Lewis Takes Foot Out of Mouth, Issues Statement

Alleged comedian Jerry Lewis has issued a statement to CNN, following the public outcry over his use of a gay slur on this weekend's MDA Telethon:

"During the 21-1/2-hour live broadcast of my Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association this weekend, I made a joking comment to a member of my production team. I apologize to anyone who was offended. I obviously made a bad choice of words. 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. The success of the show and all the good that will come from it shouldn't be lost because of one unfortunate word. I accept responsibility for what I said. There are no excuses. I am sorry."



Reader Comments

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31. This is a non issue in this day and age.
Freedom of speech for all, even the old and the white.

Posted at 6:29PM on Sep 4th 2007 by karen

32. Look, Washinton lost his job on Greys for saying the same word..Why should Jerry be able to get away with it?

Posted at 6:33PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Tara Tennent

33. Jerry's the man -- he was jest joking --
fom Jerry's gay fan club.

Posted at 6:35PM on Sep 4th 2007 by karen

34. He's a good guy!!! Leave him alone!!!!!!

Posted at 6:38PM on Sep 4th 2007 by meadow

35. He's a good guy!!! Leave him alone!!!!!!

Posted at 6:56PM on Sep 4th 2007 by meadow

36. Jerry Lewis deserves more respect. Somebody made a serious mistake by turning this into an issue; it should have been allowed to fly under the radar. In this age of extreme political correctness, Mr. Lewis obviously made a poor choice of words (who doesn't from time to time?) but I think that's all they were to him--words. I don't believe they were a reflection of his personal beliefs or prejudices. The man is 82 years old; he comes from a time when a comedian could be funny without having to worry about offending everyone on the face of the earth.

God bless Jerry Lewis.

Shame on you, TMZ for contributing to the hype.

Posted at 6:42PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Marissa

37. I was at the Telethon. Jerry Lewis did not intentionally offend anyone. Will you all just lay off. Good grief, this man does so much for the world. One wrong word and he's deemed a bad person. I love him dearly.

Posted at 6:49PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Carol

38. now is the media gonna treat him the same way they treated Isaiah Washington but they not cause ones white and ones black.you do the math

Posted at 7:12PM on Sep 4th 2007 by josh ya digg

39. Hi mom here,

I think we all need to relax Jerry has been around for a long time and is from a different time when some words were dislike now were normal back then. This man was tired and has a lot of health issues but still he goes on for the kids! what a guy. This is not the "other" star that used the word to hurt someone.

It is time to remember what we learned in the sand box!

Posted at 6:52PM on Sep 4th 2007 by mom

40. I am so sick of people taking offense to words. Words are just that "words". Shut up and get on with life already.

Posted at 6:53PM on Sep 4th 2007 by DM

41. Wait, what about all of the ILLITERATE people that MUST be offended?? Nobody is saying anything about them?

Posted at 6:59PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Jenn Canada

42. When you can compare what Isaiah Washington has done for humanity versus what Jerry Lewis has done for humanity, then we'll talk.

I'm sure each MD kid and their family will treasure the opportunity to watch Gray's Anatomy, and marvel about how it has helped them for years.

Posted at 7:01PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Michele

43. just refer to the bible the best and only guide lines on how to live. ! Coreinthians 6 9-11.
this will give the correct answer to how we should live . It's just to bad that Gays don't learn to read the bible and live by it. we are on this earth no more than a breath compared to time and have the God given opportunity for eternal life if we just clean up our act. Get off Jerrys back until you have raised as much as he has for charity.
Ed. Sargent Sr.

Posted at 8:23PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Ed. Sargent Sr.

44. Dumbest "controversy" ever. Team Jerry.

Posted at 7:03PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Zulu

45. Jerry Lewis was still a very popular comedian when you were just some punkazz law student barely making it through contract law, Harvey.

Posted at 7:04PM on Sep 4th 2007 by Me

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