What started off as a tasteless slip-up during Jerry Lewis’ Labor Day Telethon has officially snowballed into September’s first celebrity controversy.
After referring to a cameraman as “the illiterate f*g”, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has asked Jerry to apologize.
Thus far, his manager has had no comment.
UPDATE: In a statement issued moments ago, Lewis said he was making “a joking comment to a member of my production team.”
He went on to say: “I apologize to anyone who was offended. Everyone who knows me understands that I hold no prejudices in this regard. In the family atmosphere of the telethon, I forget that not everyone knows me that well. That something like this would distract from the true purpose of the telethon pains me deeply. … I accept responsibility for what I said. There are no excuses.”
17 Comments
he’s a batshit crazy old coot……he doesn’t care….lol
apology means nothing.
I love after making excuses he ends the statement with “no excuses”.
Sounds like another Issiah Washington “forgive” speech. Oy!!!!!
Come on, who cares about what this old idiot says????
I agree, who cares? People are way too sensative.
It’’s kind of funny since Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis are the first gay duo in film history.
I dont’ understand why ppl demand apologies when they never accept them. what do you expect ppl to do for their mistakes…cut an arm off?
Hes old Hollywood royalty and well just old. Its Jerry Lewis for godssake!!!
This is a really unfortunate thing to happen to Jerry! He really is a Hollywood legend and I’m sure he didn’t mean it to offend anyone, he’s got way too much experience to do that. It seems to me that a lot of people in the older generation don’t really understand the gay culture and maybe that has something to do with him using the word so loosely. I certainly don’t condone it but I’m thinking it is all just a big misunderstanding.
He didn’t do anything wrong!
The FAGS are always happy to tell anyone and everyone that they’re GAY.
Who cares? Honestly? Jerry Lewis is pretty irrelevent anyway, who cares what he has to say?
oddly enough, his watch is kinda gay.
The comment in poor taste and he shouldn’t have said it, but it was not malicious (unlike Isiah Wash.) Not the same situation.
Indeed it is not the same as Washington, he was making a joke to a crew member who knows him well. Stupid, but not malicious or hateful.
Don’t take it personally. Jerry Lewis hates EVERYBODY.
WOW how lame. GLAAD need a chill pill. If you are so comfortable with being gay, then forget about all the labels. It doesn’t matter, they ae just words. It’s just a couple of people who have their panties in a bunch and want a piece of the celebrity cake.
Jerry Lewis is old school and doesn’t need to make excuses, he’s a friggin legend so f-off! …and frankly I’m tired of everyone getting their noses out of joint over every little comment…they need to take the sticks out of their asses. Geez…I’m glad his dog fighting business wasn;t exposed as well…oops!
Why are gays so damn sensitive? If they are proud of their lifestyle then names shouldn’t bother them. I find them rather immature and confused.