viewership tuned in.

[Housewife]

It is a sad truth that must be faced. Racism is alive and kicking and people either don't know it or don't want to admit it. Everyone will get their panties in a bunch about how "politically correct" everything must be, but they miss the point about the pain they cause when they try to make the problem about everything other than their own insensitivity.

[donaldw6]

Yes, she's a bubblehead.

But that term is racist. Unambiguously racist. It's ugly, it speaks to a history of hate and suppression, and it is absolutely hateful to hear. Because she's just young and stupid, I guess I wouldn't fire her. But please suspend her. Please extract a price for putting such an awful word out there on the air.

Just words? I don't think so.

[williwombat1066]

Uppity!
Try another word: Knowledgeable

Black units WERE there.
8th Marine Ammunition Company,
33rd Marine Depot Company
34th Marine Depot Company,
36th Marine Depot Company,

For proof, check out the library of congress:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.03153/

Another site had the following entry:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/sec10.htm

All Spike was saying to Eastwood is that he (Eastwood) should've given these heroes the respect that was due to them. They fought and died with honor too. In this day and age with even greater access to information, there should be accuracy.

Do not deny these brave veterans their history.

Perhaps the commentator should just report, but research it didn't take me that much effort... and these lightweights call themselves journalists... journalists do the research and a report the facts instead of using charged biased words.

just the facts madam, just the facts...

[houseofglass]

Best post on the subject.

[southafrica4obama]

Thanks for the info. Indeed, African-Americans should have been represented in both films, which represent bravery and service to the nation.

[BroMan]

As offenseive as "uppity" is to me - because it implies that a black person has a station in life that they should not dare breach, what's glaringly appaling to me is what passes for journalism these days. I'm more upset about that. We she be very afraid that things done seem to be improving in that regard. She should have known better.

[calhar]

I don't understand the thinking of all you people calling uppity offensive and racist.Might i suggest you look it up in the dictionary.This can apply to anyone,Black, white, yellow, red or green.I don't know the education of you people,but i sure hope its not that of an educated moron.If it is ,its no wonder we are in such a mess.

[BroMan]

REPOST TO CORRECT AN ERROR

As offenseive as "uppity" is to me - because it implies that a black person has a station in life that they should not dare breach, what's glaringly appaling to me is what passes for journalism these days. I'm more upset about that. We SHOULD be very afraid that things done seem to be improving in that regard. She should have known better.

[GravitonX]

My racism-meter is usually overtuned, but I watched the clip and Courtney Hazlett's "uppity" comment barely registered. I was actually more insensed by Clint Eastwood's dismissive response; he should know better. Courtney is what, early twenties? Which means she was born in what, the late 80s, almost early 90s? And, can you really take her light-hearted little diversion that seriously? "Uppity" is generationally-charged term. Black people, we gotta give this one a pass and focus more on the intent than the actual words.

[Ping]

It's a two word phrase. It was always "uppity n****r". The second word has been dropped due to PC.

Here you are pissed that Clint Eastwood showed the segregated nature of US society during WWII, but you are gonna give Courtney a pass for essentially calling Spike Lee a N****r. For you ignorance is bliss.

[houseofglass]

Ping!

[jimmy2001]

I would agree with GravitonX except for the fact that word is hardly ever use in normal conversation these days.

when it it use it is never in reference to someone white, therefore there are some racial undertones attach to it.

so can't give her a pass but if it were up to me i would except her apology and move on.

[Sabreen60]

Oh h3ll no! The only way to stop this sh*t is to call it when you see it. She apologized and that's fine. But she doesn't get a pass - no way - no how.

[Suthngal]

Pass my A$$. No harm no foul? You've got to be kidding me. Why don't you call my great grandparents and tell them that the usage of the word uppity towards a black wasn't meant in a derogatory term. I can assure you that you'll get the best Black History lesson on said euphemisms.

[gladys46]

..."generationally-charged term" ...

That's the very ILLNESS ... the disease being passed, and passed and passed! Why!? I will not pass on it ... nor will I attempt, as you do misdirect blame!! The intent is clear ... the passage .. not even subliminal ... can be stopped! And that can be done right now, with Courntney ... Perhaps in this day and age "she" ... one lil young person ironically is the one who can claim the end of this sick superlative hyperbole!

Remember that one little lady ... Rosa .... she .... ended (or helped to end) another real sick superlative!

[Infomaniacal]

It is elitist to automatically assume a black man is on a "lower rung." If we are to judge someone on the "content of their character," when will we be able to consider Hazlett's comments as possibly being "color blind"? Indeed if we have to pull out a dictionary to wag our fingers, maybe everyone is just a little too sensitive.

But more troubling in this election year charged with racism and sexism, is the person screaming the loudest over racism is one of the more sexist directors of his time. Mr. Lee has been so vocal in his criticism, I believe we should apply the same sort of scrutiny to his own body of work.

As his calls of "RACIST!" starts to clear the proverbial and literal movie theater, one could easily make the case that Mr. Lee is in fact one of the most sexist director's of all time. Anyone remember Rose Perez and her ice-cube humiliation?

Dr. King is a prophet for all races and all sexes, not just the ones he represented. To not accept the universality of his message, and apply it to ALL people UNEQUIVOCALLY, is to severely short-change Dr. King's legacy.

Until Mr. Lee addresses this, he is not nearly living up to the ideals put forth by Dr. King, and therefore comes off like a hypocrite.

[BroMan]

When did Spike Lee sign the contract to live up to MLK's ideals? Not necessary just because he's black. He did, after all, make the Malcolm X movie. X and King were on two different pages - same book, but different pages.

[gladys46]

Maybe, just maybe ... you need to avail yourself of ALL Dr. King's eloquent assertions ... such as the Bounced check DUE! Well, that check is still bounced and un-paid ... guess it'll just have to dissapate just for you huh!! This friend was an upchuck from the belly ... the belly of one who has no, no educational exposure to diversity... had she, such an utterance would never have bubbled up and out!

When one relies upon Dr. King ... make it right! Please!

[Ping]

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

Even though Spike Lee is a stupid, racist, putz; using the word uppity to describe him is inappropriate.

That is because the word "uppity" has always been paired with another word when used in conjunction with African Americans. Use of the first word implies the second, and that is inappropriate. Courtney needs to apologize, to Spike personally and in public. Bad for Courtney.

[Big0725]

Isn't there another article on this post warning about saying what you're thinking? Jesus H. Christ on a crutch! Can the bimbos and himbos TRY to think before they speak? This was a minor story until this stupid b*tch shot her mouth off. Now MSNBC has to jump through hoops to apologize for this dumb broad. Get rid of her. And get rid Joey Scarbourogh (still think his eyes look like two pee holes in the snow) too!

[monac58]

I think your comments are a bit harsh! I never knew that the word 'uppity' had any racist connotation. I thought it was a perfectly good word. I have used it myself in reference to someone who thinks they are better than others and not as a word to denigrate any people of color.
Our language is slowly being stolen from us apparently. We used to use the word 'gay' to mean someone/thing of a light hearted nature. Now it is only used to identify homosexuals. We used to use the word 'queer' to identify something strange or eerie. Now we can only use it in a derogatory manner to identify someone who is a homosexual. And now 'uppity'! I am sick of it. Uppity doesn't have a damned thing to do with racism.

[gladys46]

Don't just "think" ... research!

[Ping]

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

Uppity was a very poor choice of words. Courtney should clarify and apologize. "Obnoxious" would have been a better choice.

[emstrem]

Uppity wasn't a bad choice of words. d00d is uppity.

[paganmist]

Uppity!?

Oh for the love of GOD.

Seriously. In this day and age can't someone teach public figures which words are considered publicly offensive and which aren't?

If there can be a furor over Janet Jackson's nipple, where is the furor over this? Hello? FCC? I care less about a nipple than I do about about calling a black person "uppity".

Freaking hypocrites.

[gladys46]

Courtney, why apologize ... the country has never officially done that!! You take "your" journalistic training seriously, okay, are you sure? Does Mr. Scarbo do the same? Anyway, I did hear C.Matthews say that he had never been exposed to "any" african american all the way through grad school!! Perhaps that's your misfortune as well!

Anyway, had you the slightest, personal experience (outside "your" training) this upchuck would never have happened.

Apology, unaccepted! Instead, 2 weeks community service at any african american studies class (publicly proven) will suffice! Upity ... my, my!

[kurd]

Wow! Another talking head exposed as dumb-ass bimbo! What a shock! Who woulda thought?

Spike Lee is a dumb-ass too. "Get On The Bus" has to be one of the worst movies of all time. Eastwood has never made a movie that bad. When Spike was on Bill Maher"s show he looked and sounded like a paranoid idiot. So, I don"t know if Spike"s words carry any cred at all. I"d take him more seriously if he apologized for "Get On The Bus" and burned the master on the teevee.

[GravitonX]

Spike's best movie BY FAR was Malcolm X, but it's tough to go wrong with a movie with Denzel.

[robbep]

Mika is horrible, as bad as joe is I was almost happy to see him come back! The show is so dumbed down when Mika is the host and she acts like a stupid school girl when Joe is around, It is an embarrasment to women. As far as Courtney is concerned do you really think she wld be on this show if her grandfather wasnt around?

[southafrica4obama]

I agree with you rob. Mika has changed recently, especially when she started supporting Clinton. She has become a real sissy and very sassy. That show has a lot of spoilers too like, Pat Bucka.

[WarriorLemming]

Mika, is a fine person of Polish heritage and her father is highly respected plus he's an Obama supporter. Not sure who you are why you view Mika so unfavorably but jealously shouldn't even enter into it. :)

[BigSid]

How pathetic!

[isis]