Okay, let's get controversial. Halle Berry was on The Tonight Show and while she was showing Jay Leno a picture of her face distorted to make it appear that she had a large nose, she said, "This is like my Jewish cousin."
Racism alert! Racism alert! Or in this case, anti-semitism! Whose worse Halle Berry or Ann Coulter? Does Halle have to go to the same rehab clinic as Mel Gibson and Michael Richards?
I happen to think that context matters a tremendous amount in these type of statements. I gave Don Imus a lot more of a break because he does a show that involves humor. I give the Fox News Channel guys a lot less of a break because they say these type of things as serious commentary on social events.
Comedians get almost complete license to make jokes that involve stereotypes in my mind. Michael Richards went over this line because he was so over the top and wasn't really kidding when he heckled the black audience member during his now infamous rant at the Laugh Factory in LA. If Ann Coulter finally admitted she is a comedian and has been putting on gullible conservatives for the last ten years, then I would give her a free pass on all of her comments.
We joke about race on our show all the time. I make jokes about Muslims blowing things up with impunity. But I also joke about other races. It's all in the family because we know that all these stereotypes are gross over-generalizations and typically nonsense. But it would be different if you were actually perpetuating the stereotype rather than mocking it.
Where does Halle Berry fall into that spectrum? I think pretty far toward the joking end. So, I pardon her. Am I not merciful?
In the video below, a black, a Jew, a Turk and an Armenian (... walk into a bar, sounds like the beginning of a racial joke, right? but they actually all walked into our studio ... well, actually because they work there) all discuss whether Halle Berry's comments were acceptable or unacceptable:
What do you think?
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Did Halle Berry Make an Anti-Semitic Comment?
Posted Oct 23rd 2007 3:28PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, Celebrity, Video, Race Relations
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. who cares about Halle showing her improvised nose and saying "just like her Jew cousin"...big fricken deal u overly sensitive freak!
henry at 4:24PM on Oct 23rd 2007
2. I think that hyper-sensitivity with regard to race/ethnicity has reached ridiculous proportions. Does anyone have a sense of humor anymore, or should we just take offense to every imagined insult or slight? I'm Jewish, and I think this has gone way too far. Did Halle actually harm anyone, or just she just make a stupid joke?
By the way, where are the cries of selective outrage from Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton? Hmmmm!
April at 4:40PM on Oct 23rd 2007
3. GOOD FOR HER IS SHE DID! CATHOLICS, BLACKS, ASIANS, GAYS, CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL ARE ALL PUT DOWN AND INSULTED IN THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA (OFTEN BY JEWS LIKE SARAH SILVERMAN). DO JEWS THINK THEY HAVE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND GET TO GO THROUGH LIFE NEVER HAVING TO AN UNKIND WORD SAID TO THEM OR JOKE MADE ABOUT THEM? GROW UP - AND GET A THICK SKIN LIKE THE REST OF US HAVE HAD TO DO.
John at 4:56PM on Oct 23rd 2007
4. Halle Berry has a cute little nose. And a brain to match.
S. Nash at 5:46PM on Oct 23rd 2007
5. I gave Don Imus the benefit of the doubt for saying something stupid and thoughtless (and I don't like him) so the same goes for Halle Berry.
We all need to lighten up.
Being purposely hateful like Michael Richards or Mel Gibson is a different matter.
David S. at 5:49PM on Oct 23rd 2007
6. Have you tree stooges heard that your lib congressman that you defended yesterday apologized for his stupid comments about Bush sending troops to Iraq to get their heads blown off for his own amusement. Now it's time for morons like you to apologize. I wont hold my breath because you don't have the nerve or CLASS to admit you were wrong. This is but another example why conservatives hate liberals.
Don at 6:37PM on Oct 23rd 2007
7. But wait, this is the youg tards "context" we're talking about here... In their world, the rule is as follows: If Halle Berry is a Dem supporter, it's a joke and we can simply move on. If she's a Rep supporter, it's calculated, vicious racism and we need weeks of media coverage and a senate petition at once!
BirdmanJones at 6:37PM on Oct 23rd 2007
8. what's a jewish nose by the way ..they come in all forms, with or with out the help of the Beverly Hills surgeon..they are the chosen ones and God's fave . Your mother loves you too..fair enough?
IRT2LTEE at 7:14PM on Oct 23rd 2007
9. Lighten up. It was intended to be a humerous comment, not like several of the responses I have seen, which were cruel and hateful. David S. I am with you on this one.
alan at 3:37PM on Nov 19th 2007
10. HMMMM, CAN A BLACK PERSON BE ANTI-SEMITIC? UH YEAH, THINK LOUIS FARRAKHAN, JESSE JACKSON,AL SHARPTON. HMMMM. CAN A BLACK PERSON BE ANTI-CATHOLIC? UH YEAH, THINK KHALID MUHAMMAD, GOVERNOR WILDER, AND LOUIS FARRAKHAN. NO ONE SHOULD GET A PASS ON THIS, YEAH LIKE THAT WILL HAPPEN.
IRONBLUEEYES at 9:03PM on Oct 23rd 2007
11. I would have to say that there is a major difference in making an anti-semitic comment and making fun of a stereotype. That would be like saying anytime someone uses a jewish/yiddish accent to be funny, which is very commonplace in old SNL or comic routines, that they are being racist towards jews. It is a joke based on a stereotype. If she said, "it looks like my jewish cousin that should die a horrible death", then that would have been anti-semitic. I dont see it any worse than saying the one with a big chin looks like Leno, which is an exageration of a common characteristic to be funny
shortnas at 10:44PM on Oct 23rd 2007
12. I guess when someone as pretty as Halle makes a comment like that it goes down a little easier. However, If the Gov. of California made the same comment would it still be a joke?
shelzrn7 at 9:53PM on Oct 24th 2007
13. Re: 3. GOOD FOR HER IS SHE DID!...
"AND GET A THICK SKIN LIKE THE REST OF US HAVE HAD TO DO"
John, not every one can be as lucky as you and have a thick skin and matching forehead.
P.S. Before you come running out in a rage close the van door and keep the flies in.
Mr Bagel
Mr Bagel at 2:10AM on Oct 24th 2007
14. Leave Ann Coulter alone!
Hayley at 2:19AM on Oct 24th 2007
15. Young Jerks I see you pulled the idiotic opinion of what Rep Stark said about fellow Congressman, US Troops and President Bush. Your dumb opinion was that Rep Stark was right in what he said
Ding Dong
Rep Stark today APOLOGIZED to what he said, he now sees his remarks were wrong.
Will the Young Jerks likewise say they were wrong
NOPE never, which is maybe while their holy than thou attitude has Cint is stuck on Air America, a zero program with ratings almost as low
robert okane at 5:06AM on Oct 24th 2007