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 2 of 2)
16. I'm glad to see the few retards who support our corrupt criminal president and antichrist V.P. are here today. Now back to serving breakfast Losers.
AL at 7:52AM on Oct 24th 2007
17. Not sure where Halle's comment becomes an issue, as last I knew, she is in part, of Jewish ancestry herself. Which puts her comment on a par with something from a Henny Youngman, who made a lot of jokes about his culture and Jewish mothers. Big difference between "inclusive" and "exclusive" humor.
Insofar as comparing what Halle said to Imus - that is at best grasping for an issue while hanging by fingernails off a cliff. If Imus had said - "Boy, those are some nappy headed gals - I wonder if they could give me some tips on my dreads." - there wouldn't have been any issue. However, responding to the basic lowbrow, racist audience he had garnered through the years - he didn't do that. He chose to make the women the butt of the joke, knowing that as a bunch of college kids, they weren't in position to do much about it.
Insofar as Rep Stark - the Dems once again go chickensquat. They ought to change the electorial map from Red and Blue to Red and YELLOW to more properly represent what's in Congress.
BT at 9:50AM on Oct 24th 2007
18. Not sure where Halle's comment becomes an issue, as last I knew, she is in part, of Jewish ancestry herself. Which puts her comment on a par with something from a Henny Youngman, who made a lot of jokes about his culture and Jewish mothers. Big difference between "inclusive" and "exclusive" humor.
Insofar as comparing what Halle said to Imus - that is at best grasping for an issue while hanging by fingernails off a cliff. If Imus had said - "Boy, those are some nappy headed gals - I wonder if they could give me some tips on my dreads." - there wouldn't have been any issue. However, responding to the basic lowbrow, racist audience he had garnered through the years - he didn't do that. He chose to make the women the butt of the joke, knowing that as a bunch of college kids, they weren't in position to do much about it.
Insofar as Rep Stark - the Dems once again go chickensquat. They ought to change the electorial map from Red and Blue to Red and YELLOW to more properly represent what's in Congress.
Bushthwak at 9:53AM on Oct 24th 2007
19. Oh my, my. Why do you always have to make something out of nothing? There is a war in Irag and Turkey is threatening Irag, that's where the stir needs to be, not what Halle said on Jay Leno. Give me a break.
Faye at 10:05AM on Oct 24th 2007
20. Well, typically Jews do have big noses. It is a stereo type and a joke. You guys cannot tell me that during a converstation you don't make some sort of remark that can be considered anti- whatever. Even though it is not.
David McCool at 11:16AM on Oct 24th 2007
21. Hey # 20, why single out Jews for having (in your opinion)big noses. What about Arabs, Greeks, some Italians (did you ever notice Tony Bennett?)? I know plenty of Jews with small noses (without plastic surgery)...and non-Jews with big ones. Go figure!
April at 12:49PM on Oct 24th 2007
22. Let's not forget Jews never apologized for killing the son of God, Jesus Christ. But Halle Berry is a mexican and should not be allowed to vote.
Tommy Tones at 6:59PM on Oct 24th 2007
23. Hmmm. I did not see the joke...happened to come across the blog from another resource. Knowing that Halle is of mixed heritage...maybe it did look like her Jewish cousin. Aren't there more pressing matters the American people should be concentrating on.......
JJ at 11:42AM on Oct 30th 2007
24. When people lose the ability to speak their mind, we are losing part of our freedom. When overly-sensitive people dictate how one is to think and speak, we have lost individuality.
So what about Halle's remark? So what. Did she mean it to be insulting? Absolutely not. Is her comment funny? Absolutely. I very much agree, as I read in one message, that humorous stereotyping and racism are not bedfellows. Many people have lost the distinction between the two. That in itself is dangerous.
John Sanchez at 12:57PM on Oct 26th 2007
25. I am Jewish and have a big nose. I have a thick enough skin not to be offended by what Halle said and I don't think that makes her antisemitic. I think we have to stop being so neurotic as to lose our sense of humor, especially given the fact that I have heard many of my coreligionists make the same kind of remarks. Soft steriotypical humor which is more of a lampooning nature then insult intended isn't bigotry. I think intelligent people can distinguish between real racism and antisemitism and those remarks which are merely meant to be humerous.
eric at 1:11PM on Oct 29th 2007
26. I'm a proud observant Jew but I really think the reaction to her comment is ridiculous. I'm sick of all this politically correct bullshit. It's the malice behind a comment that makes it anti-semitic, and her remark was a simple (humorous) joke. Suck it up, fellow Jews, and stop complaining.
Monica at 9:43PM on Oct 29th 2007