Harry Connick Jr. Schools an Australian TV show audience on race relations
Sot if I would have known that…I wouldn’t have appeared on the show
Harry Connick Jr. Appeared as a judge on the Australian variety show called “hey hey, it’s Saturday” but when the “Jackson jive” performed in black face, quick sot of the performance harry was livid…
If you performed this in the U.S., it ‘d be hey, hey, no more show
Later Harry got an apology and explained his outrage…
Im sorry we offended you, you seem upset/yes/I know you didn’t mean anything by it, we ‘ve try not to treat black people like buffoon, this would never have happened in the us
Way to Go Harry for expressing your feelings about that tasteless performance. I heard rumour that Australia was a very racist country but now I am beginning to believe it because how could they perform a skit like that and thought it would be acceptable. Thank God an american was on the show judging and called them out on it.
what? Seriously get a funny bone, they didn’t mean to be offencive it was just a bit of fun. We offened people all the time on comedy shows here in Britain, even the ones we love, but we don’t mean to be horrible. Its just a lauph!
Harry is 100% wrong, its a joke like Harry’s music that he makes. Everybody is so PC. People its a joke! Harry comes off as a real prick and an asshole.
I don’t think you understand the History of Blackface in the United States. That make-up was used to mock and oppress an entire race for MANY, MANY years. At one time in the USA, there were places where Black people were not allowed to appear on stage EXCEPT in blackface. In other words, it was illegal for black people to be on stage unless they were making clowns of their own race. It was a hideous time.
Most of australians are retard, I feel sorry for Aboriginal people, they still have a long way to go. btw, the skit was definitely not funny.
Good move from Harry Connick Jr!
im glad he made a stand against it….it just shows up australia for being about 50 years behind other countries when it comes to this kind of thing…well done australia…..
funny bone…i think you need a history lesson, there is nothing funny about blackface and what it symbolised, oh yes, im british as well, dont make us all seem like you and like its ok in britain when it isnt, if someone turned up on BGT in blackface do you think they would get a standing ovation……?
For the last god dam time, we don’t give a shi# about the USA. That’s your culture, not ours. This comedy sketched was aimed at an Australian audience, you weren’t even suppose to see it (until your news picked it up).
Also, I’ll have you note, Australia has no negative history with Black slave trade from Africa, the only slaves to Australia were white convicts.
Maybe Australia start dictating it’s historic sensibilities to America…Don’t depict white prisoners, reminds us of convict past.
Bullshit. Harry Connick, Jr. is from the USA. I was just explaining his perspective. Are you claiming that Harry Connick, Jr. wasn’t supposed to see this?
I wasn’t dictating my sensibilities to you, I was trying to explain Connick’s.
not really, because black-face was meant to degrade black people for years and years and to repress them and keep them from having any validity/respect in society. White chicks is under an almost completely different context and do you honestly think cute blonde girls are in any way a repressed culture? Not in America because WE LOVE DUMB BLONDES, regardless if we tease them or not. But black people still get to carry around a scarlet letter.
Here’s a jew joke for you to try: anything holocaust related. Or let’s make a dance out of nuking Hiroshima. Add an audience and a tv camera and you’ll be just another unthinking laughing participant as seen here watch?v=t07trNBusU0
no he was wrong,he thinks he can speak for all americans with his opinion about a stupid skit, talk about arrogance and haven’t black people come far enough in the last few centurys to not find white people with a painted black face racist, it’s not like they were making fun of black people at all
you’re a retard and ignorant, i feel sorry for all the black people in the ghettos of america, we’ve said sorry to the aboriginal people and have tried to help them out by giving them money which they have use, even to set up their own tv channel, but some aborginals ethier want to live like there ancestors or they spend whatever money they get on alchol, it was a jackson 5 performance, nothing was ment to be funny about it
wasen’t mocking black people in this case though, they were just doing the jackson 5, sorry were don’t have that many african americans in australia to do a proper tribute
are you actually justifying what they did? do you know that australia has aboriginals, srilankians and papa nugineans who could easily have worn an oversized wig and pulled this skit off..What they did here is racist and for you to try to play apologists leads me to believe you are a racist or in the very least ignorant
bit of ignorence displayed by you 2,there aren’t as many dark people in australia as you might think, or at least not in the urban areas, what they did was a tribute but they probebly should have used a lighter shade of brown
Okay now I know i’m either talking to a child or a lame racist cuz again you show your ignorance if it was trully an innocent tribute to jackson five then why wouldnt a srilankan,papa nugian or aboriginal’s skin tone suffice? Have you ever seen the skin tone of the jackson 5 members or mj in his hey day? I think you will find it was more caramel than (black ) shoe polish..Or are you so ignorant that you cant discern between pitch black and brown..
There are many types of indians who come in all shades matey, the point I was trying to make by focusing on srilankans in particular is they happen to be the darkest..Which goes back to my initial point of if this was trully a tribute and not a mockery when not have ethnic minorities with a caramel hue play jackson 5 instead of fair skin folks making idiots of themselves
It was designed for an Australian audience retards. We aren’t racist in Australia, hence the reason why no one found it necessary to take the skit off the air. Couldn’t say the same for Americans though could we?
Harry connick jr has to be the biggest Hypocrite there is !!!!! Y is it ok for him to impersonate a Preacher when all this group was doing was impersonating the Jackson five……. Tropic Thunder …. Need we say More. Hey Harry Australians will continue to watch Hey Hey its Saturday and as for your performance on the the show that deserves a ‘Zero’
I think it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black (*note to American audience: this is a common saying that has nothing to do with race) after a member of the US press labelled my country a “racist backwater”.
I challenge that member of the US media – as narrow-minded, biased, and driven by corporate agenda as it may be – to a fight over whose country is less racist. I’m betting mine and I wouldn’t mind a wager on how many Australians agree with me.
is harry connick jr from america? im not sure
coz if he is… i dont noe wat hes on about… i was in america recently and im telling u rite now they are one of the most racist nations in the world… they are unbelievable condacending
aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi… ever watched the movie white chicks? black guys trying to play white chicks…. ohhhh & harry, this is not america, we have a sense of humor over here… ohh yeah america ever heard of the KKK….. whos racist? america….
I’m still trying very hard to understand the offense. Did he think they resembled golliwogs or something? Or is it about disrespect to Michael Jackson?
I’m seriously confused with american culture….
Spare me, i know the whole story! You’ve try to help and that gives you an excuse to make “fun” of their skin colour? I mean, there ain’t any naturally black comedian in Australia? Btw the skit was even more offensive towards the Jackson 5 knowing that Michael recently passed away. It was definitely out of place and the fact that the producers agreed to air this proves that a lot of australians can’t care less about hurting the feelings of another racial group.
That member of the media must be a bit research-shy (note to American audience: ALL members of your MAINSTREAM media are forced to be research-shy. You are being lied to) and has failed to recognise my challenge for a verbal blue. I’ll open it up to all US citizens. I’d suggest they’d all be asleep but don’t they have to work 19 hours a day or something?
Look, Harry connick…. whatever his name is…. is obviously suffering from low ratings!! Hey hey has been off the air for how many years now??? Of course the producers are going to allow a skit like this to go to air – how much media attention is this getting now – and Harry connick is riding it for all it’s worth simply because he’s just…well…washed up is the best turm that comes to mind. Shame on you Harry, shame on your petty attempts to look as if you have integrity…SHAME!!!!!!!
PITTY THAT EVEN HAVING AN OPINION IS WRONG…. HE FELT THAT IT WAS WITH OUT TASTE SO HE SAID SOMETHING…. AMERICANS DO TILL NOW DEAL WITH THE RACIST ISSUE ON A REGULAR BASIS THUS HIS REACTION… US HERE IN AUSTRALIA HAVE NOT HAD THAT MUCH EXPOSURE TO RACISM THUS WE DO NOT FIND IT EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE… HOWEVER IT WAS 5 MEN WITH BLACK PAINTED FACES LETS NOT FORGET and DOCTORS AT THAT. IT WAS WITH NO TASTE OR SENSITIVITY BUT HEY THATS MY OPINION
I think its coz back in the day they used to depict africans or “natives” with a black face and fat lips… its a racial stereotype, i personally think that their should be some sort of sensitivity to people who have been enslaved and then when freed were stereotyped… but as my prev comment i actually didnt see anything wrong with the skit except it was in bad taste to michael jacksons death … i dont think us ” australians” as a whole understand the extent of racism that america goes through
mate im glad your proud to be aussie as am i… aswell as being an “american” immigrant… you make valid points about the kkk… i think australia nipped it in the butt with assimilation and broadened multiculturalism however this is a fairly young country and america has alot of underlying issues with race that has progressed to where it is.. i dont think he was saying aussies are racist just that the skit was offensive to him which is his opinion..he was asked on the show for his opinion..
There is a ponderous gulf between the ostensible approach towards racism where it is swept under the carpet never to be re-visited, and a genuine attempt to face the wrongs of the past. Kevin Rudd (note to American audience: he is Australia’s Prime Minister. A Prime Minister is…ah, forget it) issued an unreserved apology to the indigenous people of our land on behalf of Federal Governance, past and present. A US President doing the same?
Which brings me back to my challenge. We’ll open it up to anyone who has something most Americans don’t seem to own – an atlas. The verbal duel may only be accepted by those can point to Australia in of those things first.
Australians can do this because racism isn’t a problem in Australia, and Harry Connick Jr being so offended by this means that racism is still a big part in the US, and when he said “We’ve spent so much time erasing our past”, oh shut up, if you’d done that you wouldn’t be offended by this!
what the hell??? i dont know about america…. but in australia all my mates that are black or asian and stuff dont give a shit what people call them… asians and blacks make fun of their own nationality to, u americans have got to grow some balls and get over this shit! where not doing anything wrong… were just having fun
i am Australian. and sorry i am not racist. if you think i am like the dudes on this video. then you are like the dudes on south park. and thats a show thats 10 times more racist. and no one gives a shit about that
Based on the responses on the comment board, Australia is the isle rednecks. Whats so DIFFICULT about taking someone else’s perspective into consideration? There’s a reason blackface performing is deemed offensive.- it may be beyond your comprehension, but to some, it’s very insulting. Considering the disregard for racial sensitivity, and the show being a knockoff of the The Gong Show, which ran 30 yrs ago, i guess you missed the boat to the 21st century.
“Needed to look the part”? Tell me there is no stage make-up better than that in Australia! Tell me there are no wigs better than those nappy, misshapen things!
Those men didn’t look the part of “The Jackson 5.” They weren’t even trying to look the part. That was not a tribute. They looked like total buffoons!
Your habitual and neurotic need to defend a bunch of guys who looked like they were performing in a misguided, drunken, fraternity hazing makes you seem like a buffoon as well, trento.
You are absolutely correct. Australia is known to be the island of rednecks. Infact, Australia rely on that reputation and sell it to the world to attract tourism. For some unknown reason, Australia seem to take pride in having the reputation as being a “redneck” country. They don’t realise the world has moved on to the 21st century…
oh golly gosh cry me a river america!
If you are gonna take something like that to heart then you are all need to sit back and take a look again.
This really has been blown out of proportion.
What do you expect from a land way out In the Pacific covered mostly of useless desert ?They are backwards in their thinking they know not what they do, but america will teach them !
If they were doing this in HONOR of the Jackson’s, then WHY such DARK makeup props? funny last time I saw a REAL Jackson they were not Black like that.
not like those fakes.
I am with Harry on this one.
You know their is the Australian way of life and the way most Americans live in their country.
Sad to say people have got upset but did not see the show as it was for the entertainment.
I know many Black and African Americans who like the way we have freedom to express and the way we speak, not one single person has expressed any hate towards England or America over a Comedy Parody that was an act, each person who thinks they can do better please appy to go on the show. to show your talent.
Spare Australians please tierren. You impressed us all by locating Australia (you’ve comprehended that the Pacific Ocean figures in some way) and by pointing out that our land mass is mostly made up of desert. Well done tierren. This knowledge would qualify you for an instant High School Equivalancy in the US wouldn’t it. I’m aware that the education system there is largely owned by private bodies and that independent thought is discouraged. Don’t worry though. The US may one day evolve.
Congratulations RockingJamboree. You managed to regurgitate the words of Connick. “Bufoons”. I woud also like to point to your use of the words “neurotic” and “habitual”. I’m not sure if it’s a waste of time explaining why these words don’t belong in your shoddy, faux-intelectual diatribe but I’m pretty certain it would be. If you argue with a fool people may not be able to tell the difference. Far be it for me to tell an AMERICAN how to speak Engish. Heaven forbid.
Memo to Josh22268: America’s history is not world history. Treat your own people well before hanging shit on some TV skit. When will the US finally drag its sorry arse into the present?
Free medical care? Not in America. Equal opportunity? Not in America. Land of the free? Not America. Land of the intelligent? Uh, next. eople told that some mythical men in from a far away land used box cutters to destroy 3 huge buildings in the central trade hub. That would be America. Stay in your people farm
I agree with you dannypinn…AMERICANS HAVE NO IDEA….no socail security,zero health care(It”s only for those who can afford it)….and don’t get me started on the 10th rate education system…..If America looked afetr it’s own people…We may actually give a shit about what they think
The skit was offensive to US, and US includes anyone who had to and still has to deal with inbred caucasian racist who dislike anybody that didn’t come from their family tree which by the way has no branches. Harry Connick was offended, and has the inalienable right to say, & to tell them he was offended And yes, let them try that skit at the Apollo, hot ATL, W.Philly, Chi-town or Miami and watch them get the sho nuf black beat off they ass!
They seem to forget what they did to the blacks in slavery times and how they beat them and dehumanised them, what a hypocite and america is is no model for the rest of the world, it stinks like the most stenching smell from the bowels of the earth, it just goes to show arrogance at its most high but then the yanks are proud of that.
White Australia has a history of Aboriginal slavery, occupation, and subjugation.America and Australia were both prison colonies of England ,who kicked out her pig and sheep thieves sending them to the shores of both continents,so what kind of historic sensibliites do you think you can share?
Beccahday, you’re wasting your time dialoguing with trento54 his profile displays him as having the Occupation:anal prolapse repairer. So now we know why his mind is so crappy.
its understandable on why harry got upset….but our way of australian life and culture is to have a good laugh at things without being offensive. and these day once things get out of hand racially and multiculturally we get on top of it straight away….im 100% sure that there was not meant to be any malice in that skit!!
This sucks, now everyone thinks we’re racists. Yes there are racists here, but not all of us are. I’m a PNG islander and of course I get the odd racist remark or two and there are times when people refuse my help as a sales assistant and ask for someone else to help them. There are times when people will move to another seat after I’ve sat down. But there are also a lot of good people too. Some people are really sweet and they want to talk with me or help me out. Not everyone sucks in Australia.
OZ supported the liberation of East Timor in late 90s & yelled out human rights issues, but its a cover up to reap the benefits from the natural resources the country has. Also in the 90s, OZ govt supplied arms to the christians in Maluku and they were riots between the muslims and christians in the once peaceful province. Thirdly, they have been successful in placing all the aborigines on the streets. Lets not forget, dear mr aussiecowboy the whole aborigines in Tasman went total annihilation
But to be fair not all OZ are racists. Its only the typical ones that own a holden and a pet labrador, drink Fosters, have a swimming pool and watches channel 9
You cant say “Australian’s are racist” sure there are something that happen,but that happends everywhere, and Darryl the host gave an apology. but culture is differnt here, and that skit in Australia was not evern thought about until Harry said somthing.
no we don’t have many black comedians and it was a tribute to micheal jackson and the jackson 5, it was originally broadcast 20 years ago as a performance and because it was a memerable skit at the time they put it on there reunion show (the shows been of for 10 years) they were simply thinking about the the show
yea lets look at what the states have done to thier own indigenous population .. and the amount of wars they have waged i believe they have been in one war or another for decades murdering innocent civillians and invading countries ..not to mention the nuke’in of japan how many people did the murder there ..harden up yanks .. take a look at ya selves before lashin out at the only country thats ever stuck by your side through thick and thin .. maybe u can go it alone from now on .
i think they were trying to resemble golliwogs which were a famous australian biscuit at the time but got pulled off the shelves bout 10 years ago cause it was like eatting mini black people(remeber this was a tribute to a performance they did on the show in the 80″s), golliwogs didn’t look stupid, the look like normal balck people with afros
i’m not neurotic this is just the closest i’ll ever get to defending my country, the red faces segement has never been about professionalism btw
oh shut it, stop forcing your political correctness on everybody it’s because of all these so called do gooders we can’t send christmas cards for risk of offending some minority.. get a grip and get a sense of humor. rant over
Americans are such hypocrites. Check out the new season of Madmen on US TV. In one episode, at the country club, Roger (John Slattery), on his knees in blackface, croons “My Old Kentucky Home” to Jane. So much for Harry’s comment as Madmen has a huge following in the US and cannot see any adverse comments relating to that episode. But please don’t let the facts interfere with your viewpoint.
It’s good that Golliwogs Buisuits became Scalliwags. The Golliwogs imagery is definitely based on the Racist , 19th Century, American Blackface Minstrel Stereotype.
At one time, Blackface was not only used to ridicule Black people, but it was ILLEGAL for Black people to be on stage without wearing Minstrel Blackface. It was systematic racism, shameful and evil.
This is why Connick reacted the way he did and said that you could NEVER get away with that in the USA today.
Roger Sterling wearing blackface on MadMen isnt to bring about laughs, its to demonstrate the racist ideology of the time. The MadMen office is full of bigots and sexists and part of the reason MadMen has such a huge following is that it shows the reality of the 60s without sugarcoating. Roger’s character isn’t supposed to be likable. And playing a racist character on tv is very different from real people willfully making amockery of a group of people by reinforcing racist stereotypes…
Are all Americans like it’s bad taste tv? Jerry Springer, the man show and Howard Stern? Why are you still killing people (including your own) in Iraq? Why did you go against the UN to invade another country? Why do you still use racist native american mascots in your sports events? Why have you not tried George Bush for war crimes? Australia does need to address it’s racist issues. But America needs to stop interfering in other countries business’s (as you did in Oz in 1975).
All of you are arrogant, the British still act like the sun won’t set on their ‘empire’ Americans have a cowboy attitude of ‘I’ll f_k you up if you step to me’ and Australians think they’re bad ass redecks who can out do everybody else. So you’re all 3 sister’s children- don’t be mad.
Was going to write an insightful comment but can’t stop laughing at your hypocracy by way of your Amerikan spin on Madmen. If that’s your take, then consider that these Australian guys (the lead is an Indian) were invited back to the show because they had appeared on it with the same skit in the 1970’s. Double standards indeed. Racial sterotypes indeed.
Harry spnt “so much time trying not to make black ppl look like buffoons”.
So either they look like buffoons or you guys portrayed them as buffoons. Not Australia! We have nothing to feel sorry. I dont want to understand the history of the burqua, worn by oppressed women, and i dont want to understand the history of putting nugget on your face in order to parody a black person! It’s Americas problem, OWN IT YANK! We are not an annexe of your gun toting, fat arsed society, yet.
Hey hey! Lightn up everyone. These views represent the thoughts of one man, not the whole of the US. I am sure that not many black people would find this shit offensive, and that is what really matters. It is making a good humoured joke about Michael Jackson, one I’m suee he would not be offended about.
Look. I was on a training exercise during the Vietnam war. The relations between black and white American soidiers were so bad, they simply ignored each other, except in knife fights.
Ahhh, everyone just needs to take a chill pill…obviously many of you have not seen the greatness that is Avenue Q and their hilarious but oh so true song “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” – it sums the world up to a tee…..
Everyone’s a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn’t mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one’s really color blind.
Maybe it’s a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.
There was a lack of talent in this skit but I am sure that racism was not the intent. It was performed in Australia for an Australian audience, not American. We do not have a heritage of enslaving Africans and did not grow up with the racism they were subject to. Most the guys in this skit were Indians. They themselves have been subject to racism at the hands of the British. Nearly all Australians are only first or second generation from immigrant parents and more tolerant than most nations.
well stated. The racist view belongs to Harry and some of his countrymen based on THEIR perspective. This is part of what makes the mosaic world great. Here in Australia we are entering the spring carnival where many women will wear short skirts and get drunk and gamble, all of which is very offensive in some other countries. But why should WE change, it’s only a problem from THEIR perspective. Good on Harry for stating that he felt offended, but we shouldn’t change.
I don’t think the joke was about race at all and I don’t see how it was insulting. They were just dressed up like the Jackson Five. And yes, Michael did go white towards the end. I think you Americans who were offended by this need to get a sense of humor. And by that I don’t mean you should laugh at racist jokes – not at all. I just think you should see how this isn’t a racist joke and not take everything so seriously. Ligthen up.
How on earth can this tribute to the jackson 5 be offensive? The crowd seemed to love it and clap along. They obviously love the Jackson music too. What about the asian wearing a white face? No white people were offended? I was more offended by Harry implying back people are “buffoons”.
Aren’t aborigines black? As a country with such a small population huddled around the coast and desparately isolated from the rest of the world, you can’t understand the responsibility that comes from having to respect minorites and other cultures.
We (Australians) are not racist… sure there will be ppl here that are racist but overall you can’t call Australia racist.
Australia was the most generous nation with aid donations totalling $1.1 USD in the wake of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, from a population of 19 million (2004)
We (Australians) are not racist, sure you may find a few that are racist, but you cant call the country racist.
Australia was the most generous nation with aid donations totalling $1.1 Billion USD in the wake of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, $1.1 Billion coming from a population of 19 million (2004).
no it wasn’t meant as racist, but it was offensive! “blackface” was used in the past as a way to demean blacks with stereotypes and portraying the black man as a stupid, dancing slave– so yeah, when “blackface” hasn’t been used in America for a few decades, I can see why Harry Connick Jr. was shocked and offended.
Why is there so much hostility towards the U.S. and Australia? I didn’t see Harry blame anyone of being racist, just that he thought the act itself was. Why are people making the assumption that Australia is racist now? I live in the U.S. and have experienced racism myself, but I do not judge people as they do me. One day they will be judged themselves. Who am I to get upset? They are ignorant. Why should any of you feel the need to be hostile to another country who hasn’t even wronged you?
the term “blackface” is not a known thing in australia as it is in america.
but this is the time of the year in america where there are hundreds of whitemen smearing black paint on their faces.
in saying that, i am talking about american football. every player smears black paint under their eyes.
is that not just as “racist”?
smearing paint on your face for a football game has absolutely nothing to do with BLACKFACE and I have no idea how you even put the two together. Blackface was a type of performance popular in the 19th century as a way to demean, dehumanize, and degrade blacks- so yes, with such a negative history in American culture– it’s harder for us as Americans to find something so deeply rooted in racism to be funny and appropriate
so a white american football player can wear black face paint and run around looking like a dumbarse, but a white performer can’t do the same.
lets have another look at the video anyway, its a pisstake on the jackson 5, wasn’t it michael jackson who sang “it don’t matter if your black or white”
and he turned himself white. shouldn’t that have been horribly misconstrued as him been racist towards whites? afterall. he turned into a white kiddy fiddler.
wait- Australians are more tolerant than most nations? Didn’t you guys have the Immigration Restriction Act or better known as “WHITE Australia Policy”…..doesn’t Australia also have a history of refusing Asians and non-whites to immigrate to the country? So just as America, Australia has a darker history that isn’t all tolerance and hand holding.
nope, a very parge percentage of australians are asian. it has always had a large number of people trying to immigrate and it doesn’t matter what colour you are. they just have a very hard screening system.
yes, a white football player can put black pain on his face — but if that same white player drew a caricature of a black man’s face on his own and went around saying “massah” it would be inappropriate. do i find the jackson 5 skit funny? not at all… do I find it racist? no. do I think blackface was basically used as a tool for racism in America’s history – yes. So that being what it is, Americans don’t find it as acceptable as Australians. that’s all I’m saying.
your last comment stating that you do not find this racist but you do find it offensive makes sense.
as you say, blackface was used as a tool for racism 100 years ago in america.
not in australia where this is form.
15 years ago, americans would never have even known this happened, (the skit i mean) wouldn’t have made world news without the internet being what it is today.
did you hear about it 20 years ago when it first aired?
screening system- yes, I believe it was a 50-word dictation test. and what is it with you and misconstruing what I say? yes, Australia has a large Asian community but in Australia’s history – I’m not saying recent- but in your country’s history, there was a huge intolerance to Asians immigrating to Australia. So people on here can say all they want how Australia is so tolerant and Americans are so racist, but every country has darker roots and some racism in their history- your country included
okay alexsimpson20- thank you for getting what I was trying to say lol! It’s just that two countries with two different histories are going to view the same thing differently, especially with America having such a negative history with blackface. If Americans didn’t have blackface in its history, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. It’s just history shapes what we view as appropriate or inappropriate by what has happened in the past.
i get it,
i am an american resident and i live in america, my wife has her australian residency.
so we have both been through the immigration process with both america and australia.
lets face it, aslong as your not a criminal. either country will let people migrate, no matter where they are from.
since this has all come about because of the jacksons, i have to put down a quote from michael jackson
“it don’t matter if your black or white”
I wish you would shutup. You don’t help the point you’re trying to make. I don’t think it was meant to be racist, but comments like yours make us seem intolerant. Jackson wasn’t a kiddie fiddler, you think you know better than the law.
You are exactly the kind of person I would assume to be racist because you make sweeping unproved irrelevant statements. Shoosh.
Also, Jackson didn’t ‘turn himself white’, he had a progressive skin disorder where skin loses pigment. Look up vitiligo on youtube. You really are mucking the waters for yourself.
“jackson wasn’t a kiddie fiddler”
sorry, i didn’t realise it wasn’t considered pedophelia if you can afford to pay for it and being such a high profile case they couldn’t get a jury that knew nothing about it which made the case impossible to be won and now his victims have to live with the hurt and pain he forced onto them.
this further proves you believed media hype over evidence. I suggest you watch ‘Inside Michael Jacksons trial’ on youtube. But I know you won’t, because you’d rather believe the media (who knows negative news sells) and continue to make sweeping statements based on rumor and ignorance.
why is everyone being so hostile? Are we so addicted to drama? This is why the media makes villains of EVERYBODY it possibly can. We’re addicted to this rubbish and their viewership soars. Take a step back and chill.
YES true.. how much does the average American know about Australia and our culture?
Can Americans acknowledge that their culture is the most powerful culture in the world? Can they acknowledge that the media influences billions worldwide to live an American lifestyle, become consumers, and pollute the planet beyond repair??
And how much does the average non-Aboriginal (that includes Asian and white etc) know about indigenous Australian culture?
The Golliwog is still used as an insult against blacks – though I’ve never heard it in America.
The two countries are different. We have our own culture and while America is racially sensitive, I’m sure there are things Australians are sensitive to, things they can’t stand other people doing/saying without knowing their culture. Everyone’s got a right to an opinion. Connick wasn’t insulting, he was telling his opinion and feeling as an American who knows his culture and is sensitive to it.
It isn’t considered pedophelia if it isn’t pedophelia. You can’t prove one thing and you can’t prove the other and to assume the victim is right would negate the entire purpose of court. Do you have authentic video and pictures and an admission- aka, tangible evidence beyond word-of-mouth.
American Football players use black paint on their face because it’s said to help against the glare of light that would bounce off their cheek from the sun or stadium. It isn’t proven, and some people think it’s used for intimidation as ‘war paint’ but there’s no racial connection between those uses.
Also, Jackson had a skin condition- google/youtube it and see others with the illness or you can actually reference to the autopsy. Are you saying everyone who suffers from the condition is racist?
Unlike you I haven’t obsessed over it. The first time I’ve heard of this was two days ago. I’m not the one commenting on everyone’s comments for the past week
Anyone who thinks this act was racist is stupid. What that guy said about “we’ve spent so long trying to make black people not look like buffoons”. That was far more racist than a bunch of guys having a laugh. You can only really be racist when you hate other races, I didn’t see any hate here. Oh and a reply to that guy about the “buffoons” thing, what about Kanye West? or 50 cent? These people are buffoons because they act out of buffonery it’s got nothing to do with black or white. idiots
two words: damage control. he spoke out about this because if he had said “OH that was GREAT!”, and the footage had leaked back to the US, he would’ve been a racist and blah blah blah… long story short, his career would’ve been over.
the wayans brothers made a movie a few years ago called “white chicks”, where they were in white face, pretending to be white girls. where was the public outcry over that? there wasn’t one because of the very large double standard in the US. what a load of crap.
I’m an American, and i didn’t think the act was racially offensive but it was idiotic. You seriously call that a tribute? If i was a big Micheal Jackson fan yes i would be offended. However, I think it was wrong got Harry to speak on behalf of the United States. Humor is subjective, w/e I find funny might not be funny to you. However the act offended Harry Connick Jr. so he had a right to speak out it against it.
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193 Comments
193 responses To Date
1 SKUA4EVA • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Harry is right!
I’m glad he did that!
2 ErickReyKing91 • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Harry Connick Jr. is 100 % Right !!!
in Australia do this Kind Stuff in a Regular base…
i remember in a Tv Show they trow Food at the Mexican Flag!!!
3 onyxxx101 • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I’ve never been prouder
Thank the world for pplz like Harry
4 fadekeee • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:12 pm
He’s so right. That was just offensive, black people aren’t even that colour wtf? I’m brown.
5 college87 • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:16 pm
i hate the 15 seconds commericals
6 Crystalmuhammad • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Harry Connick Jr. What a great stand up kind of guy!
7 butterflybloom1 • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Way to Go Harry for expressing your feelings about that tasteless performance. I heard rumour that Australia was a very racist country but now I am beginning to believe it because how could they perform a skit like that and thought it would be acceptable. Thank God an american was on the show judging and called them out on it.
8 zulufirebolt • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:32 pm
HArry has always been my hero–I respect him greatly–this is a guy who is from the south and seen that kind of shit striaght up! Props to HC–
9 mishel1220 • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:49 pm
That was amazing. I knew I liked him for a reason. We need more people like Harry in this world.
10 rachekins12345 • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:55 pm
what? Seriously get a funny bone, they didn’t mean to be offencive it was just a bit of fun. We offened people all the time on comedy shows here in Britain, even the ones we love, but we don’t mean to be horrible. Its just a lauph!
11 flair420 • Oct 8, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Harry is 100% wrong, its a joke like Harry’s music that he makes. Everybody is so PC. People its a joke! Harry comes off as a real prick and an asshole.
12 DEXtr1p • Oct 8, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Harry Connick Jr is the man. from the south born and raised
13 RockingJamboree • Oct 8, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I don’t think you understand the History of Blackface in the United States. That make-up was used to mock and oppress an entire race for MANY, MANY years. At one time in the USA, there were places where Black people were not allowed to appear on stage EXCEPT in blackface. In other words, it was illegal for black people to be on stage unless they were making clowns of their own race. It was a hideous time.
14 beccahday • Oct 8, 2009 at 1:28 pm
tiesta is shit. i can’t handle these asinine ads anymore. unsubscribing now. thanks, and good luck.
15 beccahday • Oct 8, 2009 at 1:32 pm
so do you.
16 beccahday • Oct 8, 2009 at 1:32 pm
totally agreed.
17 ExposingTheGOP • Oct 8, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I’m not black and I completely empathize with Harry. That skit was sickening and it deserved negative points.
18 jonahda0mega • Oct 8, 2009 at 2:22 pm
he should be hollywood rotation more now hes the man fe dAT!!!
19 kamay81 • Oct 8, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Most of australians are retard, I feel sorry for Aboriginal people, they still have a long way to go. btw, the skit was definitely not funny.
Good move from Harry Connick Jr!
20 pallas1957 • Oct 8, 2009 at 2:26 pm
5 STARS TO HARRY CONNICK JR. . . . Australia Must Be 100 Years Behind In Race Relations. . . That Crap Went Out Of Style More Than 50 Years Ago.
21 misssxcgirl1995 • Oct 8, 2009 at 2:28 pm
im black nd i completely disagree this is racst!!!!!every race has idiots and people mae fun f the always!!!!!
22 snowball1988 • Oct 8, 2009 at 2:51 pm
im glad he made a stand against it….it just shows up australia for being about 50 years behind other countries when it comes to this kind of thing…well done australia…..
23 snowball1988 • Oct 8, 2009 at 2:56 pm
funny bone…i think you need a history lesson, there is nothing funny about blackface and what it symbolised, oh yes, im british as well, dont make us all seem like you and like its ok in britain when it isnt, if someone turned up on BGT in blackface do you think they would get a standing ovation……?
24 Victorian9322 • Oct 8, 2009 at 4:04 pm
RIGHT ON!!!!!
25 AmazingWayz07 • Oct 8, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Some people should be slapped in the face.
Right one Harry, thats why ive always liked this guy.
BLackface?? WTF? was it funny when Ted Danson and Whoppi Goldberg did it?? Poor taste all around
26 PR0GRAMMING • Oct 8, 2009 at 5:10 pm
For the last god dam time, we don’t give a shi# about the USA. That’s your culture, not ours. This comedy sketched was aimed at an Australian audience, you weren’t even suppose to see it (until your news picked it up).
Also, I’ll have you note, Australia has no negative history with Black slave trade from Africa, the only slaves to Australia were white convicts.
Maybe Australia start dictating it’s historic sensibilities to America…Don’t depict white prisoners, reminds us of convict past.
27 WolfOfDusk • Oct 8, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Lol this act even made it on Wikipedia xD
Harry’s right, blackface was used to mock black people as an act of racism for the longest time.
Not cool~
28 orient1961 • Oct 8, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Is the movie ‘White Chicks’ racist ?
29 RockingJamboree • Oct 8, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Bullshit. Harry Connick, Jr. is from the USA. I was just explaining his perspective. Are you claiming that Harry Connick, Jr. wasn’t supposed to see this?
I wasn’t dictating my sensibilities to you, I was trying to explain Connick’s.
30 RNRDOLL • Oct 8, 2009 at 7:37 pm
not really, because black-face was meant to degrade black people for years and years and to repress them and keep them from having any validity/respect in society. White chicks is under an almost completely different context and do you honestly think cute blonde girls are in any way a repressed culture? Not in America because WE LOVE DUMB BLONDES, regardless if we tease them or not. But black people still get to carry around a scarlet letter.
31 meldrey • Oct 8, 2009 at 8:26 pm
When it is well said, there is no more to say. Excellent surmise.
32 LilithFilth • Oct 8, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Daryl Somers (the host) is a f@cking MORON.
I apologise.
This has embarrassed me greatly.
33 meldrey • Oct 8, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Here’s a jew joke for you to try: anything holocaust related. Or let’s make a dance out of nuking Hiroshima. Add an audience and a tv camera and you’ll be just another unthinking laughing participant as seen here watch?v=t07trNBusU0
34 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:22 pm
no he was wrong,he thinks he can speak for all americans with his opinion about a stupid skit, talk about arrogance and haven’t black people come far enough in the last few centurys to not find white people with a painted black face racist, it’s not like they were making fun of black people at all
35 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:25 pm
america has put alot more racist things to air then any australian network has and every will
36 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:27 pm
nope more like what an arrogant asshole
37 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:28 pm
yeh they propbebly should of gone for a lighter shade
38 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:39 pm
yeh but australia isn’t america, and that skit wasen’t even making fun of african american it was simply doing the jackson 5
39 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:40 pm
no wee don’t need more arogant assholes who think they can speak down an entire country and talk down to another
40 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:41 pm
speak for*
41 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:42 pm
nope he’s a loserwho should stay in america from now on
42 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:43 pm
it was doing the jackson 5, yeh so sickening ay
43 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 9:49 pm
you’re a retard and ignorant, i feel sorry for all the black people in the ghettos of america, we’ve said sorry to the aboriginal people and have tried to help them out by giving them money which they have use, even to set up their own tv channel, but some aborginals ethier want to live like there ancestors or they spend whatever money they get on alchol, it was a jackson 5 performance, nothing was ment to be funny about it
44 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 10:00 pm
i can imagine, look at her father
45 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 10:03 pm
wasen’t mocking black people in this case though, they were just doing the jackson 5, sorry were don’t have that many african americans in australia to do a proper tribute
46 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 10:03 pm
me too. he’s pathetic
47 kreed82 • Oct 8, 2009 at 10:45 pm
are you actually justifying what they did? do you know that australia has aboriginals, srilankians and papa nugineans who could easily have worn an oversized wig and pulled this skit off..What they did here is racist and for you to try to play apologists leads me to believe you are a racist or in the very least ignorant
48 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 10:53 pm
bit of ignorence displayed by you 2,there aren’t as many dark people in australia as you might think, or at least not in the urban areas, what they did was a tribute but they probebly should have used a lighter shade of brown
49 beccahday • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:00 pm
you should probably learn how to spell properly before prattling on about ignorance. just a thought.
50 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:04 pm
blow me, spelling has never been of concern to me, only when it’s for something important, this isn’t inpornateeeent
51 speedstercraz • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:07 pm
blow you? you wish, kid.
52 beccahday • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:10 pm
if it isn’t important to you, why are you so hostile about it?
53 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:10 pm
cause it shits me
54 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:11 pm
wtf was i even talking to you
55 DEXtr1p • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:22 pm
seriously what kind of loser comes back to the same video and reply’s back to every comment? how pathetic. you must have a lot of time on your hands.
56 trento654 • Oct 8, 2009 at 11:26 pm
i do, i’m on holiday from uni, it’s wet outside, i’ve got a cold and i lost my license for speeding, of cousre i’ve got the time
57 DEXtr1p • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:21 am
i dont give a shit your still gay and pathetic
58 DEXtr1p • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:45 am
you wish
59 trento654 • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:56 am
i do i’d love to jizz on you ugly face
60 kreed82 • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:58 am
Okay now I know i’m either talking to a child or a lame racist cuz again you show your ignorance if it was trully an innocent tribute to jackson five then why wouldnt a srilankan,papa nugian or aboriginal’s skin tone suffice? Have you ever seen the skin tone of the jackson 5 members or mj in his hey day? I think you will find it was more caramel than (black ) shoe polish..Or are you so ignorant that you cant discern between pitch black and brown..
61 DEXtr1p • Oct 9, 2009 at 1:00 am
simple minded troll you make me laugh,
62 trento654 • Oct 9, 2009 at 1:15 am
“troll” using internet jjargon now are you, know you sound like the loser
63 trento654 • Oct 9, 2009 at 1:16 am
i said they should of used a different tone of brown idiot
64 irishgodfatherchris • Oct 9, 2009 at 2:09 am
one of them was sri lankan, the leader (so to speak) was Indian
65 kreed82 • Oct 9, 2009 at 2:20 am
There are many types of indians who come in all shades matey, the point I was trying to make by focusing on srilankans in particular is they happen to be the darkest..Which goes back to my initial point of if this was trully a tribute and not a mockery when not have ethnic minorities with a caramel hue play jackson 5 instead of fair skin folks making idiots of themselves
66 92lolzor • Oct 9, 2009 at 2:34 am
It was designed for an Australian audience retards. We aren’t racist in Australia, hence the reason why no one found it necessary to take the skit off the air. Couldn’t say the same for Americans though could we?
67 desnic101 • Oct 9, 2009 at 3:38 am
Harry connick jr has to be the biggest Hypocrite there is !!!!! Y is it ok for him to impersonate a Preacher when all this group was doing was impersonating the Jackson five……. Tropic Thunder …. Need we say More. Hey Harry Australians will continue to watch Hey Hey its Saturday and as for your performance on the the show that deserves a ‘Zero’
68 desnic101 • Oct 9, 2009 at 3:52 am
hahahahahaha
69 houseofmickie • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:08 am
hahaha true
70 halowaste • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:12 am
better yet heard of a movie called “white chicks”…
71 dannypinn • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:13 am
I think it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black (*note to American audience: this is a common saying that has nothing to do with race) after a member of the US press labelled my country a “racist backwater”.
I challenge that member of the US media – as narrow-minded, biased, and driven by corporate agenda as it may be – to a fight over whose country is less racist. I’m betting mine and I wouldn’t mind a wager on how many Australians agree with me.
I’ll start…
ROUND ONE:
Slavery
72 yinstube • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:14 am
Who is this Harry Connick Jr.? I hate his accent. It sounds so rough and uneducated.
73 desnic101 • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:18 am
Hey Harry, the performance you did on Hey Hey its Saturday deserves a Big fat Zero
74 kk36k3k6 • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:33 am
is harry connick jr from america? im not sure
coz if he is… i dont noe wat hes on about… i was in america recently and im telling u rite now they are one of the most racist nations in the world… they are unbelievable condacending
75 lucasm8303 • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:43 am
aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi… ever watched the movie white chicks? black guys trying to play white chicks…. ohhhh & harry, this is not america, we have a sense of humor over here… ohh yeah america ever heard of the KKK….. whos racist? america….
76 muppetspuppets • Oct 9, 2009 at 4:44 am
I’m still trying very hard to understand the offense. Did he think they resembled golliwogs or something? Or is it about disrespect to Michael Jackson?
I’m seriously confused with american culture….
77 kamay81 • Oct 9, 2009 at 5:24 am
Spare me, i know the whole story! You’ve try to help and that gives you an excuse to make “fun” of their skin colour? I mean, there ain’t any naturally black comedian in Australia? Btw the skit was even more offensive towards the Jackson 5 knowing that Michael recently passed away. It was definitely out of place and the fact that the producers agreed to air this proves that a lot of australians can’t care less about hurting the feelings of another racial group.
78 dannypinn • Oct 9, 2009 at 5:27 am
That member of the media must be a bit research-shy (note to American audience: ALL members of your MAINSTREAM media are forced to be research-shy. You are being lied to) and has failed to recognise my challenge for a verbal blue. I’ll open it up to all US citizens. I’d suggest they’d all be asleep but don’t they have to work 19 hours a day or something?
Again,
ROUND ONE:
Slavery
79 OliveOil2u • Oct 9, 2009 at 5:45 am
Look, Harry connick…. whatever his name is…. is obviously suffering from low ratings!! Hey hey has been off the air for how many years now??? Of course the producers are going to allow a skit like this to go to air – how much media attention is this getting now – and Harry connick is riding it for all it’s worth simply because he’s just…well…washed up is the best turm that comes to mind. Shame on you Harry, shame on your petty attempts to look as if you have integrity…SHAME!!!!!!!
80 tranqillo • Oct 9, 2009 at 6:06 am
PITTY THAT EVEN HAVING AN OPINION IS WRONG…. HE FELT THAT IT WAS WITH OUT TASTE SO HE SAID SOMETHING…. AMERICANS DO TILL NOW DEAL WITH THE RACIST ISSUE ON A REGULAR BASIS THUS HIS REACTION… US HERE IN AUSTRALIA HAVE NOT HAD THAT MUCH EXPOSURE TO RACISM THUS WE DO NOT FIND IT EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE… HOWEVER IT WAS 5 MEN WITH BLACK PAINTED FACES LETS NOT FORGET and DOCTORS AT THAT. IT WAS WITH NO TASTE OR SENSITIVITY BUT HEY THATS MY OPINION
81 tranqillo • Oct 9, 2009 at 6:10 am
I think its coz back in the day they used to depict africans or “natives” with a black face and fat lips… its a racial stereotype, i personally think that their should be some sort of sensitivity to people who have been enslaved and then when freed were stereotyped… but as my prev comment i actually didnt see anything wrong with the skit except it was in bad taste to michael jacksons death … i dont think us ” australians” as a whole understand the extent of racism that america goes through
82 tranqillo • Oct 9, 2009 at 6:13 am
mate im glad your proud to be aussie as am i… aswell as being an “american” immigrant… you make valid points about the kkk… i think australia nipped it in the butt with assimilation and broadened multiculturalism however this is a fairly young country and america has alot of underlying issues with race that has progressed to where it is.. i dont think he was saying aussies are racist just that the skit was offensive to him which is his opinion..he was asked on the show for his opinion..
83 dannypinn • Oct 9, 2009 at 6:16 am
Here, here OliveOil2u!!
There is a ponderous gulf between the ostensible approach towards racism where it is swept under the carpet never to be re-visited, and a genuine attempt to face the wrongs of the past. Kevin Rudd (note to American audience: he is Australia’s Prime Minister. A Prime Minister is…ah, forget it) issued an unreserved apology to the indigenous people of our land on behalf of Federal Governance, past and present. A US President doing the same?
84 dannypinn • Oct 9, 2009 at 6:22 am
Which brings me back to my challenge. We’ll open it up to anyone who has something most Americans don’t seem to own – an atlas. The verbal duel may only be accepted by those can point to Australia in of those things first.
Final call…
ROUND ONE:
Slavery
85 bhudi • Oct 9, 2009 at 6:59 am
This shouldnt even be an issue in this day and age…
86 Raman152 • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:34 am
Australians can do this because racism isn’t a problem in Australia, and Harry Connick Jr being so offended by this means that racism is still a big part in the US, and when he said “We’ve spent so much time erasing our past”, oh shut up, if you’d done that you wouldn’t be offended by this!
87 Raman152 • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:39 am
Celeb TV Your crap, get off the air!
Hate u Harry-whatever-the-hell-your-gay-name-is!
88 Raman152 • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:39 am
Jr=Small p3nis
89 pianogg • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:48 am
this wasnt any aussie tv show…
IT’S HEY HEY IT’S SATURDAY
celeb tv, get of our backs and go smoke something artificial
90 Underagerockers • Oct 9, 2009 at 9:47 am
what the hell??? i dont know about america…. but in australia all my mates that are black or asian and stuff dont give a shit what people call them… asians and blacks make fun of their own nationality to, u americans have got to grow some balls and get over this shit! where not doing anything wrong… were just having fun
91 Muppetguy123 • Oct 9, 2009 at 10:04 am
i am Australian. and sorry i am not racist. if you think i am like the dudes on this video. then you are like the dudes on south park. and thats a show thats 10 times more racist. and no one gives a shit about that
92 Josh22268 • Oct 9, 2009 at 10:44 am
Based on the responses on the comment board, Australia is the isle rednecks. Whats so DIFFICULT about taking someone else’s perspective into consideration? There’s a reason blackface performing is deemed offensive.- it may be beyond your comprehension, but to some, it’s very insulting. Considering the disregard for racial sensitivity, and the show being a knockoff of the The Gong Show, which ran 30 yrs ago, i guess you missed the boat to the 21st century.
93 Crystalmuhammad • Oct 9, 2009 at 11:19 am
Very well explained!!!
94 Crystalmuhammad • Oct 9, 2009 at 11:21 am
lol I agree!!!
95 irshgrl500 • Oct 9, 2009 at 11:30 am
In his country? Try in ANY country! There was nothing funny or entertaining about that act!
Way to go, Harry!
96 RockingJamboree • Oct 9, 2009 at 11:39 am
“Needed to look the part”? Tell me there is no stage make-up better than that in Australia! Tell me there are no wigs better than those nappy, misshapen things!
Those men didn’t look the part of “The Jackson 5.” They weren’t even trying to look the part. That was not a tribute. They looked like total buffoons!
Your habitual and neurotic need to defend a bunch of guys who looked like they were performing in a misguided, drunken, fraternity hazing makes you seem like a buffoon as well, trento.
97 jaidee76 • Oct 9, 2009 at 11:57 am
You are absolutely correct. Australia is known to be the island of rednecks. Infact, Australia rely on that reputation and sell it to the world to attract tourism. For some unknown reason, Australia seem to take pride in having the reputation as being a “redneck” country. They don’t realise the world has moved on to the 21st century…
98 Fractal80Y • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:16 pm
oh golly gosh cry me a river america!
If you are gonna take something like that to heart then you are all need to sit back and take a look again.
This really has been blown out of proportion.
99 mistashaft21 • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I guess there were no native peoples in Australia B4 it was turned to a prison….and they had a say in the matter..good stuff…..NOT!!!
100 tierren • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:55 pm
What do you expect from a land way out In the Pacific covered mostly of useless desert ?They are backwards in their thinking they know not what they do, but america will teach them !
101 DEXtr1p • Oct 9, 2009 at 12:57 pm
eh. the skit wasn’t funny anyways…
102 AWOLFNAMEMARTI • Oct 9, 2009 at 5:43 pm
If they were doing this in HONOR of the Jackson’s, then WHY such DARK makeup props? funny last time I saw a REAL Jackson they were not Black like that.
not like those fakes.
I am with Harry on this one.
103 PaulAustraliaTeamTv • Oct 9, 2009 at 5:45 pm
You know their is the Australian way of life and the way most Americans live in their country.
Sad to say people have got upset but did not see the show as it was for the entertainment.
I know many Black and African Americans who like the way we have freedom to express and the way we speak, not one single person has expressed any hate towards England or America over a Comedy Parody that was an act, each person who thinks they can do better please appy to go on the show. to show your talent.
104 dannypinn • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Spare Australians please tierren. You impressed us all by locating Australia (you’ve comprehended that the Pacific Ocean figures in some way) and by pointing out that our land mass is mostly made up of desert. Well done tierren. This knowledge would qualify you for an instant High School Equivalancy in the US wouldn’t it. I’m aware that the education system there is largely owned by private bodies and that independent thought is discouraged. Don’t worry though. The US may one day evolve.
105 dannypinn • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Congratulations RockingJamboree. You managed to regurgitate the words of Connick. “Bufoons”. I woud also like to point to your use of the words “neurotic” and “habitual”. I’m not sure if it’s a waste of time explaining why these words don’t belong in your shoddy, faux-intelectual diatribe but I’m pretty certain it would be. If you argue with a fool people may not be able to tell the difference. Far be it for me to tell an AMERICAN how to speak Engish. Heaven forbid.
106 dannypinn • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Memo to Josh22268: America’s history is not world history. Treat your own people well before hanging shit on some TV skit. When will the US finally drag its sorry arse into the present?
Free medical care? Not in America. Equal opportunity? Not in America. Land of the free? Not America. Land of the intelligent? Uh, next. eople told that some mythical men in from a far away land used box cutters to destroy 3 huge buildings in the central trade hub. That would be America. Stay in your people farm
107 italianaxy • Oct 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm
THAT’S BULLSHIT! HOW DARE THEM!
108 Kittyma4 • Oct 9, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I agree with you dannypinn…AMERICANS HAVE NO IDEA….no socail security,zero health care(It”s only for those who can afford it)….and don’t get me started on the 10th rate education system…..If America looked afetr it’s own people…We may actually give a shit about what they think
109 showlink • Oct 9, 2009 at 10:42 pm
FUNNY HOW THERE WASN’T AN UPROAR IN AMERICA ABOUT THIS
If anyone wants to see real “racism” in action they should have a look at Louis Theroux – Nation of Islam on You Tube.
110 OrisaNeteru • Oct 10, 2009 at 12:33 am
The skit was offensive to US, and US includes anyone who had to and still has to deal with inbred caucasian racist who dislike anybody that didn’t come from their family tree which by the way has no branches. Harry Connick was offended, and has the inalienable right to say, & to tell them he was offended And yes, let them try that skit at the Apollo, hot ATL, W.Philly, Chi-town or Miami and watch them get the sho nuf black beat off they ass!
111 aussiecowboy • Oct 10, 2009 at 12:51 am
They seem to forget what they did to the blacks in slavery times and how they beat them and dehumanised them, what a hypocite and america is is no model for the rest of the world, it stinks like the most stenching smell from the bowels of the earth, it just goes to show arrogance at its most high but then the yanks are proud of that.
112 OrisaNeteru • Oct 10, 2009 at 12:56 am
White Australia has a history of Aboriginal slavery, occupation, and subjugation.America and Australia were both prison colonies of England ,who kicked out her pig and sheep thieves sending them to the shores of both continents,so what kind of historic sensibliites do you think you can share?
113 OrisaNeteru • Oct 10, 2009 at 1:20 am
Beccahday, you’re wasting your time dialoguing with trento54 his profile displays him as having the Occupation:anal prolapse repairer. So now we know why his mind is so crappy.
114 wyldchippy • Oct 10, 2009 at 1:41 am
its understandable on why harry got upset….but our way of australian life and culture is to have a good laugh at things without being offensive. and these day once things get out of hand racially and multiculturally we get on top of it straight away….im 100% sure that there was not meant to be any malice in that skit!!
115 ellidan • Oct 10, 2009 at 2:01 am
Australian are racist , i can prove it. first this garbage second the cronulla riot, third what they done with the aborigenes,, thats 3 strikes…
116 lindibear • Oct 10, 2009 at 2:09 am
This sucks, now everyone thinks we’re racists. Yes there are racists here, but not all of us are. I’m a PNG islander and of course I get the odd racist remark or two and there are times when people refuse my help as a sales assistant and ask for someone else to help them. There are times when people will move to another seat after I’ve sat down. But there are also a lot of good people too. Some people are really sweet and they want to talk with me or help me out. Not everyone sucks in Australia.
117 veloocyclingbarber • Oct 10, 2009 at 2:30 am
OZ supported the liberation of East Timor in late 90s & yelled out human rights issues, but its a cover up to reap the benefits from the natural resources the country has. Also in the 90s, OZ govt supplied arms to the christians in Maluku and they were riots between the muslims and christians in the once peaceful province. Thirdly, they have been successful in placing all the aborigines on the streets. Lets not forget, dear mr aussiecowboy the whole aborigines in Tasman went total annihilation
118 veloocyclingbarber • Oct 10, 2009 at 2:37 am
But to be fair not all OZ are racists. Its only the typical ones that own a holden and a pet labrador, drink Fosters, have a swimming pool and watches channel 9
119 MrLordSandwich • Oct 10, 2009 at 2:41 am
Now whos being streotypical?
You cant say “Australian’s are racist” sure there are something that happen,but that happends everywhere, and Darryl the host gave an apology. but culture is differnt here, and that skit in Australia was not evern thought about until Harry said somthing.
120 starclad • Oct 10, 2009 at 3:10 am
Harry,harden the f–k up!
121 beccahday • Oct 10, 2009 at 3:38 am
haha! good point.
122 trento654 • Oct 10, 2009 at 4:14 am
who with?
123 trento654 • Oct 10, 2009 at 4:20 am
no we don’t have many black comedians and it was a tribute to micheal jackson and the jackson 5, it was originally broadcast 20 years ago as a performance and because it was a memerable skit at the time they put it on there reunion show (the shows been of for 10 years) they were simply thinking about the the show
124 ripcurlcns • Oct 10, 2009 at 4:22 am
yea lets look at what the states have done to thier own indigenous population .. and the amount of wars they have waged i believe they have been in one war or another for decades murdering innocent civillians and invading countries ..not to mention the nuke’in of japan how many people did the murder there ..harden up yanks .. take a look at ya selves before lashin out at the only country thats ever stuck by your side through thick and thin .. maybe u can go it alone from now on .
125 trento654 • Oct 10, 2009 at 4:24 am
yeh probebly should change that
126 beccahday • Oct 10, 2009 at 4:32 am
haha
might be a good idea.
127 trento654 • Oct 10, 2009 at 4:39 am
i think they were trying to resemble golliwogs which were a famous australian biscuit at the time but got pulled off the shelves bout 10 years ago cause it was like eatting mini black people(remeber this was a tribute to a performance they did on the show in the 80″s), golliwogs didn’t look stupid, the look like normal balck people with afros
i’m not neurotic this is just the closest i’ll ever get to defending my country, the red faces segement has never been about professionalism btw
128 kufferman • Oct 10, 2009 at 5:16 am
oh shut it, stop forcing your political correctness on everybody it’s because of all these so called do gooders we can’t send christmas cards for risk of offending some minority.. get a grip and get a sense of humor. rant over
129 fuzzysting • Oct 10, 2009 at 5:40 am
What’s Connick doing over there in the first place? Shouldn’t he be back in Louisiana dredging the bayou for his daddy?
130 Xmagine • Oct 10, 2009 at 7:56 am
Americans are such hypocrites. Check out the new season of Madmen on US TV. In one episode, at the country club, Roger (John Slattery), on his knees in blackface, croons “My Old Kentucky Home” to Jane. So much for Harry’s comment as Madmen has a huge following in the US and cannot see any adverse comments relating to that episode. But please don’t let the facts interfere with your viewpoint.
131 RockingJamboree • Oct 10, 2009 at 8:08 am
It’s good that Golliwogs Buisuits became Scalliwags. The Golliwogs imagery is definitely based on the Racist , 19th Century, American Blackface Minstrel Stereotype.
At one time, Blackface was not only used to ridicule Black people, but it was ILLEGAL for Black people to be on stage without wearing Minstrel Blackface. It was systematic racism, shameful and evil.
This is why Connick reacted the way he did and said that you could NEVER get away with that in the USA today.
132 brightazmorningstar • Oct 10, 2009 at 9:08 am
Roger Sterling wearing blackface on MadMen isnt to bring about laughs, its to demonstrate the racist ideology of the time. The MadMen office is full of bigots and sexists and part of the reason MadMen has such a huge following is that it shows the reality of the 60s without sugarcoating. Roger’s character isn’t supposed to be likable. And playing a racist character on tv is very different from real people willfully making amockery of a group of people by reinforcing racist stereotypes…
133 matildacet • Oct 10, 2009 at 11:41 am
Are all Americans like it’s bad taste tv? Jerry Springer, the man show and Howard Stern? Why are you still killing people (including your own) in Iraq? Why did you go against the UN to invade another country? Why do you still use racist native american mascots in your sports events? Why have you not tried George Bush for war crimes? Australia does need to address it’s racist issues. But America needs to stop interfering in other countries business’s (as you did in Oz in 1975).
134 OrisaNeteru • Oct 10, 2009 at 11:41 am
All of you are arrogant, the British still act like the sun won’t set on their ‘empire’ Americans have a cowboy attitude of ‘I’ll f_k you up if you step to me’ and Australians think they’re bad ass redecks who can out do everybody else. So you’re all 3 sister’s children- don’t be mad.
135 OrisaNeteru • Oct 10, 2009 at 12:15 pm
You’ve been going on and on just pontificating around this board, you seem to be a real puffed up type of guy, what is your challenge?
136 Xmagine • Oct 10, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Was going to write an insightful comment but can’t stop laughing at your hypocracy by way of your Amerikan spin on Madmen. If that’s your take, then consider that these Australian guys (the lead is an Indian) were invited back to the show because they had appeared on it with the same skit in the 1970’s. Double standards indeed. Racial sterotypes indeed.
137 changingpockets1 • Oct 10, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Harry spnt “so much time trying not to make black ppl look like buffoons”.
So either they look like buffoons or you guys portrayed them as buffoons. Not Australia! We have nothing to feel sorry. I dont want to understand the history of the burqua, worn by oppressed women, and i dont want to understand the history of putting nugget on your face in order to parody a black person! It’s Americas problem, OWN IT YANK! We are not an annexe of your gun toting, fat arsed society, yet.
138 SugarTomAppleRoger • Oct 10, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Hey hey! Lightn up everyone. These views represent the thoughts of one man, not the whole of the US. I am sure that not many black people would find this shit offensive, and that is what really matters. It is making a good humoured joke about Michael Jackson, one I’m suee he would not be offended about.
Look. I was on a training exercise during the Vietnam war. The relations between black and white American soidiers were so bad, they simply ignored each other, except in knife fights.
139 fairs • Oct 10, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Ahhh, everyone just needs to take a chill pill…obviously many of you have not seen the greatness that is Avenue Q and their hilarious but oh so true song “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” – it sums the world up to a tee…..
Everyone’s a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn’t mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one’s really color blind.
Maybe it’s a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.
140 susansegal • Oct 10, 2009 at 10:42 pm
There was a lack of talent in this skit but I am sure that racism was not the intent. It was performed in Australia for an Australian audience, not American. We do not have a heritage of enslaving Africans and did not grow up with the racism they were subject to. Most the guys in this skit were Indians. They themselves have been subject to racism at the hands of the British. Nearly all Australians are only first or second generation from immigrant parents and more tolerant than most nations.
141 MJPL4LIFE • Oct 11, 2009 at 1:05 am
Way to go, Harry Connick… I’m proud of you for saying those things.
142 changingpockets1 • Oct 11, 2009 at 1:07 am
well stated. The racist view belongs to Harry and some of his countrymen based on THEIR perspective. This is part of what makes the mosaic world great. Here in Australia we are entering the spring carnival where many women will wear short skirts and get drunk and gamble, all of which is very offensive in some other countries. But why should WE change, it’s only a problem from THEIR perspective. Good on Harry for stating that he felt offended, but we shouldn’t change.
143 bendaniel81 • Oct 11, 2009 at 5:40 am
I don’t think the joke was about race at all and I don’t see how it was insulting. They were just dressed up like the Jackson Five. And yes, Michael did go white towards the end. I think you Americans who were offended by this need to get a sense of humor. And by that I don’t mean you should laugh at racist jokes – not at all. I just think you should see how this isn’t a racist joke and not take everything so seriously. Ligthen up.
144 muppetspuppets • Oct 11, 2009 at 5:56 am
How on earth can this tribute to the jackson 5 be offensive? The crowd seemed to love it and clap along. They obviously love the Jackson music too. What about the asian wearing a white face? No white people were offended? I was more offended by Harry implying back people are “buffoons”.
145 cellpump1 • Oct 11, 2009 at 6:34 am
Harry Connick, GO HOME! WE DON”T WANT YOU HERE!!
146 bphutchins • Oct 11, 2009 at 6:42 am
Aren’t aborigines black? As a country with such a small population huddled around the coast and desparately isolated from the rest of the world, you can’t understand the responsibility that comes from having to respect minorites and other cultures.
147 bphutchins • Oct 11, 2009 at 11:27 am
another lesson… Australian is a nationality not a race. moron
148 PsychoJay75 • Oct 11, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I was simply implying that he started a racial war online ok smartass.
149 fj1764 • Oct 11, 2009 at 6:47 pm
yanks are stupid, they dont even understand thier own backyard
150 adamkow3166 • Oct 11, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Hey Harry i find you and your music offensive, dont ever come back to Aus. you suck , you buffoon
151 Izan508 • Oct 11, 2009 at 11:54 pm
We (Australians) are not racist… sure there will be ppl here that are racist but overall you can’t call Australia racist.
Australia was the most generous nation with aid donations totalling $1.1 USD in the wake of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, from a population of 19 million (2004)
Thats generous and sympathetic, not racist.
152 Izan508 • Oct 11, 2009 at 11:58 pm
We (Australians) are not racist, sure you may find a few that are racist, but you cant call the country racist.
Australia was the most generous nation with aid donations totalling $1.1 Billion USD in the wake of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, $1.1 Billion coming from a population of 19 million (2004).
Thats generous and sympathetic, not racist.
153 Izan508 • Oct 12, 2009 at 12:03 am
Australian Aid response – Hurricane Katrina
$10 million (approximately USD 8-9 Million), and a team of 20 emergency response officers immediately. Donated AUD 10 million to American Red Cross
154 mnkyspz1 • Oct 12, 2009 at 12:22 am
I can understand where Harry was coming from, and I respect him speaking up about it.
155 mstmk1984 • Oct 12, 2009 at 12:23 am
no it wasn’t meant as racist, but it was offensive! “blackface” was used in the past as a way to demean blacks with stereotypes and portraying the black man as a stupid, dancing slave– so yeah, when “blackface” hasn’t been used in America for a few decades, I can see why Harry Connick Jr. was shocked and offended.
156 fj1764 • Oct 12, 2009 at 12:25 am
much better to be insignifigant than a country falling apart. Go slide on some ice yank
157 mnkyspz1 • Oct 12, 2009 at 12:48 am
Why is there so much hostility towards the U.S. and Australia? I didn’t see Harry blame anyone of being racist, just that he thought the act itself was. Why are people making the assumption that Australia is racist now? I live in the U.S. and have experienced racism myself, but I do not judge people as they do me. One day they will be judged themselves. Who am I to get upset? They are ignorant. Why should any of you feel the need to be hostile to another country who hasn’t even wronged you?
158 chidoridesu • Oct 12, 2009 at 2:32 am
Captain Harry cock jr ,,,ur plane is leaving could u kindly go back to ur country and battle the KKK clan in ur perfect world…
159 thedreamdealer • Oct 12, 2009 at 4:39 am
Do any of you know who Al Jolson was and what he did?
160 alexsimpson20 • Oct 12, 2009 at 7:08 pm
the term “blackface” is not a known thing in australia as it is in america.
but this is the time of the year in america where there are hundreds of whitemen smearing black paint on their faces.
in saying that, i am talking about american football. every player smears black paint under their eyes.
is that not just as “racist”?
161 mstmk1984 • Oct 12, 2009 at 7:52 pm
smearing paint on your face for a football game has absolutely nothing to do with BLACKFACE and I have no idea how you even put the two together. Blackface was a type of performance popular in the 19th century as a way to demean, dehumanize, and degrade blacks- so yes, with such a negative history in American culture– it’s harder for us as Americans to find something so deeply rooted in racism to be funny and appropriate
162 alexsimpson20 • Oct 12, 2009 at 7:56 pm
so a white american football player can wear black face paint and run around looking like a dumbarse, but a white performer can’t do the same.
lets have another look at the video anyway, its a pisstake on the jackson 5, wasn’t it michael jackson who sang “it don’t matter if your black or white”
and he turned himself white. shouldn’t that have been horribly misconstrued as him been racist towards whites? afterall. he turned into a white kiddy fiddler.
163 mstmk1984 • Oct 12, 2009 at 7:56 pm
wait- Australians are more tolerant than most nations? Didn’t you guys have the Immigration Restriction Act or better known as “WHITE Australia Policy”…..doesn’t Australia also have a history of refusing Asians and non-whites to immigrate to the country? So just as America, Australia has a darker history that isn’t all tolerance and hand holding.
164 alexsimpson20 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:04 pm
nope, a very parge percentage of australians are asian. it has always had a large number of people trying to immigrate and it doesn’t matter what colour you are. they just have a very hard screening system.
165 mstmk1984 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:07 pm
yes, a white football player can put black pain on his face — but if that same white player drew a caricature of a black man’s face on his own and went around saying “massah” it would be inappropriate. do i find the jackson 5 skit funny? not at all… do I find it racist? no. do I think blackface was basically used as a tool for racism in America’s history – yes. So that being what it is, Americans don’t find it as acceptable as Australians. that’s all I’m saying.
166 alexsimpson20 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:12 pm
mstmk1984 ,
thank you.
your last comment stating that you do not find this racist but you do find it offensive makes sense.
as you say, blackface was used as a tool for racism 100 years ago in america.
not in australia where this is form.
15 years ago, americans would never have even known this happened, (the skit i mean) wouldn’t have made world news without the internet being what it is today.
did you hear about it 20 years ago when it first aired?
167 mstmk1984 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:13 pm
screening system- yes, I believe it was a 50-word dictation test. and what is it with you and misconstruing what I say? yes, Australia has a large Asian community but in Australia’s history – I’m not saying recent- but in your country’s history, there was a huge intolerance to Asians immigrating to Australia. So people on here can say all they want how Australia is so tolerant and Americans are so racist, but every country has darker roots and some racism in their history- your country included
168 mstmk1984 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:17 pm
okay alexsimpson20- thank you for getting what I was trying to say lol! It’s just that two countries with two different histories are going to view the same thing differently, especially with America having such a negative history with blackface. If Americans didn’t have blackface in its history, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. It’s just history shapes what we view as appropriate or inappropriate by what has happened in the past.
169 alexsimpson20 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:22 pm
i get it,
i am an american resident and i live in america, my wife has her australian residency.
so we have both been through the immigration process with both america and australia.
lets face it, aslong as your not a criminal. either country will let people migrate, no matter where they are from.
since this has all come about because of the jacksons, i have to put down a quote from michael jackson
“it don’t matter if your black or white”
170 Yalf111 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I wish you would shutup. You don’t help the point you’re trying to make. I don’t think it was meant to be racist, but comments like yours make us seem intolerant. Jackson wasn’t a kiddie fiddler, you think you know better than the law.
You are exactly the kind of person I would assume to be racist because you make sweeping unproved irrelevant statements. Shoosh.
171 Yalf111 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Also, Jackson didn’t ‘turn himself white’, he had a progressive skin disorder where skin loses pigment. Look up vitiligo on youtube. You really are mucking the waters for yourself.
172 alexsimpson20 • Oct 12, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Yalf111,
“jackson wasn’t a kiddie fiddler”
sorry, i didn’t realise it wasn’t considered pedophelia if you can afford to pay for it and being such a high profile case they couldn’t get a jury that knew nothing about it which made the case impossible to be won and now his victims have to live with the hurt and pain he forced onto them.
173 Yalf111 • Oct 12, 2009 at 9:41 pm
this further proves you believed media hype over evidence. I suggest you watch ‘Inside Michael Jacksons trial’ on youtube. But I know you won’t, because you’d rather believe the media (who knows negative news sells) and continue to make sweeping statements based on rumor and ignorance.
174 Yalf111 • Oct 12, 2009 at 9:48 pm
why is everyone being so hostile? Are we so addicted to drama? This is why the media makes villains of EVERYBODY it possibly can. We’re addicted to this rubbish and their viewership soars. Take a step back and chill.
175 gnumusic • Oct 12, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Harry Connick is awesome.
176 hibiscusgardens • Oct 13, 2009 at 2:22 am
YES true.. how much does the average American know about Australia and our culture?
Can Americans acknowledge that their culture is the most powerful culture in the world? Can they acknowledge that the media influences billions worldwide to live an American lifestyle, become consumers, and pollute the planet beyond repair??
And how much does the average non-Aboriginal (that includes Asian and white etc) know about indigenous Australian culture?
177 alwajihah • Oct 13, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I’ve seen performances of white people, asians, and even hispanics perform Jackson 5 songs and they didn’t need any black face to ‘look the part’.
178 trento654 • Oct 13, 2009 at 12:22 pm
well these guys dress dresed as golliwogs, so what, that made it more comical
and i hate the bitch at the start of this video who say hary school the show
179 alwajihah • Oct 13, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I think the civil rights movement has a lot to do with world history. I certainly learned about it in world history.
180 alwajihah • Oct 13, 2009 at 7:58 pm
The Golliwog is still used as an insult against blacks – though I’ve never heard it in America.
The two countries are different. We have our own culture and while America is racially sensitive, I’m sure there are things Australians are sensitive to, things they can’t stand other people doing/saying without knowing their culture. Everyone’s got a right to an opinion. Connick wasn’t insulting, he was telling his opinion and feeling as an American who knows his culture and is sensitive to it.
181 alwajihah • Oct 13, 2009 at 8:02 pm
It isn’t considered pedophelia if it isn’t pedophelia. You can’t prove one thing and you can’t prove the other and to assume the victim is right would negate the entire purpose of court. Do you have authentic video and pictures and an admission- aka, tangible evidence beyond word-of-mouth.
182 alwajihah • Oct 13, 2009 at 8:11 pm
American Football players use black paint on their face because it’s said to help against the glare of light that would bounce off their cheek from the sun or stadium. It isn’t proven, and some people think it’s used for intimidation as ‘war paint’ but there’s no racial connection between those uses.
Also, Jackson had a skin condition- google/youtube it and see others with the illness or you can actually reference to the autopsy. Are you saying everyone who suffers from the condition is racist?
183 trento654 • Oct 13, 2009 at 9:16 pm
just get over it now, it’s been a week
184 Michlimania • Oct 14, 2009 at 12:21 am
Insensitive and base. Aussies should stick to their Croc hunting and forget entertainment.
185 alwajihah • Oct 14, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Unlike you I haven’t obsessed over it. The first time I’ve heard of this was two days ago. I’m not the one commenting on everyone’s comments for the past week
186 trento654 • Oct 14, 2009 at 8:11 pm
i haven’t been obsessing, i was at first but after a day i stopped caring
187 dannypinn • Oct 15, 2009 at 5:23 am
I might have to Google/YouTube that skin condition. It seems it was so severe it even altered the bone structure of his face.
188 Logicbeatslies • Oct 15, 2009 at 7:38 am
Lol
189 Davosaurus1 • Oct 15, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Anyone who thinks this act was racist is stupid. What that guy said about “we’ve spent so long trying to make black people not look like buffoons”. That was far more racist than a bunch of guys having a laugh. You can only really be racist when you hate other races, I didn’t see any hate here. Oh and a reply to that guy about the “buffoons” thing, what about Kanye West? or 50 cent? These people are buffoons because they act out of buffonery it’s got nothing to do with black or white. idiots
190 fj1764 • Oct 15, 2009 at 6:55 pm
poof sport
191 purplemonkey2810 • Oct 17, 2009 at 6:33 am
THEN Y ARE YOU WATCHING IT THEN
192 missruttyifyanasty • Oct 18, 2009 at 8:41 am
two words: damage control. he spoke out about this because if he had said “OH that was GREAT!”, and the footage had leaked back to the US, he would’ve been a racist and blah blah blah… long story short, his career would’ve been over.
the wayans brothers made a movie a few years ago called “white chicks”, where they were in white face, pretending to be white girls. where was the public outcry over that? there wasn’t one because of the very large double standard in the US. what a load of crap.
193 i2ockinDan • Oct 19, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I’m an American, and i didn’t think the act was racially offensive but it was idiotic. You seriously call that a tribute? If i was a big Micheal Jackson fan yes i would be offended. However, I think it was wrong got Harry to speak on behalf of the United States. Humor is subjective, w/e I find funny might not be funny to you. However the act offended Harry Connick Jr. so he had a right to speak out it against it.