A woozy Jerry Lewis, 81, went all Isaiah Washington on his telethon last night, calling someone -- or something -- an "illiterate fag."
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 fag," then remembered, seemingly, that he was on live TV ... stopped himself and tried to move on.
The MDA telethon raised a record $63 million for muscular dystrophy over the three-day weekend.
After scolding us for calling so early (it's not like he dropped an offensive slur or anything!), a rep for Lewis had no comment on the incident.
UPDATE: Neil Giuliano, President of Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), has just issued the following statement to TMZ: "Jerry Lewis' on-air use of this kind of anti-gay slur is simply unacceptable. It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way. Our nation's media have done an admirable job this year holding public figures accountable for their use of anti-gay slurs, and I hope they continue to do so with Mr. Lewis."
Giuliano told TMZ that GLAAD is reaching out to Lewis' representatives today to request a meeting with him. "We want to sit down with him," Giuliano tells us, "help him understand why these words are so hurtful, and give him an opportunity to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs, even more so in attempted humor."
Reader Comments
(Page 1 of 31) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
I hope this doesn't hurt the people who benefit the telethon! Just another hater...
He was refering to Perez Hilton AKA Mario Lavenderia.Can you blame him?
Where's all the outrage and racial slurs that was used when Isiah Washington used the f-word? Everyone so far is just trying to figure out who Jerry Lewis was referring to but no hate is being spew from you commenters mouths yet...interesting.
That made TMZ news? Please! Looking for stories are we now? It's nothing, Harvey, ya got nothin here.
I watched bits and pieces of the Telethon- never liked Jerry to begin with. As a gay woman- he is another piece of trash that needs to be thrown out- and I thought this way before this year's comment. Everyone says he's not making a dime off this telethon every year- B.S.- the piece of trash is making a great living with his water work tears. I feel bad for the disabled who have to deal with with man as their "spokesman" and "hero"- God Bless the children- but screw Jerry Lewis.
My friend used to work for TSA at the Philadelphia airport, and Jerry Lewis came through her line. She said he was cursing even then. He is known for using expletives. He needs to check his mouth next time.
he has spent the last 42 years raising money for research and support of those who have muscular dystrophy.
it was the middle of the night
he's 81 years old.
this isn't news worthy.
don't like isaiah, but, yeah, where's all the hatin' - equal time for equal jerks! jerry should lose his "job", too!
time to find a new spokesperson jerry is less involved each year on the air. while trying to be funny things you say do hurt peoples feelings and hopefully aplogiy was extened on jerry"s behave by him.
