MSNBC Reporter Calls Spike Lee "Uppity"

[RamboLiberal]

On MSNBC's Morning Joe show today, Courtney Hazlett reported on the current racial tiff between Spike Lee and Clint Eastwood. She reminded us that this isn't the first time the two have had issues: "Spike Lee got really uppity" about Eastwood's WWII movies before! I wonder what Spike Lee has to say about that.

http://gawker.com/tag/videuhoh/?i=395265&t=msnbc-reporter-calls-spike-lee-uppity

via PlanetGordon. Hazlett is the same reporter who said "we've almost had a dress rehearsal for this with Owen Wilson" when actor Heath Ledger died in January

Hazlett sounds like she deserves to be reporting from some podunk local station.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Have you heard the shit Barnicle and Matthews have said about Clinton on MSNBC?

Why do progressives watch that shit?

[RamboLiberal]

2. Can I add the shit racist Buchanan spewed about Obama

and his not getting "hard-working" white voters.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Absolutely. It's a sensationalist, shitty network. nt

[EFerrari]

5. It's unwatchable, I agree. n/t

[movonne]

8. maybe because we like what they have to say ...at least more that

the other channels..

[Captain Hilts]

11. Yes, a lot of folks here like sophmoric name-calling. nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. But she's a serious journalist. Really.

Scoop: Courtney Hazlett's Maiden Voyage

Huffington Post | Rachel Sklar | October 29, 2007 12:21 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/29/scoop-courtney-hazletts_n_70253.html



Courtney Hazlett's first "Scoop" column is up on MSNBC, where she replaced the departed-to-write-books-fulltime Jeanette Walls earlier this month. Hazlett, who was a senior reporter at OK! magazine for just under two years and came to MSNBC via her talking head expertise, breaks the seal on the column with some new news, dishing about new NBC 'phenomenon' Criss Angel — or Diss Angel to Britney Spears, who Hazlett says is planning to spurn the magician's invite to some LA event he's hosting. The two were linked in the press in August, and he had originally participated, but had ended up not contributing to, Britney's train-wrecky VMA comeback performance (where presumably she could have used some magic). Hazlett gets a quote from a Brit pal: "He used Britney for fame. Now that he has his new TV show, he wants press again and he's is using her. People think she's a fool, but she knows when she's being used, and the stakes are higher than they've ever been." Snappity-snap! Apparently Angel is also trying to conjure up rumors that he and Cameron Diaz are an item, but Hazlett's source has thoughts on that, too: "His biggest magic trick is fooling the media into thinking he's dating women to get his name in the press." Oh, zing. Good maiden item — Britney sells, people — and extra points for leading with a takedown of a Mothership property. We're sure Zucker won't mind.

Hazlett also got "Desperate Housewives" voice-over star Brenda Strong speculating that Nicolette Sheridan's last-season cliff-hanger ending (with emphasis on the "hanger"): "I suppose in the perspective that it was a negotiation year, a little death creates a little leverage." Interesting take, especially since Sheridan's Edie is the least central to the Wisteria Lane crew (though certainly this season the most wild-card-ish).

Hazlett's "Scoop" will run Monday through Friday (a day more than Walls) and tells ETP via email that "It's my goal to break news more often than not." (She hedges against the "not" part with a cute parenthetical "I am only one person!") In the meantime she might try predicting the gossip, since she seems to be doing well there: She has apparently predicted the weekend box office leaders two weeks running on "Morning Joe," correctly tapping "Saw IV" to beat "Dan In Real Life" for the top spot. Here's a question: Why are there FOUR "Saw" movies? Gross.)

[Teaser]

6. SRS JRNLST

.

[johnfunk]

9. OMG!!111 A Series Journamalist! I'm Not Going to Cast Asparagus on Courtney!

OMFG!!!!!1!11

[rusty quoin]

7. Why in the world would she use that word? Is it a touch of turrets?

[Hekate]

10. Sounds like a news-bimbo who never read any cultural history of her own country...

...presuming her country is the US and not some alien planet where they don't have any idea of how insulting a word like uppity is when applied to a black person. Airhead.

Hekate

[OwnedByFerrets]

12. What is wrong with the word "uppity"?

I dont agree with her assessment, but I dont get the controversy.

[Beaverhausen]

13. wait a minute...

:popcorn:

Ok- I'm ready now.

[90-percent]

14. uppity

similar to "he doesn't know his place". which is a semi-conscious white racist put down of blacks. A phrase I have heard in my life time.

-90% jimmy

[Captain Hilts]

15. It's offensive because it harks back to 'uppity negro'. Not acceptable. nt

[Disturbed]

16. "a semi-conscious white racist put down of blacks."

It is not "semi-conscious". It is a purposeful racist statement.

[Captain Hilts]

18. Yes, as is 'uppity broad'. Not acceptable. and a deliberate put-down. nt

[Johonny]

17. I agree

It's not acceptable because it sounds intentional to hark back to "uppity negro" as if doing so isn't a big deal. Since the comment comes about as a comment about a completely non-interesting comment from Spike Lee about a rather interesting movie... I can't get worked up one way or another on this.

[OwnedByFerrets]

21. Ive lived in Mobile Al for 52 yrs......

I, unfortunately, had a father that was in the Klan. I have heard (and still do) just about every racist thing that could be said about AA's. Having said that, the ONLY place I have ever heard the word "uppity" used was when someone was talking about rich white folks. I guess, much to my surprise, I lived a sheltered life. Btw, I was asking a serious honest question.;-)

[Iggo]

19. When I was a teenager...

...I watched an episode of a TV show called "Benson" in which was explained the the word "uppity" and its uses and misuses.

I'm glad I caught that bit of wisdom early in life.

[TexasObserver]

20. I heard it, and I was shocked. Here's this vapid Hollywood reporters slinging the word with ease.

UPPITY?!

It is shocking to think that a person can be an adult, on TV, appear reasonably intelligent, and still use a term like that. She would not use such a term for a white man. That's clear.

And "being uppity with"?? That just screams out too much time around white people who talk like that.

[genna]

24. You're right that it does demonstrate an ease of usage, but I don't think is deep enough to get it

[genna]

22. I really like Spike Lee and have some affection for the movies Clint Eastwood makes.

Update 4:19 PM EDT: MSNBC.com has just released the following statement from Courtney Hazlett:

"Today on 'Morning Joe' I chose my words poorly in describing the relationship between Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee. I take my responsibilities as a journalist seriously and know that words can have a strong impact. I sincerely apologize to Spike Lee and to the viewers for my comments."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/06/courtney-hazlett-msnbc-ta_n_105652.html


When I heard it, I didn't think she meant the racial version of uppity.

I took issue with the fact that she and Willie seemed to believe that Spike Lee had no business questioning Clint Eastwood. If Hollywood consistently highlighted all stories, Spike Lee would be able to shut up and sit down. Since it hasn't, Spike Lee has made it his business to call people out.

I call that advocacy.

Clint Eastwood could have taken the criticism, but he decided to say look I won't have this guy calling me out. The way he addressed Spike Lee was impolitic, but sort of within the realm of acceptability.

Courtney piling on was overkill. Spike Lee's POV is valid and shouldn't get a "Yeah, now what can you say Spike."


I appreciate Spike Lee's efforts.

I doubt Courtney is capable of even understanding why uppity usually goes with n word. But MSNBC should know better in training its on air talent.

[TexasObserver]

23. Courtney and Willie both were ignorant about the history. There were 10% blacks there.

This is why Spike said what he said. Clint Eastwood made this movie, and failed to include anything about the black troops there. I don't recall the exact numbers, but I believe something like 10% of the US troops were blacks. It would have taken some effort to include them, but given the subject mantter, it would have been nice if Eastwood had paid homage to them.

I am a huge Eastwood fan and consider Unforgiven one of the great films of our time, but Spike was right. I was shocked about the use of UPPITY, but it was a throw away line, less contrived than the Imus snafu.