09/04/2007
Jerry Lewis Points Out "Illiterate Faggot" in Telethon Audience?
Via TMZ comes video from the 18th hour of Jerry Lewis' telethon, which was broadcast last night. In it, Lewis appears to use a gay slur when identifying an audience member:
"In the midst of a typically Lewis-ian rant in the 18th hour of his Labor Day telethon, France's favorite comedian swayed, trying to dodge the cameraman, then introduced a 'family member' as 'the illiterate faggot,' then remembered, seemingly, that he was on live TV ... stopped himself and tried to move on."
Lewis may have been referring to a "fatty" in the audience. However, because of his own slurring, it's somewhat hard to say.
TMZ reports that the telethon raised $63 million for muscular dystrophy.
UPDATE: GLAAD has called on Lewis to apologize.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:00 AM EST by Andy in Gay Slurs, Jerry Lewis, News | Permalink
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Is he drunk?
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 4, 2007 10:11:08 AM
Is he drunk?
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 4, 2007 10:13:09 AM
oops, sorry for the double post...
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 4, 2007 10:13:46 AM
Isn't someone going to finally bury that bloated corpse?
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Sep 4, 2007 10:25:32 AM
I hear "fatty" after several plays.
Lewis has done -- and continues to do -- great work on behalf of sick kids by hosting this telethon.
That said, had he uttered "faggot," I would have hoped this was the last time he ever hosted anything.
Stand down, folks -- I don't think he said "faggot."
Posted by: Becks07 | Sep 4, 2007 10:28:30 AM
The clip was played on the radio this AM & it sounded like "faggot." The DJs were in complete shock hearing it. They also said Jerry reminds them of that senile great uncle you have at Christmas that says just the most belligerent nonsensical crap at the dinner table.
Posted by: Allen | Sep 4, 2007 10:32:44 AM
I dunno, I'm pretty sure I heard "fag--" and a swallowing of the "-ot" sound -- really sounded like fag w/ a hard 'G' sound.
I'll cut him some slack and offer a smidgen of benefit of the doubt but I want to hear a response on this.
Has anyone in the audience talked w/ the press or the blogs?
Posted by: tjc | Sep 4, 2007 10:43:45 AM
It's hard to say if it's faggot or fatty, but if you know anything about Jerry Lewis and the Rat Pack -ish generation he's part of, you know it's unlikely to have been fatty he was going for.
Posted by: phil heffley | Sep 4, 2007 10:46:28 AM
Come ON, there is no doubt. Listen to the context. The joke is that you've got a son who is an illiterate fag-- and then he cuts himself off. It's not fatty. He's a pig anyway, regardless of good work he's done for kids.
Posted by: Matthew Rettenmund | Sep 4, 2007 10:50:10 AM
He's Jewish, anyway, so if he meant THAT he probably would have said "faygele."
Posted by: Joe T. | Sep 4, 2007 10:57:21 AM
let's not worry about Jerry Lewis...
Posted by: A.J | Sep 4, 2007 11:04:03 AM
He has never been funny.
Don't be fooled folks. The charity might get a lot of money from these telethons, but so to dose Jerry. He dosn't do it for free.
He lost any relevance a long time ago. It is way past time for a new host of that charity
Posted by: anon | Sep 4, 2007 11:08:21 AM
Is that thing still on the air, Jerry Lewis is has been. After all the money he raised and still no cure or close to one? PLease someone check his bank accounts. hey, just have another bottle of vodka Jerry.
Posted by: ousslander | Sep 4, 2007 11:09:08 AM
"Illiterate, fat one."
Wow, down boy; there's no fight here.
Posted by: justaguynatl | Sep 4, 2007 11:33:38 AM
These telethons are useless. The vast majority of research funding comes from the Federal Govt. Money raised should go to support people who have gaps in their insurance coverage.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Sep 4, 2007 11:37:24 AM
Jerry Lewis will always been a king of comedy to me. From his Lewis and Martin days and solo movie career, fantastic. He was one of David Lettermans first guests when the show moved to CBS, and was electrifyingly hysterical that night.
As for the telethons, so don't contribute. I don't. I never did (or to the United Way during the annual corporate hand wringing, for that matter). Use the annual Labor Day telethon time to, oh, say TURN OFF THE TELEVISION and GO OUTSIDE.
Posted by: Rad | Sep 4, 2007 11:49:55 AM
I can't believe that thing is still on tv also. After ALL these years, and countless billions of dollars raised? With no cures or breakthroughs to speak of? You know the money is lining someone's pockets or not getting to the people it needs to.
And funny? Has he ever been? I can't imagine anyone who would think Jerry Lewis is funny. Maybe someone from another planet, or someone with severe mental problems...does that describe France? Oops, sorry. If the Louis Vuitton fits I guess.
Posted by: Jordan | Sep 4, 2007 12:02:47 PM
Jerry needs to be put down like a wild dog.
Posted by: nutso | Sep 4, 2007 12:05:12 PM
If he said it, he must be losing his mind. Over the years I've gotten the impression he's not homophobic, unlike a lot of his generation. He's also apparently referring to a family member this way, if I read this right? Which means he thought he was being funny, *if* he said it. You know, saying something outrageous and shocking, but not something he'd call an actual gay person.
If you want to hate some old people who really are homophobic, there's Mickey Rooney who's a born-again Christian. I remember him acting homophobic about speculation that Danny Kaye, or somebody, was gay. Rooney acted like it was the worst possible thing you could say about somebody. And then there's Ernest Borgnine, who whined about about Brokeback Mountain, saying it was a blasphemous travesty to do a western about gay cowboys, and called it disgusting or whatever.
Posted by: Johnny | Sep 4, 2007 12:29:53 PM
A couple things.
First, there is no cure for AIDS or cancer and billions of dollars have been raised by charities across the globe.
Second, he should stop because he can't even speak and his endless mugging and pulling of faces is verging on retarded.
Third, he lives near San Diego and we used to see him all the time yelling at fans for approaching him at restaurants and on the street. Very angry, bitter human each and every time we were in the same room.
Posted by: Br!on | Sep 4, 2007 12:30:48 PM
So since when is it news that someone (even a celebrity) who's over 80 years old -- whether it's Jerry Lewis, Mickey Rooney, Ernest Borgnine, Doris Day, or whoever -- is probably anti-gay, whether they reveal that fact in public or not? I'd actually be more surprised if it were the opposite. Not that this is an excuse for what Jerry Lewis said, if indeed he said it.
Posted by: Frank L | Sep 4, 2007 12:41:55 PM
I don't know how ANYONE hears "fatty" in this clip. And how calling someone "illiterate fag" is amusing is beyond me. You can even hear the tone of some of the audience members change from laughter to a groan in response. Whatever. Bury the corpse. Quit digging that bloated sack of shit up.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Sep 4, 2007 12:53:36 PM
I happened to be listening with headphones and the man was about to say "faggot" or some variation thereof. I think that should ring a loud warning bell that this man should be removed. Actually, I also believe that this telethon has been nothing but a huge ripoff. In all it's years of existence, not once have I heard of ANY medical progress being attributed to it. Are there any public records that prove otherwise? If not, then this cash cow needs to go away and take the bitter old dinosaur with it.
Posted by: soulbrotha | Sep 4, 2007 12:55:01 PM
Well, y'all sounded like he said, "faggot" to me. When does the bombardment of reprimands and insults against his ethnic group begin? When do we hear, "you Jews ought to know better"? Where's the punishment?
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Sep 4, 2007 1:13:23 PM
illiterate kite.
Posted by: sean | Sep 4, 2007 1:27:09 PM
It's difficult to tell either way, but it certainly could have been faggot. That being said, as a previous post noted, in his career I don't think Lewis has indicated any problem with gay people. Hell Sean Hayes played him in the CBS movie about Martin and Lewis.
Regarding the telethon, it is relevant. Muscular Distrophy isn't just one or two diseases and there's not going to be one simple, clear cut break through. Researchers need the money, but a lot of the cash raised as well goes to help fund clinics and camps for infected people, esp. children, to try and provide some normalcy in life. If you don't care for it, then don't watch and don't donate. However, judging by the amount raised each year, lots of people do care and take notice.
This is his telethon (he started it since year 1) and let the man do it as long as he sees fit too. Btw, while I know nothing of him as a person, to the previous poster, Lewis lives in Las Vegas, not San Diego...
Posted by: Sunsimba | Sep 4, 2007 1:52:28 PM
That's kike, Sean. ROFLMAO.
Now that we've got that part clear, would you mind not using that word either? Unless you'd like to explain its etymology to the rest of the class. Thanks.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Sep 4, 2007 2:11:24 PM
No, no, Sean: You're getting the Jews confused with Benjamin Franklin. Then again, his name was Ben.
My point is not to make slander against Jewish people because of what an elderly Jewish entertainer said. My point was to remind Towleroad posters how they react when members of other racial/ethnic groups make stupid anti-gay slurs. One particular racial group seems to draw heavy fire when one of our members makes an anti-slur. But I don't know why white gays should be so hard on us Aborigines.
Anyway, I would never say anything bad against the Jews (homophobes, shmomophobes, whatever), 'cause I love my Barbra too much!
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Sep 4, 2007 2:31:33 PM
cum, cum now boyz, i thought you all were more savvy than that, esp. when it comes to tongue-in-cheek wordplay. hmmm?
Posted by: sean | Sep 4, 2007 4:20:05 PM
Oh, oh, yeah, I knew whatchu' was doin' all along...yeah. Still that don't give no right to puttin' down the Jews...ah,was you? Well, if you were, I mean, was just don't mess with Barbra...ever!
Posted by: Derrick from PHilly | Sep 4, 2007 4:29:22 PM
my arrow was directed at a very narrow target... Lewis himself. i never take the high road when it comes to a bigot. reap what you sow. < another WP, btw.
Posted by: sean | Sep 4, 2007 4:33:49 PM
Derrick : I agreed with you that some of the wishes that Isaiah Washington would never work again were getting too ridiculous (and I understand why it would bother you), but I still say it was moderate compared to the actual death wishes we see regularly on Towleroad for Irish or- God forbid- Irish and Catholic "culprits".
Posted by: Joe T. | Sep 4, 2007 4:53:25 PM
At least now Jerry himself has removed any doubt about what he said:
http://tinyurl.com/35lh3t
Posted by: Matt | Sep 4, 2007 7:02:40 PM
CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and any other media outlet (such as newspapers, radio talk shows etc) that repeats what Jerry Lewis said is contributing to this mistake. Jerry has said he was sorry. How will these media outlets make this political repeat of this slur right? How will they be held accountable for continuing to put the salt in the wounds. He is an 81 year old man who has served his time in life. He should NOT step down from being the MDA spokes person because "he" is it's creator and the reason for its foundation. In his day, and in his comedic business, working off the cuff is what made money....seems that is why all these media outlets have continued to jump on the bandwagon so that their "news" sells. He didn't do it on purpose. He isn't a homophobic person. He simply was a tired comedian trying to make a joke. Gays and Heteros alike need to lighten up: he has lived a long and purposeful life and in his lifetime he has brought joy to many, many people. Accept that he made a mistake. Which one of you that is trying to cast this stone can say to yourselves that YOU have never made a mistake. No human alive is PERFECT.
Posted by: laine | Sep 4, 2007 9:01:24 PM
CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and any other media outlet (such as newspapers, radio talk shows etc) that repeats what Jerry Lewis said is contributing to this mistake. Jerry has said he was sorry. How will these media outlets make this political repeat of this slur right? How will they be held accountable for continuing to put the salt in the wounds. He is an 81 year old man who has served his time in life. He should NOT step down from being the MDA spokes person because "he" is it's creator and the reason for its foundation. In his day, and in his comedic business, working off the cuff is what made money....seems that is why all these media outlets have continued to jump on the bandwagon so that their "news" sells. He didn't do it on purpose. He isn't a homophobic person. He simply was a tired comedian trying to make a joke. Gays and Heteros alike need to lighten up: he has lived a long and purposeful life and in his lifetime he has brought joy to many, many people. Accept that he made a mistake. Which one of you that is trying to cast this stone can say to yourselves that YOU have never made a mistake. No human alive is PERFECT.
Posted by: laine | Sep 4, 2007 9:02:43 PM
I'm dying to get my butt plowed, but I'm too much of a coward to come out of the closet. So I cruise gay websites and try to take my sexual frustration out on gays who have the courage I lack.
Posted by: Retardo | Sep 4, 2007 10:25:54 PM
Dear Retardo If your comment is directed at me, "congratulations"
Retardo is obviously a parody of the post above it, Bernardo. Notice the similarity of the two names, dimwit? Apparently even with your "attractive girlfriend" helping you read the posts, you're too much of an idiot to have caught that. But if you're so certain the shoe fits, you'll get no argument from me, Retardo you are!
Posted by: Johnny | Sep 4, 2007 11:09:05 PM
the shoe fits me just fine as i shove it directly up john and bernardo's asses. btw, john your GF Mary is not as good a cocksucker as you. see you tomorrow night in stall #3, bitch.
Posted by: sean | Sep 4, 2007 11:30:45 PM
was your mother your sister?
Posted by: sean | Sep 5, 2007 1:05:05 AM
I'm not offended by you in any way John. You, like Larry Craig, amuse me to no end. The fact that a supposed straight man (yeah right) has nothing better to do than troll around bathrooms (Craig) or gay web sites (you) is too hysterical for words.
Sweetheart, closet cases like you are a dime a dozen but you guys always think that you are so unique. You're not. Neither is your beard, um I mean "girlfriend".
We ALL know YOU too well. Hell, many of us used to BE you.
Now, run along to your beautiful girlfriend. It will be easy for you to convince her that you are straight. Convincing yourself, that's the hard part.
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 5, 2007 10:38:53 AM
Due to offensive flaming, several comments have been removed from this thread and the trolls banned.
Posted by: andy | Sep 5, 2007 11:01:31 AM
Thank you Andy.
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 5, 2007 1:36:14 PM