OlderHalle is Berry Sorry About Anti-Semitic Remark
Halle Berry apologized last night after she made an anti-Semitic joke while taping The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Friday afternoon.
An audience member told Page Six, Halle was showing photos of herself when she said, “Here’s where I look like my Jewish cousin!” and showed a shot of herself with a huge nose.
Halle said, “I so didn’t mean to offend anybody - and after the show I realized it could be seen as offensive, so I asked Jay to take it out, and he did. What happened was 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 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.”
You can watch Halle’s appearance on Leno here (the anti-Semitic remark was cut out).
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135 Comments
This just shows Halle’s stupidity to even risk saying such a statement that people won’t like. Wise up Halle!!! You wouldn’t like people stereotyping black people!!
she is way overrated and ******
The horror is she does not represent educated and talented black women.
sure u didnt mean it. and good story of 3 jewish girls working for u yeh yeh yeh
Good grief, she apologized immediately. Doesn’t that show her sensitivity to the feelings of others? Give the girl a break. Haven’t you complainers ever had something unwise pop out of your mouth? I thought not.
Get over it.
Hope your pregnancy goes beautifully and you have a healthy baby, Halle!
More stupidity! Of course the haters are going to use this justify their animousity. The comment wasn’t anti-semitic, just unwise.
People would be freaking out if someone made a reference to a black stereotype, but when someone makes a jewish stereotype, people say that jewish people are overreacting….Why is this??
It doesn’t matter that she apologized, because since her assistants said this comment to her before the show, she had time to decide if it was appropriate to repeat (on the air!), & she chose yes! Not too smart Halle…
Someone that is not prejudiced does not make these kinds of remarks, even as jokes!
Sorry, but I think this country is just a little bit too politically correct. I have co-worker who is Jewish and make comments like that all the time. I can see how someone who doesn’t know us would misconstrue it, but, really, everything racial is NOT a racial or ethnic slur or insult. People need to lighten up and stop taking offense at EVERYTHING.
Of course, having said that, if a white person said something about his black cousin, Al Shapton would have had him/her fired by now.
#58 Heli and you are an idiot
You all are really over-reacting this was not an anti-sematic comment, Halle is not prejudice it was a mistake
Look like things are lively on JJ today. I am Jewish too and feel that Ms. Berry who said she wasn’t going to give any more interviews when she was trying to do damage control on the Parade/Suicide article and getting tired of answering when she was going to get pregnant during the promos for Perfect Stranger. Then giving a ****-tease number with the bloggers and pappis for almost a year whether or not she is pregnant then makes statements to the press and Tavis Smiley (who I really like) she’s tired of talking about her pregnancy in public but it’s okay in private and wonders why the pappis are sooo facinated by her grocery shopping, having lunch with a friend etc. should follow her own advice?
She has also contradicted herself about wanting more children by saying that she’s going to be a working mom/can’t wait to get back to work and may only have one child. Also, what was all the crap about her having extra security guards to be around her around the clock when she was seen in NYC w/o them.
Sorry for the digression, just had to vent. Yes, Halle used poor judgment and kinda sorta apologized on the incident although it does have the appearance she was blaming one of her “Jewish” assistants–just like her not taking responsibility for her car accident when she was either having a diabetic reaction or drunk as many claim, her career (which some points are valid)or her part in her failed relationships. Not even going to comment on her current facade of a relationship trying to pass off a faygeleh model/restaurant owner as straight and probably did knock her up by in-vitro if he really did as the rumors are saying as well as questioning if he’s really the father.
Sure her comment was harmless compared to other celebrities-public figures who make A-S or racist remarks, hers is small compared to theirs. Still she said it and needs to take full—Halle I said FULL responsibility.
BTW for the all the AA posters whether being serious or being mocking–all Jews don’t have big noses (I don’t), we’re not all short (have several members in my family almost 6 feet and over), we do not control the govt or determine who is President–Jews make up only 2-3% of the World population. Is Hollywood controlled by Jews–debatable. Yes, most of the studios were founded by Jews and are run by some Jews or that there are Jews in high positions in the industry. Will give you that one. Yes, there is a double standard when Whites/Jews make comments on other groups. Also, not all Jews have money–you can blame that on the Catholic Church during the Inquisition who forced Jews into professions as money lender/pawn brokers, bankers, lawyers, doctors, etc.
Even though, I do believe in a Jewish State as a result of the holocaust/other for having a Jewish homeland, etc. I do believe that it is deplorable what is going on in the Middle East on both sides. All Palestinians or who may belong to certain factions of the PLO are not terriorists. The State of Israel has forgotten why it was formed in 1948 when the Knessett (Israeli Parliment) refused to meet with the Dalai Lama several years ago because they just signed a trade agreement with China at the time. Guess they also forgot what it means to not have a homeland or the Jewish diaspora (dispersement)? As African Americans or those of whatever ethnicity by African decent should also understand this point what it is like to not have a homeland. So, shame on the Israelis.
Thanks for listening to me while I was on my soapbox. Halle think next time….silence is golden.
I’m half jewish but don’t have a big nose. I’m also a blonde. I’m sick of people saying jews are short and have big noses. It’s true that some do, but plenty of non jews have big noses also. Her joke wasn’t really “offensive” to me, it was just stupid and not funny.
this is going to sound like a dumb question but are jews considered white? I know they typically have white skin but I continually see people saying things like “white people cannot say stuff like that but Jews can”. They are the same, no?
Jewish people need to lighten up.
Your reaction only feeds the stereotype you idiots. And you do have big noses. You can’t lie about it, we see it every damn day. lol
Did she say it was a bad thing? Nobody considers that. Some people like big noses.
Other people like my perfectly sized and shaped nose and 6′2 stature.
Blake not a silly question. Not all Jews are white. We are all over the world–US, Europe, SA/Central America, Asia, Africa/South Afica, Carribean, Middle East. etc. Depending where we come from in the world we may look dark complected i.e. Yemen in the south, we look somewhat dark/light brown. If we are Falashas (the descendants of King David and the Queen of Sheba, would look Black like some other African groups). In Mexico, we may look Hispanic, etc. If our families are Sephardic (Eastern European/Mediterranean) we may have olive skin. There are only three races: Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid. Sorry for the anthropology lesson. Does this answer your question.
Don’t know what you meant about ‘whites cannot say that but Jews can’–can you explain please serioulsy?
Jews are just like any other ethnic group. We are not a race, we are an ethnicity, culture, religion,etc. There is an irony that Yiddish is an acceptable language in American culture but Ebonic or Urban Slang isn’t when jazz/blues/gospel music/other variations of African music is. Don’t get it. Double standard again.
Didn’t mean to rant on my soapbox on my other post.
#72 at least you are honest thank you but again I don’t think Halley’s statement was a huge thing that need to be called anti-semetic I really don’t care for her that much but what upsets me is like anytime someone says something about the jewish people the attack starts with their anti-semetic calls.
I’m Jewish too. Halle made a mistake and is in her way apologizing. She’s human regardless of her celebrity status was just plain stupid. Avoiding responsibility by ‘blaming’ her assistant/s? Don’t know. She still shouldn’t be put in the same category as Mel Gibson and others. Possible hormonal A.D.D. moment but has had several moments like this in her career so you can’t blame her being pg on this one.
Offensive: Don Imus’s comments. Mel’s comments. Rosie O’Donnell wanting to be Jewish or her idol Barbra Streisand.
Stupid/Poor Judgement: Jesse Jackson’s “Hymie-Town” comment. Oprah’s occasional Jewish or Holocaust joke.
Not offensive: Oprah talking about feeling in adequate only dressed in schmatas (rags-probably expensive ones from Neiman’s or Lord & Taylor, etc.)when the suave and sophisticated Sydney Poitier appeared on her show looking very debonair.
People, stop telling Jewish people to lighten up! If your religion/people have been constantly persecuted, threatened, prejudiced against, killed, mocked, etc. for just being that religion, YOU wouldn’t like any stereotyping either!
You don’t know how it feels to be a minority, so don’t judge.
So any comment about a Jewish person labels you anti-Semitic? It’s funny how Jewish comedians are able to skewer every group under the rainbow and no one complains. I am culturally sensitive but I hardly think the comment rises to the level of hate speech. When people level specious charges it demeans real instances of hate.
word #3 word.
Oh god people are so uptight and sensitive. That comment does not make her anti-semitic. What if she had looked squinty eyed in the photo and said that that was her Chinese cousin? I highly doubt all of this fuss would be made. I am of mixed race, none of which are white, and I understand the sensitivity to racist remarks. But sometimes people get carried away with their racist rants. Yes, it was prob not the smartest thing for her to say especially because commenting on anything being “black” or “Jewish” in America seems to cause a major fuss in the media. However, it was a joke and should not be blown out of proportion and she did apologise. Clearly she was not trying to harm anyone or be purposefully hurtful.
No one likes stereotyping Jews, Blacks, Asians etc.
MMF whether you are joking or being serious–not all Jews like myself and some of the posters have stated do not have a Roman/Jewish looking nose. In fact one of my mother’s friends thought I had a nose job. Yes, some members in my family have big noses, some don’t, some have blonde hair and blue eyes and are quite tall Do agree some do need to lighten up.
In terms of persecution or racism, the US has a lot to learn not just in the entertainment industry but in society in general.
Hey the did the same thing to the Jews during the Spanish Inquisition on the Jewish slave labor ships as they did on the slaves ships from Africa. We are also not on the welcoming list with the KKK or John Birch Society. Jews really do make up 2-3% of the world’s population we’re really not as high and mighty as people think.
I don’t want to debate which ethnic group has had it harder I really don’t but it really is going to take a lot of dialoging on these boards and other ways to change the world and the way people think.
Who knows Halle very well could have a Jewish cousin from Shaker Hts., Clev. Hts., University Hts. etc.? It is possible.
Agree #82 and some of the others. I wouldn’t consider Halle Anti-Semetic. She just told in appropriate joke that wasn’t considered PC. True, when any comments are made about African Americans or Jewish–they’re considered racist or Anti-Semitic. Or one these boards regarding she and Aubry–people are accusing others or haters for being racist when that may not have been their intent. They may not like them not bc they’re an IR couple but just for any reason. Was using this as an example. Not saying this is the case.
I don’t think it was anti anything. If she wasn’t half jewish which I am assuming she is…then it would have been.
whether the comment was offensive or not to jewish people, the fact that she had to, indirectly, blame her “three jewish assistants” who work for her, says everything about her character. this is halle’s MO all the time, blame someone else such as ex-husbands or accident victims, or anyone else for that matter. it is never her fault.
meant #81 the others are right too.
Halle used to have a ginormous nose herself! Of course she had a nosejob. A couple of weeks ago she was complaining about racism. Why is it because her movie came in at what number 12 at the box office? Recently she was complaining about she’s tired of talking about her pregnancy. How shallow and selfish of her!I was never a fan of Miss Berry, she thinks it’s all about her. She will do anything to be in the news, even if she has to pull the race card! Classy Halle big nose fugly cow, real classy!
#85—diana—I totally agree with you! She is always blaming others. It wasn’t her assistants that said the comment on air. That was her choice to say it. Not very smart since she is famous & her remarks will be scrutinized.
The funny thing is that she is so tuned in to black rights & what people say about black people.
Oh stfu already.
Nobody cares you whiney pricks.
Wah wah I have a huge nose and somebody made fun of it.
Big f’ing deal.
You cry like a bunch of hormonal women.
Oh goodness, how dare Halle say something that could even remotely offend a Jewish person. She is just so0o0o0o0o stereotypical. Tsk, tsk.
You people need to learn to relax and not take everything so personally. It was a joke. A truthful joke. Jewish people DO have big noses, just like Asians have slanted eyes and flat noses.
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