Comedian condemned after Palin jibe

[susanbanks44]

A women's shelter has dropped US comedian Sandra Bernhard from its annual benefit event after she said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be gang-raped if she visited New York.

Bernhard, 53, who was to headline the Boston luncheon, made the remarks last month during her one-woman show in Washington before Mrs Palin visited New York to campaign.

Bernhard said Mrs Palin would be "gang-raped by my big black brothers" during a diatribe in which she also criticised Mrs Palin for opposing abortion rights.

Many guests at Rosie's Place, a Boston shelter, had been victims of violence, public relations director Leemarie Mosca said.

More:

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iRtFQG_rLZTRgyaMugIO0P8AoGZA

[susanbanks44]

1. This joke would have worked at the Appollo

but not at a women's shelter.

[cali]

12. are you fucking kidding? this "joke" stereotyped black men in the

worst possible way.

[lapfog_1]

2. first rule of stand up comics...

Know your room.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. She didn't make the remark at the shelter function.

She made the remark last month - the shelter function is coming up on 10/16.

[lapfog_1]

5. Oh, my mistake.

So that makes them to be idiots.

If she did that material at the womens shelter (or for them), it would be tasteless.

That she did it for a different group... then they are being kinda stupid about it.

But it's their right to invite who they want... I suppose carrot top is available.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. I don't know if I would call them idiots but I get your point.

I also get their point and can understand how that is an especially sensitive subject.

Too bad Bernhard is on their side and was trying to make a point, as crude as it may be.

[lapfog_1]

7. Idiot might be too harsh.

but Bernhard has always been a "blue" stand up comic. Very funny when she's "on". Her material is always offensive to someone. I guess I'm surprised that they approached her only to cancel her based on a crude and offensive routine she did someplace else. Not to bright.

[cali]

13. the "joke" was disgusting, racist crap. fuck her. she's never been

funny anyway. she deserved this.

[lukasahero]

20. The material is at best tasteless regardless of the audience

Rape jokes aren't funny no matter who they're directed at.

[shadowknows69]

21. first rule of hiring comedians

Know who you're hiring. Not like Sandra is known for her family oriented jokes.

[texasleo]

3. Little boy blue...he needed the money! OHHHHHHH!

That's comedy.

:evilgrin:

[silverojo]

8. As much as I despise Moosebreath

The suggestion of gang-rape (at a women's shelter or elsewhere) is just reprehensible.

[Berry Cool]

10. Yeah. Rape of anyone isn't funny, nor is the idea of big black guys doing a gang rape.

Call me politically correct or overly sensitive, but it just isn't.

I can see why a women's shelter would reject her after hearing that she had made that kind of joke.

(ed. to indicate I fully understand she made it before their event and that's why she was dropped)

[Kalyke]

17. I didn't find it funny, either.

Rape is not funny.

It wasn't funny when McCain told a rape joke and it's not funny when Bernhard tells one.

And, I obviously (check my sig line) have no love lost for Churchy Spice.

[B Calm]

9. We've all been victims of rape over the past eight years, the rapists

told us to get over it. . . .

[cali]

14. well,

you want to use rape as a metaphor, fine, but that wasn't what Bernhardt was doing.

[deutsey]

11. What a stupid "joke." n/t

[Suji to Seoul]

15. Now that was Bernhard funny, meaning not funny at all.

Honestly, what is up with C list comics?

[Orsino]

16. Without context, it's hard to judge Bernhard's "joke"...

...but so far it sounds terrible.

[progressoid]

18. Good. That was an awful thing to say.

She stopped being funny a long time ago.

[bbernardini]

19. I've never found her funny. She was good in "Follow That Bird," though.

Probably because she was only on screen for a total of two minutes or so.

<>

[arthritisR_US]

22. the "joke" was totally disgusting on soooo many levels, I completely agree

with the shelters decision. Her stereotyping of blacks makes my blood boil.

[WCGreen]

23. I would have voteed against her appearing if she had made those

remarks while I was a sitting board member at a woman's shelter...

Sandra has always been more of a performance artist than a comedian. I don't find her funny. I find her shockingly boorish.