Columbia University Students Kick SNL Comedian Nimesh Patel Off Stage For Making Unsafe Jokes
Event organizers apologize for “the hurt his words caused members of the community.”
Nimesh Patel, a comedian and writer for Saturday Night Live, was yanked from the stage in the midst of his routine at Columbia University on Friday after students decided his material was homophobic, racist, and making them feel unsafe.
Columbia’s Asian American Alliance (AAA) had invited Patel to perform during the group’s annual charity event, “Cultureshock: Reclaim,” a title that sounds a little too exciting and provocative, honestly, given the students’ apparent need for maximum security and comfort.
AAA is run by students, which means it was their decision to pull Patel from the stage after he made jokes that they deemed racist and homophobic, according to The Columbia Daily Spectator. I emailed AAA to ask what exactly Patel said that was so offensive; the group sent me a statement that did not clarify matters.
The Spectator, though, lists one of the allegedly inappropriate jokes:
During the event, Patel’s performance featured commentary on his experience living in a diverse area of New York City—including a joke about a gay, black man in his neighborhood—which AAA officials deemed inappropriate. Patel joked that being gay cannot be a choice because “no one looks in the mirror and thinks, ‘this black thing is too easy, let me just add another thing to it.'”
The joke acknowledges that black people and gay people suffer oppression, and that a person who is both gay and black suffers “stacked” oppression. This joke seems almost perfectly “intersectional.”
Intersectionality, the operarting system of the modern left, requires everyone to recognize that different forms of oppression are interrelated, and that they stack. The problem for Patel, however, is that intersectionality also recognizes the oppressed as the sole experts on their own oppression. Thus Patel should not have commented on matters relating to black people or gay people, since he is neither gay nor black.
“if you’re Black and gay, you don’t need a straight South Asian guy to point out that your life is hard because you’re Black and gay,” wrote a student, Liberty Martin, in an op-ed. Martin accused Patel of “blatant anti-blackness,” with reference to the above joke, specifically. Even though the joke reflects a sentiment that gay and black students want everyone to recognize as reality—that life as a gay, black student is hard—the fact that it was made by an Asian guy means it’s actually evidence of anti-black bias. (It doesn’t have to make sense, you just have to obey.)
Perhaps Patel went on to say actually insensitive things—why the easily offended would attend any comedy show, ever, is fodder for another discussion—but if this joke is representative of his set, the outrage looks that much more ridiculous.
Patel made it 30 minutes before organizers cut off the routine. According to The Spectator:
Patel pushed back on the officials’ remarks, and said that while he stood in solidarity with Asian American identities, none of his remarks were offensive, and he was exposing the audience to ideas that would be found “in the real world.” Before he could finish, Patel’s microphone was cut from off-stage, and he proceeded to leave.
AAA released a statement on Facebook condemning Patel’s remarks, which “ran counter to the inclusive spirit and integrity of CultureSHOCK.” They apologized for inviting Patel, and for “the hurt his words caused members of the community.”
Many students in the audience agreed with AAA’s decision to end the event prematurely. One told the student newspaper that Patel’s jokes “contradicted the sensitive nature of the event.” Another had this to say:
“I really dislike when people who are older say that our generation needs to be exposed to the real world. Obviously the world is not a safe space but just accepting that it’s not and continuing to perpetuate the un-safeness of it… is saying that it can’t be changed,” said Jao. “When older generations say you need to stop being so sensitive, it’s like undermining what our generation is trying to do in accepting others and making it safer.”
When things like this happen, it’s hard to deny that some college campuses have a student fragility problem.
Article via Reason
Netflix and Chill December
Netflix has something for everyone this December!
Mo’Nique Remains Firm In Defense of Roseanne Barr After Tweet Comparing Obama Aide to Apes
“Has She Ever Said, ‘Kill Black People?’” In due time my love…
Mo’Nique is not letting up on defending her “sister in comedy” Roseanne Barr.
Months after Barr lost her revived ABC sitcom “Roseanne” when she tweeted a racist joke about former Barack Obama aide Valerie Jarrett, Mo’Nique is addressing why she continues to stand by the disgraced star.
Barr’s sitcom was promptly canceled and she was killed off the spinoff show after stirring controversy for tweeting, “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”
While remarking on her 2009-2015 talk show, “The Mo’Nique Show,” giving a shot to any level of celebrity, Mo’Nique explained being open to everyone meant she couldn’t turn her back on Barr.
“That’s why, when people turned on my sister Roseanne Barr, I couldn’t do it,” she told the Chicago Tribune in a Nov. 12 interview. “Because there were black entertainers who would not come on ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ because it was quote-unquote ‘too black.’ But when I called on my sista, she said (imitating Barr): ‘Where is it and what time you need me to come?’ And when she showed up, when the cameras weren’t rolling, she said to me: ‘Listen, you’re the real deal. Don’t let them use you up and take advantage of you, because they will. Don’t you let them do that to you.’ Now, a racist woman ain’t gonna say that to me.”
When the reporter pointed out how clearly racist Barr’s tweet was, Mo’Nique maintained her stance. She also explained the comedians had several private conversations and explained the meaning behind her joke.
“I’m gonna say this: We’re comedians. And I know her. And what she thought was funny, as a comedian, that’s what it was,” she said before adding, “When we talked privately — and we’ve talked privately a lot — she’ll break her jokes down and I’ll know where they’re coming from. She’s like, ‘Listen, you know how I grew up, so how could I start making fun of anybody? I’m not trying to hurt anybody.’ Has she ever said, ‘Kill black people?’”
Mo’Nique added that Barr has advocated for Black concert promoters and is pushing for a Malcolm X documentary “with a brother who’s a Muslim.”
“So when I know about this these things personally, did my sista say some things in poor taste? Some people could say yes. But what I won’t label her is a racist. When she sends me a DM that says, ‘My love, we will rise again like the Phoenix’ — a racist woman wouldn’t do that, would she?”
“There are some people who are downright racist and they say, ‘I hate everything that ain’t white.’ I get that,” Mo’Nique continued on. “Then you have those — which is a lot of white people — when you really sit down and talk to them, you see their heart is good they’ve just been conditioned to be that way. These conversations will heal us. And when people started calling me ‘sellout’ and ‘you a mammy’ — I’ll take those words, but when people sit down and talk to me about Roseanne, it gives me an opportunity to say who she is.”
Mo’Nique also maintained that her personal relationship with Barr gives her a different perspective.
“If I didn’t know her, lemme tell you something, don’t you think I’d be sitting right next to you?” she said. “If I didn’t know that woman personally, I’d be sitting right there saying, ‘That racist (jerk)!’ But I know her personally. I know her when the cameras ain’t rolling. I know her when she gains nothing from pulling me up.”
Regardless of all “The Parkers” star’s explaining, Twitter users remained unmoved.
“First she gassed up fat women then lost weight. Now Roseanne. Monique never loved y’all ??????”
“Monique need to sit down. Was Roseanne at war for her Netflix check?”
“Mo’Nique. Sit down. You’re canceled, just like Roseanne’s show and your nonexistent Netflix special.”
Article via AtlantaBlackStar
Check out some Lovelyti videos:
Mush Mouth Mo’Nique Stands By Her Support Of Roseanne Barr~ “My SISTER came on my BET show”?
Valerie Jarrett responds to Roseanne’s Twitter rant+ was this a humiliation ritual??
Mo’Nique responds to Rebel Wilson’s ‘plus-sized’ romantic comedy claims
Mo’Nique reminded Rebel Wilson that history shouldn’t be erased after Wilson incorrectly said she’s the “first-ever plus-sized girl to be the star of a romantic comedy.”
A fan called out Wilson for making that claim on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” by name-dropping Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique as stars of past romcoms, the Australian actress tried to defend herself.
“Hey girl! Yeah I of course know of these movies but it was questionable as to whether: 1. Technically those actresses were plus size when filming those movies or 2. Technically those films are [categorized]/billed as a studio rom-com with a sole lead. So there’s a slight grey area,” Wilson tweeted.
Mo’Nique, who starred in 2006’s “Phat Girlz,” had no time for Wilson’s “grey area” concept.
“Hey my sweet sister. Let’s please not allow this business to erase our talent with giving grey areas and technicalities,” Mo’Nique tweeted in response. “Take a moment and know the history. DON’T BE A PART OF ERASING IT. I wish you the best.”
Wilson responded, “Hi Monique, it was never my intention to erase anyone else’s achievements and I adore you and Queen Latifah so so much x I support all plus size ladies and everything positive we are doing together ❤️”
Mashable also reported that Wilson began blocking critics on Twitter, specifically critics of color. Film and television critic ReBecca Theodore-Vachon even gave it a hashtag: #RebelWilsonBlockedMe. Wilson eventually responded to a tweet from playwright Claire Willett and said she will address what happened “while promoting [Isn’t it Romantic] in the proper forums.”
Article via PageSix
Tyler Perry Is Killing Off His Madea Character Once And For All
The entertainment mogul’s feisty granny character has made him a fortune.
Madea’s days are numbered.
Tyler Perry said he’s retiring his mischievous grandma character after a final film appearance and stage tour.
“This is it,” Perry told SiriusXM radio host Bevy Smith on Monday in the clip below. “It’s time for me to kill that old bitch. I’m tired!”
Perry said his geriatric alter-ego will hit the big screen one last time in “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral” in March 2019. He’ll also play her on a farewell stage tour.
“We’re gonna say goodbye in ’19,” Perry said. “I just don’t want to be her age playing her.”
Perry likely won’t be forgetting Madea’s largesse. Eight films in the Madea franchise have grossed an overall total of $502 million worldwide at the box office, not to mention the revenue from three other films in which Perry appeared as her.
“She’s been very good to me,” Perry told The Advocate last year. “I love the joy that she brings to people. I love to see them laughing and smiling.”
Anybody feeling sad about the goodbye? Well….
Trevor Noah Urges Black People To Register As Republicans
“The Daily Show” host’s wacky scheme to fight voter suppression is genius.
Trevor Noah offered a hilarious scheme to fight voter suppression on “The Daily Show” Thursday. Sure, it might sound mad, but just hear him out.
“Every black person in America needs to register as a Republican,” he said.
Noah used the gubernatorial race in Georgia between Democrat Stacey Abrams, attempting to become the first black woman elected governor, and Republican Brian Kemp as his jumping-off point.
Kemp happens to be Georgia’s secretary of state in charge of the election. He reportedly has tens of thousands of voter registrations on hold ― mostly for black voters.
So, Noah figured a little trickery might be in order.
Article via HuffingtonPost
Check out Lovelyti’s video:
Trevor Noah Speaks On Tomi Lahren’s Suspension For Her Controversial Comments On the View
Dave Chappelle stands behind ‘brother’ Kanye West amid Trump endorsement controversy
Kanye West’s highly public endorsement of President Donald Trump has sparked considerable debate, with many perplexed by the rapper’s unyielding support for the polarizing leader — most recently demonstrated during a surreal Oval Office sit-down Thursday.
Despite the controversy, comedian Dave Chappelle is standing behind West, insisting that he “loves” the hip-hop star regardless of his political leanings.
“Kanye’s an artist, and he’s a genius,” Chappelle said during a recent interview on CNN’s The Van Jones Show (which was taped before West’s White House visit). “I think the angle he’s seeing things from is about the division. And he’s not inconsistent with what he’s saying. For instance, a decade ago he was saying he wanted to take the Confederate flag and re-appropriate it.”
He continued, “I’m not mad at Kanye West, that’s my brother. I love him, I support him, I buy his albums. I don’t have to agree with everything that he says, I just trust him as a person of intent.”
But the comedian acknowledged that the “Stronger” performer could do with a bit more restraint, adding, “But yeah, he shouldn’t say all that s—.”
Chappelle’s declaration of support was met with an uncomfortable silence from the audience that had gathered for the taping of the segment.
Chappelle, who can currently be seen in a small but key role in A Star is Born, also shared his experience of living in rural southern Ohio, which is heavily populated by Trump supporters.
“In the name of safety, I don’t tell them anything about that guy,” he explained. “I don’t think I can change anybody’s mind.”
When it comes to his own shocking statements, Chappelle, 45, expressed remorse for comments he made while appearing on Saturday Night Live following Trump’s presidential win — a time when many were expecting some form of comedic reprieve from the entertainer.
“I said we should give Trump a chance because he’s the president of the United States,” he said, “I shouldn’t have said that s—.”
Chappelle’s appearance on the show was part of his endorsement for longtime friend and Governor of Maryland candidate Ben Jealous.
Article via EW