Posted on 10/25/2007 2:21:28 PM PDT by blam
Halle Berry apologises for 'Jewish nose' gaffe
By Matthew Moore
Last Updated: 1:40pm BST 25/10/2007
Halle Berry, Hollywood's leading black actress, has been forced to apologise after making a joke about the size of Jewish people's noses on a US television chat show.
The Oscar-winning star remarked that a digitally-altered photo of her face made her look like her "Jewish cousin", during an appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight Show.
As Leno squirmed and the audience sat in embarrassed silence, Berry appeared to appreciate the gravity of her error.
"Oh God, Have I just ruined my career?" she asked.
The word "Jewish" was cut from the dialogue when the show was broadcast on Friday night, but audience members leaked full details of the exchange onto the Internet, prompting Berry, a vociferous critic of Hollywood racism, to issue a full apology.
"I didn't mean to offend anyone. I didn't. I didn't mean any harm … It was just supposed to be a silly segment. I am so sorry, and I apologize," she told The New York Post newspaper.
The actress, 41, went on to claim that her Jewish assistant had actually come up with the nose "joke" backstage, whilst leafing through the distorted photos that were to be used on the show.
"I guess it was fresh in my mind and it just came out of my mouth. But I didn't mean to offend anybody," Berry said.
The photos had been created by Berry herself using computer software which allows people to warp their own images.
Three of her assistants were Jewish, Berry added.
The one-time Bond girl, who was close to tears during her phone call to the Post according to the newspaper, said that she had asked the programme's producers to cut out her remarks after she realised the offence they may cause.
Berry, who is four months pregnant, is currently in London promoting her new film Things We Lost In The Fire.
In 2002 she became the first black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar when she was honoured for her role in Monster's Ball.
She has also appeared in the Bond film Die Another Day, Catwoman and the X-Men series.
You certainly didn't help it any.............
Sheeze. Amazing how a harmless joke now reduces an American audience to “embarrassed silence.”
I wonder if there’s still a country somewhere with a sense of humor?
Supposedly it was one of Berry’s Jewish assistants who made the ‘Jewish cousin’ suggestion.
Where’s Don Rickles when you need him?
Talk about timing!
I laughed.
Her brain?
No kidding!
Iran's pretty funny these days. Their president is absolutely hilarious....
At least Jews have things they can laugh about.
When people consider the quirks and foibles of my ethnic group, Germans, they don’t laugh. They shudder.
How many does she have or need?
Roger that. I remember one of the funniest TV moments ever on Johnny Carson. Actor Ed Ames (who played the Indian "Mingo" on the Danial Boone TV show) was telling Johnny how he had to learn to throw an ax for his part as an Indian. Johnny wheeled out a lifesize carboard cutout of a man for Ed to demonstrate on. Ed threw the ax and it struck solid right in the groin of the cutout. Johnny casually looked over and ad-libbed "Funny, you don't look jewish." It was hilarious and purely in good fun without malice. Now Johnny would have the JDL camped out on his doorstep with signs and bullhorns.
Looking at the next three, I guess she should have added Frog Cousin, Leno Cousin and Linda Blair Cousin.
Halle’s mom claims to be Jewish so she probably does have Jewish cousins who may have large noses.
Poor Halle... she did better being drunk, crashing into a car, injuring the driver, then fleeing the scene than she did with her nose joke.
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