04/11/2007
Roseanne Apologizes for Her Comments About Gay People
Roseanne Barr issued a series of apologies yesterday for comments she made on a radio show which she regularly co-hosts. In her comments, which you can read here, Barr called politically active gays "narcissistic," saying that, like Evangelicals, gays and lesbians only care about themselves, particularly on a political level.
On her blog under a post entitled "My Bad", Barr said she was sorry for the comments, and urged folks to call into her radio show and "let [her] have it":
"I deeply regret that I have offended gay people. I said things that I do not really mean, before I had thought them through... I was wrong and I seriously apologize! Call me up today and let me have it! I will apologize and try to make clear what I really meant to say... which was that everybody needs to unite right now, and step outside of their own neighborhoods, groups, races and classes to stop Bush's war on our country and our people. I love gays and I hate division. I am just a big idiot with a big mouth sometimes. I will learn to be more careful! Please forgive me, I am so sorry!!!! Call (909) 888 - 5222 between 5 - 6 pacific time to give me your two cents."
Later, she clarified her apology with a second note of contrition and a call to action:
"The leaders of gay groups need to align with the leaders of Acorn, and other groups of poor and desperate Americans and fight against those who oppress all of us! I have met too many gays who are Republicans, and I cannot understand how they could choose that! Let's all leave our own bedrooms, kitchens, neighborhoods and groups and meet each other to form a diverse army that stands for Democracy and Economic Justice!!!! (Again I apologize for any pain or hurt I have caused those whom I have always loved and befriended)."
Posted 9:20 AM EST by Andy Towle in Evangelicals, Gay Rights, News, Radio, Roseanne Barr | Permalink
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Wow, a real apology, not one of the pseudo apologies like "I'm sorry if my words have been misconstrued and caused offense" like actors and politicians always say. My opinion of her just went up a notch. Everybody says things they regret. It takes a big person to admit it without reservation.
Posted by: sam | Apr 11, 2007 9:29:45 AM
Translation: "My publicist pointed out that gay men may represent the last real audience for me, so I need to do some serious groveling." I didn't have a problem with what she said. Most gay men do seem to be single-issue voters.
Posted by: Steve | Apr 11, 2007 9:37:29 AM
All those explanation points convinced me.
Posted by: John T | Apr 11, 2007 9:40:43 AM
I appreciate the apology, but she really should have known better. What Barr fails to realize is that we are indeed engaged in the good fight, working for equality and freedom for ALL Americans.
I was honestly most offended by Barr's comparison of the gay community and Fundamentalists/Evangelicals and insinuating that we are cut from the same cloth. Last time I checked, Rosie, we were fighting for freedom and fairness, while they are fighting for theocracy and discrimination. Moreover, who do you think actually watched 'Roseanne' when it was on the air? I know I watched my fair share, but doubt very much that Falwell, Robertson and Dobson caught so much as a single episode.
Thanks for apologizing Rosie, but damn girl, you should'a known better!
Posted by: Jonathon | Apr 11, 2007 9:43:56 AM
Apology accepted here and I can see why Roseanne thought we were only concerned about gay issues as we seem to be attacked on a daily basis on the issue that we're gay.
Posted by: Marco | Apr 11, 2007 9:44:26 AM
Oops, I meant exclamation points (note to self: do not post before drinking coffee).
Posted by: John T | Apr 11, 2007 9:48:57 AM
Someone who has so thoroughly enjoyed the rights of marriage isn't in a position to be criticizing others for wanting that same right, even if it is in lieu of fighting for other causes.
Posted by: Scott | Apr 11, 2007 9:50:22 AM
Is there a reason why we care about what some "entertainer" says? Boring comment and silly apology.
Posted by: James | Apr 11, 2007 9:57:01 AM
...I don't necessarily think she should have apologized. Her comments created a very intriguing dialog...I found it quite interesting how visceral many a gay man got when responding to Roseanne's comments. Perhaps she cut a little to close to the bone?
Posted by: midnight lounge | Apr 11, 2007 9:58:27 AM
Good for her. I knew it was just a case of her mouth racing with her brain and winning.
I do believe she's right, we need to focus, all of us, to get rid of the Shrub. And how the fuck can any self respecting gay person be a republican?
We need our people concentrating on our issues, but we can also help with other issues relevant to all Americans.
Posted by: Bobby | Apr 11, 2007 10:02:22 AM
I appreciate her policy but do not find it necessary. I think she was pretty dead on in her comments, unfortunately.
Posted by: Ken | Apr 11, 2007 10:07:09 AM
I wonder hpw she would have reacted if someone had said " politicaly active jews are so narcissitic, they only care about themselves."
People accidently bump into people , burp in public, rais their voice in a discussion.....but NOPE!!! words are not accidental. Her words were her words and at the very least a freudian subconscious TRUE reaction/opinion of hers if not fully conscious opinion.
To think I used to like her.
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | Apr 11, 2007 10:08:02 AM
Amen, Bobby. I mean, she mouthed off stupidly, but she was right about SOME gay people. We look ridiculous and self-absorbed when we let gay issues rule every single decision we make. I'm concerned about other issues as well, like many other gay men.
Posted by: Martin | Apr 11, 2007 10:08:20 AM
i don't know why she is apologizing, she was 100% right, ok maybe she said it harshly, but she was right. i said the same thing during that isaiah washington incident and the black face racist gay shiley q. the groups were supporting their own, while the ones like me in the middle were looking confused.
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 11, 2007 10:18:30 AM
i don't understand gay republicans, BUT i think they are only focused on gay issies that's why they are still republicans.
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 11, 2007 10:21:26 AM
Why apologize? She's right. And why are we offended?
We should apologize for setting our basic human rights above others who already have those rights? It's called prioritization and it'd be foolhardy to do otherwise.
Posted by: Tom | Apr 11, 2007 10:21:30 AM
i meant NOT ONLY
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 11, 2007 10:22:18 AM
I find both extremes in this argument ludicrous.
Those who say she was "100% right": painting all politically active gays/lesbians with one brush is just foolish. We aren't *all* anything, and we're certainly not all narcissistic single-issue activists.
Those who say what she did is unforgiveable: please, she's proven to be an ally time and again. One comment made in pique or annoyance does not a homophobe or enemy make. We all say stupid things sometimes. The measure of a person is how they respond after they say the stupid thing; I think Roseanne did all right.
Posted by: Dan E | Apr 11, 2007 10:26:22 AM
I applaud her. She has thought about comments that she made that offended some people, and she has decided to rethink what she said. She has created a dialogue that is interesting and important.
Posted by: John | Apr 11, 2007 10:38:36 AM
Dan E is right. She's always had a big mouth and poor self-regulation skills... it was only a matter of time before she said something that bit the hands that fed her.
No one should care what Roseanne thinks, but the fact is she has a platform from which to express her thoughts in a very public and influential way. Her comments were correct in that GLBT people should be supportive of a variety of progressive endeavors that may or may not be exclusively gay-centric... but painting glbt people with the same brush is silly and untrue.
Her apology appeared heartfelt and sincere... no "i'm sorry you were offended" crap.
Posted by: Brian | Apr 11, 2007 10:41:14 AM
Roseanne was NOT right. Though there are many self-absorbed gay people who do not even care about their lesbian sisters, let alone the issues many heterosexuals face, it by no means represents 100% of the gay population.
Roseanne IS right in apologizing and allowing people to confront her directly on her previous broadly-stereotyped statement.
Roseanne doesn't get a free pass with me, but of all the celebrities, she comes closest to it. And her quick reaction and the fact that she owned up to her stupid statements makes me feel that she's deserving of forgiveness.
Sometimes our closest allies can say things that hurt the most, but it's usually because of that intimacy and shared experience that makes people like that so comfortable in opening up and saying what's on their mind - even if they haven't given their brain time to process those thoughts prior to opening their big yap.
Thank you, Roseanne. Thank you for continuing to make people think and talk (and hopefully in that order).
Posted by: Rey | Apr 11, 2007 10:46:55 AM
In your heart, you know she's right.
Posted by: Becks07 | Apr 11, 2007 10:49:42 AM
Equality means hearing your share of opinions you don't like, even from your friends. Let's pick our battles here.
Posted by: Dave | Apr 11, 2007 10:51:45 AM
I guess I am just shocked at how people continue to react so strongly when people say things that are considered politically incorrect. If that is what she thinks, and I believe it is, she has every right to say it. It might be dumb, but I consider all the hand wringing and apologies even dumber. We have become a culture concerned about appearances. How dare someone say something about "my people" or say something I don't agree with. Howard Stern can have a woman riding a fucking machine on his radio show and rap music can be filled with explicit, violent, misogynistic lyrics but how dare an entertainer or radio host say a group is narcissistic or even "nappy headed"(Imus). The world, in my opinion, would be much better off if we were more concerned with matters of substance rather than superficial appearances or political correctness.
Posted by: Chad | Apr 11, 2007 10:52:29 AM
Now that's something I agree with. Liberal advocacy groups have been killing our entire progressive movement because they're all selfish sons o' bitches.
We need to work together in unison on all our issues if we want collective success. Rosainne was wrong yesterday when she made it sound as if gay people didn't care about other issues, but she wouldn't be wrong saying that organizations like HRC ought to be working in allegiance with potential allies.
Posted by: Ryan | Apr 11, 2007 10:57:00 AM