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.
She’s still hot. It won’t ruin her career.
She should have mentioned her crooked teeth and her English cousin - it would have been hilarious.
The English are the only ethnic group who can be insulted with impunity - because we are so naturally superior - insults keep us humble.
tee hee;)
My first thought was- would SHE be so forgiving of a joke about the width of black people’s noses? Hmmmmm
And she’s bi-racial, half black and half white. I don’t get the identification with the black race only. Furthermore, she’s having a baby for a white man. Will she consider her baby black?
Different subject, I know, but it’s one of my pet peeves.
Why are you posting pictures of me?!
/s
I forgive her... Now MORE PICTURES!
Have you ever seen when two biracial (black/white) parents have a kid?
The kid can look:
-completely white
-completely black
-biracial
It’s kinda neat.
He looked more Indian but was, in fact, Russian Jewish.
Ahh, he was one of my favorite singers = deep, mellow smooth voice. He was actually opera trained .
Two of my favorites were "My Cup Runneth Over" and "They Call the Wind Mariah" ..Gosh that was some time ago - long before CD's hmm , gotta get me one
When Nissan had a human voice prompt that said “your door is open” Car and Driver magazine called it a Jewish Mother Option.
I laughed....it was funny. A few letters to the Editor didn’t think it was funny.
This “joke” is so bland that it’s something that Maury Amsterdam would have said on The Dick Van Dyke Show, fer cryin’ out loud, which was a “family” oriented show.
Today we are a nation of professional victims. :(
And Groucho Marx was Jewish!
Traditionally we are a patriarchal society. Halle has her father’s name - that might be her context.
Wonder when folks do a geneology search do they first check the paternal side? I did.
Interesting isn’t it?
The people in Hollywood are some of those most racist I have ever met.
Yes, it is neat. I have a biracial great-niece, and I think she is the most gorgeous child ever born on this earth.I love the wind that blows on her. We stress that she is BOTH, no way am I going to let her discard one racial heritage in favor of another.
Berry looks biracial. But if she were as light as her mother and had no black features at all, she would most probably still call herself black. I guess I don’t get the ‘power of the one drop’ theory.
You could be a blonde, blue eyed Swede, but if you had a black ancestor 10 generations back you’re black??That would be like me saying I’m Chinese because I had a Chinese ancestor( I don’t) and don’t look Oriental at all.
I think I’m offended that-in a bi-racial situation- it is the Caucasian side that is almost always discounted entirely.
Is he still alive?
Actually, I believe she does have Jewish cousins, = ergo, it wasn't really a 'racist' remark - just a statement of fact if she does, indeed, have Jewish cousins with big noses.
We really, but really, folks, need to get off the "No one shall be offended" -
Only way we'll get through life without being offended is to live in a bubble - of course then there'll be those pointing fingers -
Yep.
A lot of members to the "Church of the Perpetually Offended"!
:)
LOL.
Hi Gabe :)
ooooooooh
MERCY!!
If she wants, I’ll comfort her.
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