Berry makes Anti-Semetic Joke on Leno- Page 2

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:19pm

That is my point. I just don't get why no one is raising an eyebrow over this while the Washington affair was blow so out of proportion.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:31pm

I get that the comment could be construed as somewhat racist. But anti-Semetic? No. Mountain/molehill.

What if Halle said something with a lisp and said she was like her gay cousin?

Then she would probably get the same coverage as Tyra did with the man she assumed was gay. Well...more, perhaps...simply because Halle is a bigger star and people actually watch the Tonight Show.

So, how did Halle get "a pass" and what was the expected outcome?

[don logan]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:37pm

If Isaiah Washington had said it (or was alleged to have said it) would he have gotten a pass?


I agree totally. Isaih would not have gotten a pass. Just as if a big black guy had grabbed Julia Roberts and kissed her on the Oscars instead of Adrien Brody kissing Halle. People would have freaked.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:49pm

With the right lighting and some Doris Day gauze/gel, I'll bet that Halle could pass.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:53pm

and here be a picture of m'selfs where i's looks just likes mah colored cousin.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 2:44pm

Oh, God. Why does EVERYTHING have to be controversial and offensive these days?

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 4:37pm

what munk said.

[artscallion]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 5:03pm

"Why does EVERYTHING have to be controversial and offensive these days?"

Because it's a natural step in the evolution of social groups as they shift positions on the scale of acceptance, dignity and equality. It's not just "these days." It's been happening since the beginning of time. People test limits and establish boundaries of acceptable treatment through this game of push and pull.

It's the pendulum theory. When a group of people is pushed too far to the wrong side of something for too long (as gays and blacks have been) they tend to push too far to the other side knowing that the resistance of some people will hopefully settle the pendulum back to the center, where it should be.

You certainly don't have to actively participate in the process if you find it too tedious.

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 05:03 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 5:25pm

Rumor has it Mel Gibson was kidding around with some Jewish friends before he was stopped by those cops.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 5:41pm

Her acceptance speech @ the Academy Awards intimated that those African Americans who did not win awards lost because of their skin color. Maybe someone else gave a better performance.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 5:54pm

There is no perfect analogy because homosexuals have never been defined as a race or ethnicity, as Jews have been. But if Isaiah were making a joke, rather than attacking T.R., it would have been different.

The fact here is that I believe Halle. That's a joke that would be no big deal if your friend said it.

I think where it would NOT be okay in the whole "what if this person said it?" is if it was a politician. That's a whole different game.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 5:58pm

Her statement was a little ignorant, based on stereotypes. But I'm pretty certain not one of hate. I find Jay Leno's gay jokes A LOT more offensive, actually. And I'm not really THAT offended.

Isaiah Washington was making a hateful remark, using a gay slur. Anyone using that kind of language towards a co-worker, at work, should be penalized.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 7:54pm

i find all of jay leno's jokes offensive. because they're not funny.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 8:57pm

just a little yolk. f*ck 'em if they can't take a joke.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 8:57pm

Roxy's right. Institutionalized racism had NOTHING to do with differently-raced people not getting awards. NOTHING! And, come to think of it, why did Halle Berry make such a big deal about being a black Oscar winner if she's only HALF BLACK??

To be fair, Isaiah Washington is really dark.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:43pm

Exactly! I mean just because Whoopie Goldberg became the second black woman ever to win an Oscar in 1990 when Hattie McDaniel was the first in 1939 has nothing to do with institutionalized racism. I mean Hollywood made sure to make great films with great African-American roles or cast African-Americans in great non-race specific roles, the fact is that all the white performances were just better all that time.

Look at all the Oscars that A Raisin in the Sun was nominated for...oh wait...

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 11:43 PM

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:48pm

Phyllis, also, Mel Gibson's comment about the Jews and Isaiah's initial comment about TR Knight were clearly hateful given the context of their comments in that both were angry at the time the comments were made. Berry's is a bit more open for interpretation since she said it in a lax, jovial environment. One could see it as being insulting, but one could also give her more leeway if they wanted to because she wasn't saying how the Jews were ruining the world or said something derogatory out of pure anger.

Don't get me wrong, I do think that attractive people who are of lighter skin do get more forgiveness than a big black man, but it's not as if Isaiah Washington isn't attractive himself. Also, Michael Richards had to do a lot of apologizing for insulting a black heckler.

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 11:48 PM

[misschung]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:52pm

Roxy's right. Institutionalized racism had NOTHING to do with differently-raced people not getting awards. NOTHING! And, come to think of it, why did Halle Berry make such a big deal about being a black Oscar winner if she's only HALF BLACK??

oh, wow...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 12:06am

I see what other people are saying, I guess. It still baffles me why some things get people in a dither and others don't or why jokes based on stereotypes are any less offensive than using the words, but I'm willing to just shrug this one off.

And institutionalized racism is the only way to explain Angela Bassett in What's Love Got To Do With It? losing to Holly Hunter in The Piano. She had the nerve to start that movie by talk-thinking about how she didn't even know why she stopped talking. It was like ninety seconds in and I was done.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 12:19am

The Piano was my favorite movie that year, even over Schindler's List...*slinks away*

I agree that Angela Bassett was INCREDIBLE in What's Love Got to Do With It?

I think Hunter and Bassett were the top of that category with the rest of the pack behind them. The other nominees were Stockyard Channing- Six Degrees of Separation, Emma Thompson- Remains of the Day and Debra Winger Shadowlands. I'm proud to say that I've actually seen all of these performances.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 12:32am

It's a shame that Hollywood has never really seemed to know what to do with Angela Bassett. Her career is nothing to be ashamed of, but I don't think she's ever really every equaled her performance as Tina Turner. She should get herself hooked up with smart series on FX.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 1:12am

I actually liked Halle Berry in Monster's Ball but I think it's sort of a shame that she became the first black woman to win Best Actress when we have the likes of Angela Bassett and Alfre Woodward who never seem to get consistently good roles that get award attention. To tell you the truth, when was the last time that Berry got a good role?

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 7:56am

People need to freaking lighten up.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 9:27am

Especially those big nosed Jews! They already have all the money, what more do they want?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 9:29am

I can't be-fawking-lieve this conversation is still going.