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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBrian Williams compares Obama to Richard Pryor
Brian Williams hit with Internet wrath after calling Obamas speech a Richard Pryor deliveryBrian Williams found himself being slammed on Twitter again after his take on President Barack Obamas remarks on Tuesday.
The president was being urged by one member of the crowd to preach, Williams said following Obamas campaign appearance with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. He seemingly tried to at one point borrowing almost a Richard Pryor delivery to deliver the degree of his disgust and disdain for the other side, the comments clearly aimed at Donald Trump.
Williams bizarre comparison between Obama and the late comedian was quickly criticized, as seen below, with at least one user bringing up the fact that Williams ended up at MSNBC following the loss of his NBC Nightly News anchor job:
Cornelius Moore @CMooreHere
"Brian Williams" called Obama's speech the Richard Pryor treatment. Next you'll say saw him on fire and helped put out the flames..
malaise
(269,157 posts)Lyin Brian is an owned tool
CincyDem
(6,386 posts)I think Pryor was a comic genius and a fearless communicator who used humor to call our attention to some pretty f'ing ugly truths about being black in 1970's America. He fought with addiction. And he cursed a lot. And he was at the top of his game during BHO's teen years. And he will always be a cultural touchstone for us. Nobody looked at their son and said "I hope you grow up to be like Richard Pryor". Still, he could connect and make you think differently about things.
What's the issue with the comparison? Is it because it's made by Brian Williams (who we know can be a complete asshat) so that makes it fair game? Is it because it's made by a white man so it must be racist? Is it because Pryor was defined as a coke addict more than a great communicator and the comparison is perceived to bring BHO down?
I don't remember the outrage when BHO did Al Green at the Apollo in 2012 singing "Let's stay together" (I know - more direct comparison but still...). I also don't remember the uproar when BHO channeled MLK (he's done it many times and I don't have a specific event to reference). IIRC, there are a couple instances where people had compared BHO's style in a certain speech to some of Lincoln's speeches...again, no outrage.
So what's the story here? I'm not seeing it but with so many people outraged, I have to believe I'm missing something.
yardwork
(61,706 posts)Did Obama quote Pryor? No. Did he reference Pryor in any way? No. Is Pryor in the news lately? No.
"Hey look! The president's black! And he's kind of funny. Who was that other black comedian? Oh yeah. Richard Pryor."
Just stupid.
Laurian
(2,593 posts)You hit the nail on the head with your explanation.
oasis
(49,408 posts)uponit7771
(90,364 posts)... know anything about Richard Pryor to make that claim.
Obama was purposefully channeling MLK or Green.. not some random black person... if it wasn't Williams and
On the other hand I think Williams mispoke
BumRushDaShow
(129,457 posts)since he probably doesn't know too many others (although Eddie Murphy is closer to my and the President's generation), and then applied that as an analogy? Am surprised he didn't blurt out "Reverend Wright" (he probably thought that since he prefaced it with an audience member exclaiming "preach", but then substituted a random black person instead - someone essentially the polar opposite to the President.
Looking up possibilities, I suppose his brain was fixated on this character that Pryor did 40 years ago?
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)... mispoke though, Williams doesn't come off like a winger or someone racially obtuse like Wolff
Cartoonist
(7,323 posts)Better than being compared to Bill Cosby
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)Response to uponit7771 (Reply #10)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
BumRushDaShow
(129,457 posts)Nat King Cole
Sammy Davis Jr.
Response to BumRushDaShow (Reply #14)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
BumRushDaShow
(129,457 posts)since you mention Letterman, etc. Going back further than that would perhaps take you to the vaudeville period.
The traditional Griot kept the history of the tribe, although I wouldn't want to conflate that role into the modern entertainers per se. I would say however, that folks like Jimmy Fallon have certainly channeled the culture in an almost scary way.
csziggy
(34,137 posts)From an album, Toys With the World, released in 1966:
How little the world has changed!
BumRushDaShow
(129,457 posts)Of course Dick Gregory is still live and kickin' and my mother was a fan of Red Foxx (during the 50s and on)!
But as to Cambridge - "Watermelon Man" was certainly classic in an in-your-face way.
BumRushDaShow
(129,457 posts)Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle?
Cartoonist
(7,323 posts)If someone were to compare me to George Carlin, I would take it as a compliment.
BumRushDaShow
(129,457 posts)was a caricature, rife with stereotypes to create humor, the comparison takes on a different meaning. Very different from comparing one to a specific comedian (not in character) vs some character that the comedian was portraying.