Friday, October 24, 2008

Comedian Jerry Lewis Continues "Faggot" Jokes

Comedian Jerry Lewis has been in boiling hot water before. Insulting gays, women and disability rights advocates with his provocative comedy routine.

"At a press conference in Sydney today 83 year old comedian Jerry Lewis decided to let fly with the word ‘fag’. And what’s even more shocking, a major Australian news outlet didn’t even feel the need to edit the word out before televising the interview.

While speaking with a journalist from Channel Ten News, Lewis was asked “What do you think of cricket?” His response was, “Oh cricket is a fag’s game!” Lewis then proceeded to flounce about, using camp, effeminate gestures, pretending to hold a bat with a limp wrist, squealing in a high pitched voice “Ah! The ball is coming towards me!” (Same-Same)
He has apologized in the past for using the homophobic slur, maybe its time for him to apologize again and put an end to his homophobic stand up routine?

info@jerrylewiscomedy.com

13 comments:

Mike said...

Jerry Lewis is alive!?

Anonymous said...

1. "And what’s even more shocking, a major Australian news outlet didn’t even feel the need to edit the word out before televising the interview."...
This kind of American urges for censorship are a sad but real indication of the anemic society with you have created for yourself, and which will bring it to its final failure. Real democracy leaves no room for censorship, be that from the right or the left. It's even scarier when a gay outlet like this actually advocates it, instead of championing a truly liberal society, the only place in which we can actually thrive.

2. I didn't see the video, but I cannot help to ask if it was truly and objectively offensive. Recently I read statements of two gay organizations, one in New York and the other one in West Hollywood, demanding a boycott (another American favorite activity) against "Little Britain", accusing it of being insulting. I, like many other gay men and women, do not find it offensive but funny and provocative. Outrageous? Yes, but if outrage would be the norm to kill art, cabaret and drags shows would've been extinct... of wait... yes, where are they?

Grow a spine, loosen up, allow yourselves to laugh, and go after the real problems, like openly homophobic Republicans and closeted homophobic Democrats. Our true friends are few: Kennedy and a couple more. The Obamas, Clintons, and others should be made the aim of your anger, not an old comedian whose time is up.

Queers United said...

Anon -the portion about censorship is in the article I quoted. I am all for free speech and not in favor of censoring anyone. I believe the media should report words like "faggot" if used in a story in proper context of quoting someone offensive.

That being said Jerry Lewis is a brand, if he wants go around spewing hateful words he has every right to. But being that this is a free society I have a right to tell him I am offended and ask for his apology or urge people not to listen to him. If people want to ask him to apologize they can with the email above. He has apologized in the past. The rest is up to him.

Anonymous said...

Get over it! I'm gay and I couldn't give a toss! He's a funny man, and he's aging, leave him alone, and find some other GLBT orientated thing to get ones knickers in a knot over for god sakes... I'm sick of hearing about all of the "poor us crap on the scene...." We belong to a group of people called "Humans".. this group has a whole larger range of problems to be addressed on this planet than petty name calling.

Anonymous said...

QU, I'm with you on this one. Just sayin'

Anonymous said...

Wow, just cos someone's gay and doesn't find it funny, other gay people shouldn't find it offensive?

I love how the people who disagree are all anonymous too - you're probably just someone trolling, looking for something to start.

What Jerry Lewis said was homophobic and sexist, actually. In case you didn't know, this is where the problem starts - from the little things - words like "fag" and the such. We activists can multi-task too - don't worry, we find the time to help the starving children in Africa as well.

And really, censorship? I love free speech, but since we have such a privilege, we also have a duty to not screw up that privilege either - it's called respecting people.

Anonymous said...

Look at it this way, the nice thing about free speech is that no matter what anyone says someone is bound to be offended. If you can't handle the heat, get out of the fire.

Anonymous said...

The fact that a website called "Queers United" is bitching about an 82 year old man using the word fag seems a little ironic to me. Sort of like an african american calling his friend the "N" word and then becoming offended when a "Cracker" uses the same word. As a White Straight Male I feel as though I am being backed into a corner to be stoned to death.

Anonymous said...

And to think I used to like his movies as a kid. :( The man has no taste. A weak homophobic insult is the best he can do for the great game of cricket!!? Is this senility, or was he always like this?

Anonymous said...

I'm actually writing a review, to put on my blog next week, about queer sensibility in Jerry Lewis' movies. I'm sure there's nothing offensive in Lewis'(bad) jokes. If you attentively look to his body of work, you will see it contains many courageous critics against heterocentism and the "straight way of live". Don't be too ticklish, please, my friends...

Anonymous said...

He is an old man from a different time who still, regardless of his outdated and uncomfortable views on homosexuality, has been a staunch providor and promotor for childrens health.
We all have that old ass uncle who thinks this way and when we sit at the thanksgiving table, ;laugh at him.
Grow up, get tough and get over it.

Anonymous said...

manufactured outrage!!!
I am offended that the Candian Govt. would have such a commission. It sounds much just like Stalin's Truth Commissions, which were ways to purge those he saw as undesirable. Free speech is dead in Canada. . . uhhh . . unless you are personally attacking a White Christiam male, then it's a free for all.

Anonymous said...

And this is the guy who played Cinderfella !!!!

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