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Halle Berry's Jewish nose Tonight Show with Leno gaffe
Oct 23, 2007, 14:30 GMT
Halle Berry upon her arrival to the red carpet of the movie "Perfect Stranger" in Mexico City 19 April 2007. EPA/David de la Paz
Halle Berry has been forced to apologize after making an anti-Semitic joke on a US talk show.
The Oscar-winning beauty - who is currently pregnant with her first child - was showing chat show host Jay Leno and his audience distorted images of herself when she made the faux pas.
When holding up a photograph of her with a larger nose, she quipped she looked like her Jewish cousin.
One audience member told the New York Post newspaper: "She introduced the first photo by saying, 'Here's where I look like my Jewish cousin!' - it was a picture of her with a huge, distorted nose. No one laughed, and Jay nervously said, 'I'm glad you said that and not me.' When the show aired, they cut out her 'Jewish' comment and added a laugh track to the bit."
Halle later apologized for her remarks, insisting she didn't mean any offense.
She said: "I so didn't mean to offend anybody - and after the show I realised it could be seen as offensive, so I asked Jay to take it out, and he did.
"I was backstage before the show and I have three girls who are Jewish who work for me. We were going through pictures to see which ones looked silly, and one of my Jewish friends said of the big-nose picture, 'That could be your Jewish cousin!' And I guess it was fresh in my mind, and it just came out of my mouth. But I didn't mean to offend anybody. I didn't. I didn't mean any harm."
(C) BANG Media International
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I know that race and ethnicity and religion are all sensitive subjects, but I don't think Halle meant to offend anyone; she was just trying to be funny. Although people such as Halle need to be more careful because they are in the spotlight, I think we need to consider motive. Many people may be guilty of using the 'N' word, while some mean it as a gesture to their fellow friend and others mean it as a derogatory term. Same goes for many other 'offensive' words, coming right down to 'retarded,' a word you hear in every other song these days. I myself am guilty of making jokes about others who differ in race, sexuality, and religion, and to people who know me, they know I'm joking and I love people of all kinds. That needs to be made clear; I don't think Halle was making an offensive comment to offend; she was on a talk show and trying to be funny, with an idea from her Jewish friend. I think she should have apologized for offending anyone, but not for making the comment, as there was no ill intent.
It's a shame that people get offended so easily about this type of thing and so much more.
Savon Du Jour: If you are the same one from Xanga, which, my intuition tells me you are, I remember you saying that your son's father is black. I don't remember what nationality, but I do remember that much. I also have seen a photo of your son. My son is also mixed. He's quite a bit darker. They are both (our sons) good-looking. I'm just saying, I don't think the only reason your son is the color he is because of where you reside.
And I know how much you love sharing your drama, although you deny it a lot, so, how about spilling that million dollar secret you have. Come on. You know you want the money. And who is Richard December?
Oh, and Petra, Oops, I mean, Savon Du Jour, I'm sorry, I just remembered that you did mention something about your son being her African American cousin. My mistake.
Yeah, that was a bad joke. I'm sure you wish it were true, though.
Halle is a beautiful woman and my intuition tells me that she really meant no harm.
page: 1
SavondujourOct 23rd, 2007 - 22:59:53
That's all right, Halle, I'm your Jewish cousin and my kid, who is very tanned (we live in the Caribbean) must be your uh, African-American cousin, right?
Actually bad joke, it will be a sad world when we all have to be politically correct and never make fun of each other. Look at how America is freaking over J K Rowling's gay comment, which was only her very British sense of humour.
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