Originally Posted by
JeffDime
My politics are issue to issue. I don’t feel the need to be in one tribe or the other. I feel as if someone needs to refer to a certain party’s platform to decide where to fall on a certain issue it’s a bit silly to me. I do understand that we basically have a binary choice and many feel the need to swallow what they don’t like about the side they are on and just have to deal with it.
That being said, it is clear that it is mostly a certain segment (Small but loud & motivated) of people on the left that really live for going into successful people’s past and tearing them down. It is probably the same people that are constantly calling for boycotts of programs they disagree with. Of course, there are those on the right that engage in this as well. The voices on the left do seem to drown out those engaging in the same behavior on the right.
I understand to the extent I can why it is the history of the use of blackface where white actors would make terrible, stereotypical & downright racist jokes about African-Americans while wearing blackface. White actors wearing blackface were given work that should of went to a person of color.
I don’t believe that any of these well known people were aware of the real history of blackface when they wore it. Nevertheless, it seems like this entire list has been given a pass. Note, you will not see anyone known to be a proponent of issues on the right except maybe for Robert Downey Jr. He has alluded to harboring some views that differ from most of Hollywood but has been careful to elaborate. I can’t blame him when he has been cashing checks upwards of $50 Million Dollars the last 7 to 10 years.
Justin Trudeau (2001) -Aladdin Brownface - Still Prime Minister mostly unscathed.
Jimmy Kimmel (Late 90’s) - “The Man Show” Various Black Athletes & Oprah Winfrey - Announced he will be taking the summer off and returning in September.
Tom Hanks (2004) released in 2012 - School fundraiser where he dressed in blackface and African clothing. He apologized and that was about it.
Ted Danson (1993) - Friars Club Roast of Whoopi Goldberg where he did a monologue in blackface which has been reported to include multiple uses of the N-Word. Came out mostly unscathed even with Mayor Dinkins denouncing the performance. (This wouldn’t fly today or even 10 years ago but he seemed to do this right before it would of really hurt his career).
Jimmy Fallon (2000) - Appeared in a skit on SNL impersonating Chris Rock in blackface. Apologized recently and seems to be unscathed.
Robert Downey Jr. (2008) - Wore blackface to play a comedic role in the movie “Tropic Thunder”. There has been some debate and criticism but between many of his Hollywood friends defending the movie as a satire and then the beginning of his highly successful time playing Iron Man he has come out completely unscathed. In fact, he was praised for this role more than criticized in my opinion.
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