Comedian Jerry Lewis broke his own fund raising record this weekend on the Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy — but he’s now under fire for an offhand remark. CNN reports:
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Tuesday denounced comedian Jerry Lewis’ use of the word “fag” on Lewis’ annual Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy and called on him to apologize.
“Jerry Lewis’ on-air use of this kind of anti-gay slur is simply unacceptable,” GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano said in a statement posted on the group’s Web site. “It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm’s way.”
In the 18th hour of the 21 1/2-hour telethon Monday, Lewis — bow tie undone and shirt collar open — stumbled around the set at the South Coast Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, marveling at the cameraman’s ability to keep up with him.
Click on the link and see the offending clip.
(UPDATE: Lewis has apologized. See our later post HERE.)
The saga of Jerry Lewis is both an inspiring and a bittersweet one.
Lewis is a rare comedian and human being who at times has seemed to be is own worst enemy. Watch his many clips on You Tube here and you’ll see a young comedy genius who clearly inspired many (such as Jim Carey) in his incredible “live” performances with singer partner Dean Martin on the Colgate Comedy Hour and clips from his films.
But his popularity nosedived as Americans got to see the real Jerry Lewis on talk shows and in interviews and the self-assured, confident, almost bragging comedian contrasted sharply and uncomfortably with the innocent, endearing movie image (reports that Lewis never wore a pair of socks more than once didn’t help, either).
Many of his movies hold up quite well when viewed on DVD and it’s clear that his unpopularity with the press impacted his image in the U.S. as well. His work on the Muscular Dystrophy telethons will earn him a special place in celebrity — and medical — history. Yet, even there, he was blasted by some who accused him of talking about people with MS in demeaning or condescending terms. Activists said he communicated the wrong message — that people in wheelchairs or with a disease are to be pitied or are somehow less whole than other people. Lewis denied that was his intent.
Despite all this, Lewis has gone on in recent years to become a comedy icon (his work is being rediscovered on DVDs and You Tube) and despite horrific health problems he has been steadfast in his work for Muscular Dystrophy.
This latest flap is one more example of Lewis in a sense being his own enemy. Yet, it’s also clear on the video that he knew he made a mistake.
But in the present political environment it means he’ll likely have to take the heat until his publicist offers some kind of statement. The whole thing is tragic because on your TV screen you can see an 80 year man literally giving his all for a cause, even with his own health problems. And an out-of-bounds wisecrack not tolerated in the 21st century will dominate the news cycle more than the record funds he helped raise.
UPDATE: In response to a reader’s email. Here again is my favorite You Tube tribute to Martin and Lewis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNxRdYihOa0Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.