AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Harry Connick, Jr. was both shocked and amazed at an act that was impersonating Michael Jackson and his brothers, as he acted as guest judge on the show, Hey Hey It's Saturday, an Australian show. Connick gave the group a "0" score for the performance, as the audience booed; later, Connick gave a race-related speech explaining why black-face is a bad thing. "If I knew that was going to be a part of the show, I definitely wouldn't have done it.'
Watch the video:
What do you think? Was the act showing poor taste?
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Comments
I hope Harry Connick Jr walked out of the cinemas when watching tropic thunder and also boycotted this years oscars, it would be very hypocritical of him to support such an event when a white American actor was nominated for playing a white Australian painted black!!!
How many roles has Eddie Murphy played as a different race or gender? Sexist?
Fact of the matter is, this act had no race-based prejudice, violence, discrimination or oppression.
Doubt an Indian-Australian would be leading a race based offensive skit!!
"Tropic Thunder" was actively mocking the concept of blackface. They were making fun of people who do it. It's walking a thin line, sure, but there was more to it than straightforward blackface.
That said, Connick was a guest. And it was completely stupid for the producers to invite a jazz musician from the American South to participate on the show, and then subject him to a minstrel show.
The Aussies can do whatever they like, I don't care, but this was akin to springing a bullfight on a Hindu, or saying "you're eating veal!" to a vegetarian mid-bite. Having been in situations abroad where people have said things that absolutely took my breath away with (such as racist slang for Italians), I get why this was a big thing for Harry. Minstrel shows, in his experience, are not only not okay -- they're shameful and awful.
You hypocrite Harry, you hypocrite: is your career flagging that much you have to get your head in a newspaper by first having a go at Hugh Jackman for the mobile phone idiot during his stage performance that you now have to try and target an Australian fun show act for being disrepectful to Black American's. Hey Harry, you are a white American from the south and you are now trying to take the high ground over discrediting black American's. Are you now trying to tell us that white America has seen the light and are now the leaders of anti-discrimination in the world. Gee Harry, it only seems like yesterday when president Obarma was running for office and "some" white American's were trying to link him with Osarma-bin-laden and also, with a Black American minister who was less than supportive of how white American's treat the African American. Harry, go back home and siurround yourself with others like you who are accepting of your double standards.
I'm from Australia, and the reference to the drawn caricature of a well known Indian Australian celebrity named Kamahl 'Where is Kamahl?' is very racist, the caricature accentuates Kamahl's lips and is playing on race identity, this show is extremely racist, Harry Connick Jnr only touch the tip of the iceberg with his reaction, for years on a number of Australian TV shows they have laughed at Kamahl's Indian accent, particularly this line 'Why are people so unkind'.
Australia is a very racist country and they cover it over by saying it's all in good fun, do not believe it...how would Nicole Kidman react if when being interviewed on Letterman about the film 'Australia', Letterman organised for comedy skit involving white men dressed as indigenous Australians holding spears, with blacked out faces who came onto the show to kidnap Nicole Kidman, while Letterman just sat there? would she have said like Harry I wouldn't of come on the show if I knew this was going to happen?
I never did like Harry very much. The more I see of him, the less I like him.
Too soon some are screaming. I remember South Park and their parody of Steve Irwins death. Glass Houses!
It'll all blow over by tomorrow, and in the meantime, we all get to have a chuckle at the expense of some b-grade singer from the states. Awesome! Bring it on!
Was it REALLY "racially charged"? It was not the intention of the skit to incite racism!
Wow! This is my first time seeing this. Harry was right! The black face was horrific in making fun of a black ICON that just died. Not only did they make fun of Michael and his brothers skin color they started talking in an over stated way which would be considered country or backwoods in the states. If that's what they think Michael & his brothers were shame on them. "Signature" made a name for themselves off of Michael Jackson and they didn't do a black face. Once the music started eveyone would have known what the group was doing. And jive? That's a word not used in everyday language over in Australia so I know they were putting down Michael & his brothers for being black. This was shameful.
We Aussies don't need or want Americans with their racial hang-ups coming to Australian and telling us what should or shouldn't be on OUR TVs. It was a harmless impersonation and in no way demeaning to Michael Jackson, The Jackson Five or African-American people. Harry Connick Jnr - go home and don't bother coming back to Oz.
I wasnt offended by the skit, but I can see how someone else may have been. We all have "a line" and we all get offended by something.. We shouldn't be shocked at people like Harry for being offended, or get mad at him when he is. We all need to show a bit more respect to one another.
First to the comments made by O I also am an Aussie and I'm not sure where what "Australia" your living in but we are no more racist then any other country so get over yourself!. Really everyone get over yourselves has anyone bothered to think that maybe Harry Connick saw a perfect way to get some free publisty for his Aust tour. And lastly whats the different between white people dressing up as black people and some of your black stars dressing up as whites in the movie White Chicks no-one was to worried about that.
Guys, be easy on Harry. Try and be a little open minded and understand why he was so furious. The history is different here in America, especially where racial matters are concerned. He meant no harm. Not only is Harry American, he is also a Southerner, which adds another dimension to it. It is true that blackface would not go over well here in America because of the history. Google 'minstrel acts' and click on the wikipedia page for it to get a better understand of why Harry found this so distasteful.
I'm quite sure the performers didn't think it was racist - but it was. Thankfully not everyone in Australia is that ignorant.
An old TV show, trying to re-live its heyday using the same old tired jokes.
Harry Connick Jr has a great sense of humour, but this was in such poor taste, I don't blame him for his reaction.
harry is a complete hypocrite. Is it okay for him to put black on his face and impersonate someone.
The only people that have a problem with the "red faces act" are the ones that are troubled by their own racist feelings.
Get a life and see it for what it was
We don't want American's hang ups in our country. Australia is not racist and each and everyone of us can have a laugh.
Lighten up you uptight yanks - you are acting more like the poms.
I think everyone needs to take a chill pill. What we have here is a case of 2 countries and their different sensibilities. The skit on Hey Hey was never meant to insult or offend anyone. I consider myself to be an educated person in her mid 40s but I was not aware of the difference between blackface and simply dark makeup. Harry has his feelings, thoughts etc and Daryl respected those. Harry didn't respect the show or country hosting him. He was rude and disrespectful to us and his actions have portrayed us as ocker idiots...should we now take offence? Harry needs to issue a statement now ( he is refusing to speak to our media) explaining HIS actions and apologising if we took offence...then we can all put this ridiculous misunderstanding behind us.
Can I also add that I don't believe Harry was wrong...he is just as entitled to his opinions and views. I totally understand him finding the skit offensive and yes, I would hope Nicole Kidman would express her thoughts if Letterman were to put her in the same position. I would only hope she would find a way to express it as HER thoughts and not cast judgement upon America and all Americans for their ignorance. It's not what you say it's how you say it
Can I also add that I don't believe Harry was wrong...he is just as entitled to his opinions and views. I totally understand him finding the skit offensive and yes, I would hope Nicole Kidman would express her thoughts if Letterman were to put her in the same position. I would only hope she would find a way to express it as HER thoughts and not cast judgement upon America and all Americans for their ignorance. It's not what you say it's how you say it
Can I also add that I don't believe Harry was wrong...he is just as entitled to his opinions and views. I totally understand him finding the skit offensive and yes, I would hope Nicole Kidman would express her thoughts if Letterman were to put her in the same position. I would only hope she would find a way to express it as HER thoughts and not cast judgement upon America and all Americans for their ignorance. It's not what you say it's how you say it
Just saw Harry's blackface skit on MadTV where his face is painted black and he jive talks -- so much more racist and less funny.
Harry Connick, Jr. on MadTV - Preachers Skit
Search for **that** on Youtube!
Harry Connick Tool. Get your publicity by making music worthy of listening to. Glass Houses mate!
that performance was untasteful, just not right
that show was done with such bad taste, I applaud Harry Connick, Jr.'s reaction. Those performers should be ashamed of themselves. they have no class nor talents. Just not funny at all. I am not American but I am sure disappointed with those Aussies.
The skit was pretty racist. Especially since it kind of made the jackson 5 look like animals. I can't image why they would think they could get away with dressing up in black face and then acting that way. I was cringing watching the video.
You Aussies need to lighten up. Maybe a little less salt in your vegemite sandwiches would do the trick. Sounds like a few too many of you "down under" types were hit in the face with a cell phone thrown by Russell Crowe. Oh, and thanks just loads for Rupert Murdoch. Gee! What a gift! Yeah, right. Maybe we should take the "a" out of "aussies," and put a "w" there instead. Hop around with that, Kangaroo breath!
This is not just a case of "different cultures." The performers were performing in Blackface - an American tradition - and representing African American singers so they clearly have had contact with cultures and politics outside of Australia. They knew EXACTLY what they were doing and that it was offensive. Australians have their own ugly racial history with the Australian Aboriginal ethnic groups and they should have known better. That skit is offensive on any continent.
PCism has been take so far, it's nice to see someone come along and kick it in the you know what's. The Pythons also did some blackface and they are still showing it on some stations in the US. Society has become so sensitive that if your black, white, gay, or Asian you can't laugh at anything anymore. I'm Taiwanese and I have no problem if an American, British, French, Australian or any comedian make fun of us. It's just funny! Like when some people got upset when Rosie O'Donald did a Chinese person saying "ching chong ching" I thought it was very funny, because even thought I am Chinese decent, it sounds like that. People need to lighten up.
Why hasn't anyone commented on how messed up that they did this as a "tribute." I mean even the little gags were making fun of how michael jackson looked. The man died so recently, and they're making fun of him in black face. smh.
No disrespect to harry but this is australia and we do take the micky out of anyone including ourselves.
Black americans who visit and live in this country are treated with the utmost respect.
If you can't take a joke leave the room is the australian way, all those who are too high and mighty to enjoy a laugh and have to make a fuss over something so small need to look at themselves and see that they are sad sad people who probably have very few friends except for those who are scared of them.
America lighten up and stop telling people how they should smile and what we should watch and enjoy.
An old Aussie Digger
They shouldnt have done this AT ALL! white ppl. painted black and singing was in the early 1900's. Any Jazz music fan will know this... they should have done some research about it b4 doing this. This is seen as a racist action.
You've had your apologies. The guys who did the skit have apologised. The host of the show has apologised. We didn't think it was offensive but have apologised...what more do you want from us? It was not intended to be offensive, can we please all get that point? No intent. Apology. As an NY paper said "Harry chided the country like he was a school principal"...was that appropriate? At least the Aussies have had the good manners to apologise! What makes Americans so high adn mighty that that isn't enough? And to tell us to change the A in aussie to a W....grow up!
WHY DONT YOU ALL QUIT ARGUING!!! NOBODY SHOULD BE MOCKING MJ!!! THE MOCKERS NEED TO GET A LIFE. MJ WAS 100% PERFECTION AND DIDNT DESERVE TO HAVE SOME STUPID PEOPLE ACTING AS IF THEY DIDNT HAVE IT ALL.... GROW UP AND GET A LIFE!!! I WILL LOVE YOU MJ 4EVER!!!
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