Jerry Lewis is Not Anti-Gay
Jerry Lewis is not Anti-Gay by any stretch of the imagination...I have been with him at all hours in a multitude of situations and he has NEVER exhibited any anti-gay sentiments at all. He has shown herculean strength in raising money and awareness for millions of people, mostly children, with Muscular Dystrophy and 40 other related diseases.
I was at the Labor Day MDA Telethon this year and witnessed his heroic, eloquent and heartfelt devotion to this cause for which he has raised over $2 billion dollars(!) over the past 57 years. Recently Jerry Lewis was voted the number 1 celebrity fund-raiser ahead of Oprah, Bill Gates, Angelina Jolie and other well known philanthropists.
In about the 18th hour of a 22 hour telethon, Jerry was joshing with his crew, (locker room humor is an age old harmless bonding between teammates, co-workers, firemen, police officers, soldiers etc) it was a teasing and harmless moment that did not have any vitriol or meanness involved. Again I was there and I defy anyone to doubt Jerry's limitless compassion. I know his apology was heartfelt and sincere; we all have moments of fleeting indiscretions that were totally without malice nonetheless offensive to some and of course people regret those moments.
Jerry needs no schooling in his love for humanity: in particular "Jerry's Kids" as he calls them. Americans are a forgiving people and Jerry's reservoir of goodwill has been and will be duly noted. I know in my heart he has already been forgiven not only by those who know him but no doubt the entire world.
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Davis Sweet (See this blogger's posts | I'm a fan of Davis Sweet)
I think the culture's having a little bit of trouble with the idea of "joke." As Belzer and Lewis and Maher and... hold onto your parts... Imus know all too well.
The problem with white America, is that they have no concept of their own racist history, beacuse they believe that white equates to normalcy.
Nappy Headed Ho, was the term used by the Slave trader when he was about to rape the captured African child.
Don't claim to be insightful when it's ignorance.
And for God's sake let of Lenny Bruce, he was an innovator, unlike Jerry Lewis who stole his routines from Black Comics in Harlem ( do the research, before you all launch into contempt prior to investigation)
God you people will do anything to avoid problems that you have caused with your privileged skin. Scapegoating isn't comedy; exploring the Universal character of behavior is, that's why Bruce,Pryor, Cosby, Carlin, Goldberg and Rock are embraced by all groups and not by the isolated anti-social screw up.
White comics never crack jokes about Rupert Murdoch, now why is that? Too scary? But oh yea, quick to make a racial or ethnic crack which are never funny.
Real humor, great humor comes from living under oppression, Native American comics are hilarious, beacuse they get it, Black comics get it because they are still seen as a threat and terrify white society. Until white men know what it's like to have lynching as a part of your past and present history (JENNA 6), they should stick to what they know, the fear of the female genitalia.
And why would any white person want to defend their right to say the "N" word? You need to say it that badly? Now that's disturbing.
winningticket (See profile | I'm a fan of winningticket)
Jerry Lewis made a very dumb and thoughtless remark and he apologized. But look at what Jerry has done throughout his life: Jerry is about making life for human beings better. He's dedicated his life to it. The man's got a heart of gold. You don't see Jerry viciously abusing innocent animals like Michael Vick. Oops, I'm sorry America, I didn't mean to offend your idol, Michael Vick.
Free the JENNA 6. If you really care about humanity.
neither is Isah Washington.
>>Jerry Lewis is Not Anti-Gay
Also, Jerry Lewis is Not Funny.
I'm still wondering where the "there" is there on this story, as no one has yet to provide even one example of a credible major gay or lesbian group or individual who has still been hounding Lewis about this after his apology (like the "PC police run amok" image that a couple of contributers to HuffPo have-- rather oddly-- tried to convey).
After Lewis made the comments that he himself later admitted were stupid, GLAAD posted a brief criticism of what he'd said. Lewis almost immediately apologized, and GLAAD immediately posted an update and acceptance of Lewis' apology, including some very nice words about Lewis and his efforts on behalf of MDA, mere hours later, on the very same day. GLAAD never called for Lewis to be fired or that any other action be taken against Lewis other than that he apologize and stop using the word in question. (What fanatics!) The whole thing took place in a span of less than 24 hours. If you'd blinked, you might have missed it entirely. Meanwhile, out there on the web, the major gay blogs I've seen either didn't bother to cover this or immediately accepted Lewis' apology.
Those two cartoon mice who hold the door open for each other and go "After you, Alfonse" and "No, I insist, after you" have had more prolonged, vicious, and louder arguments than what took place here. So I'm still wondering why there's been such an effort by certain HuffPo contributors to try and paint a picture of out-of-control gay hysterics screaming for Lewis' head on a silver platter. Since those contributors are still not bothering to provide any specifics, do we assume this is based on mere assumptions? And if so, what's up with that?
HIP HOP MADE HIM DO IT!!!
The point someone made about skin getting thinner by the year is right on target.
I am sick to death of people immediately calling press conferences, demanding meetings, public apologies, and throwing themselves under the truck wheels in order to appease a few very thin skinned people.
Jerry is from a wonderful line of entertainers who both amuse and insult.
SO WHAT!
Part of the shtick these guys have done before most of the "offended" were born have always used such words. I don't care and never have. I know it's in jest and not meant to offend.
YET, the PC police are out there claiming hundreds if not thousands of people will not be able to sleep tonight knowing someone said the word FAG on TV in the middle of a Borscht Belt joke.
GET OVER IT PEOPLE!
I'm still wondering where the "there" is there on this story, as no one has yet to provide even one example of a credible major gay or lesbian group or individual who has still been hounding Lewis about this after his apology (like the "PC police run amok" image that a couple of contributers to HuffPo have-- rather oddly-- tried to convey).
After Lewis made the comments that he himself later admitted were stupid, GLAAD posted a brief criticism of what he'd said. Lewis almost immediately apologized, and GLAAD immediately posted an update and acceptance of Lewis' apology, including some very nice words about Lewis and his efforts on behalf of MDA, mere hours later, on the very same day. GLAAD never called for Lewis to be fired or that any other action be taken against Lewis other than that he apologize and stop using the word in question. (What fanatics!) The whole thing took place in a span of less than 24 hours. If you'd blinked, you might have missed it entirely. Meanwhile, out there on the web, the major gay blogs I've seen either didn't bother to cover this or immediately accepted Lewis' apology.
Those two cartoon mice who hold the door open for each other and go "After you, Alfonse" and "No, I insist, after you" have had more prolonged, vicious, and louder arguments than what took place here. So I'm still wondering why there's been such an effort by certain HuffPo contributors to try and paint a picture of out-of-control gay hysterics screaming for Lewis' head on a silver platter. Since those contributors are still not bothering to provide any specifics, do we assume this is based on mere assumptions? And if so, what's up with that?
What Lewis said was out of line, but he did apologize for it, and hopefully, he will think before he uses hurtful language in the future.
Being the prototypical white, Anglo-Saxon, heterosexual, English-speaking, middle class male that I am, I can't help but wince when I hear people use the term "political correctness." I've come to think of "PC" as a term created by bigots to chastise anyone who calls them into account. Yes, there are times when people appear to be overly sensitive, but in the end, slurs are painful to many people. A gay friend of mine was standing at a bus stop a few years ago. The last word he heard before he was hit in the face with a beer bottle was "faggot." Of course, I realize Lewis was not advocating such a terrible thing when he blathered, but this is one reason people respond to slurs with so much emotion.
I find it interesting how people who tell others to stop being so "PC" never seem to be the targets of the slurs in question. Do white folks have the right to tell black folks not to be upset by the "n" word? Do Gentiles have the right to tell Jews not to be upset by the "k" word? Do men have the right to tell women not to be upset by the "c" word? It seems as if everyone is telling everyone else how to feel -- and I know I don't want anyone telling me how I'm supposed to feel about anything.
Mr. Belzer, I am a fan of yours and I take your words about Mr. Lewis to heart. I don't know much about the man, but you do. Thank you for posting.
Wasn't he doing a character? I didn't read the whole routine, but it sounded like he was doing a less-than-enlightened character for comedic effect. When Carroll O'Connor, as Archie Bunker, said "England is a fag country", I don't think anyone accused Carroll O'Connor of making gay slurs.
I sit in utter amazement that we have so little to worry about that we make a cause out of the offhanded use of a "hurtful" word. If I had a dime for every time I heard a gay person use the "f" word, or the "q" word or the "d" word, I could pay off my credit cards. If I had a dime for every time I heard a black person use the "n" word, likewise. When someone in the "group" uses the forbidden word, its no big deal. But when an outsider dares to utter it - regardless of the circumstance - there is the paralyzing anguish and national uproar. Ugh.
Life is hard. Get a backbone.
Jerry's "kids", grown up now, have asked Jerry Lewis for an apology for using them to raise money as children and for saying they were dying when they were not for years now, but that gets no publicity at all. When I saw that he apologized for offending gays I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he needs to apologize to people with disabilities who don't want pity and boycott his telethon because they want respect and accomodations for their disability, not pity and the vague and insulting hope of a "cure" for who they are.
I'm still wondering where the "there" is there on this story, as no one has yet to provide even one example of a credible major gay or lesbian group or individual who has still been hounding Lewis about this after his apology (like the "PC police run amok" image that a couple of contributers to HuffPo have-- rather oddly-- tried to convey).
After Lewis made the comments that he himself later admitted were stupid, GLAAD posted a brief criticism of what he'd said. Lewis almost immediately apologized, and GLAAD immediately posted an update and acceptance of Lewis' apology, including some very nice words about Lewis and his efforts on behalf of MDA, mere hours later, on the very same day. GLAAD never called for Lewis to be fired or that any other action be taken against Lewis other than that he apologize and stop using the word in question. (What fanatics!) The whole thing took place in a span of less than 24 hours. If you'd blinked, you might have missed it entirely. Meanwhile, out there on the web, the major gay blogs I've seen either didn't bother to cover this or immediately accepted Lewis' apology.
Those two cartoon mice who hold the door open for each other and go "After you, Alfonse" and "No, I insist, after you" have had more prolonged, vicious, and louder arguments than what took place here. So I'm still wondering why there's been such an effort by certain HuffPo contributors to try and paint a picture of out-of-control gay hysterics screaming for Lewis' head on a silver platter. Since those contributors are still not bothering to provide any specifics, do we assume this is based on mere assumptions? And if so, what's up with that?
Totally unecessary. Most of us in the GLBT community will let such an incident slide as Lewis, unlike Isiah Washington is of another generation that we have to let slide. And god knows, at least it was done in a jocular fashion as compared to the ugliness coming out of Ernest Borgnine's mouth a couple of years ago regarding "Brokeback Mountain."
BTW, Belz, miss hearing you on Stern doing the news.
Jerry has done and said many offensive things if you want to go all the way back -- his dreadful "Oriental" shtick comes to mind, and of course "The Day the Clown Cried." However, as a Jerry fan of the "so bad he's good" kind, one thing I've never seen from him is to be intentionally anti-gay. He's been in show business for about 65 years -- in all that time in the creative community, he would have worked with many gay people. (Heck, in the '50s it was probably better to be a closeted gay person than a "communist"!) Hard to do that and be intolerant.
Since Jerry is planning not one but two Broadway musicals ('Nutty Professor' and 'Dean & Me') to run concurrently, I can't see him saying and meaning something anti-gay that would run the risk of offending many in the theater community.
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Posted September 5, 2007 | 08:23 PM (EST)