Victoria Jackson Voices Her Concerns About Communism to Bill O'Reilly

As readers of this blog may recall, I have occasionally done humor-based posts called "Sunday Funnies". Now today's post has its share of humor, but it's of the unintentional variety. Recently, Bill O'Reilly did an interview with actress/comedian Victoria Jackson in which she discussed her political evolution. If you're familiar with Ms. Jackson's actions over the last few years, you know what to expect. At any rate, here is what she gave us:



Her rantings are so obviously off the charts that it's pointless to waste time debunking them. In the aftermath of her appearance on The O'Reilly Factor, Ms. Jackson wrote an article on her website in which she discusses how her segment was deceptively edited by someone at Fox News. When I first watched the segment, I was puzzled by Ms. Jackson's reference to "them" when she was talking about communists. It appears she was referring to her children, but Fox News apparently edited this out. If this is true, Fox News made Ms. Jackson look like a paranoid lunatic for thinking there are communists in our government who are going to kill her for being a Christian. If we are to believe Ms. Jackson was the victim of deceptive editing, she's only a paranoid lunatic for thinking there are communists in our government who are going to kill her kids for being Christians. Ms. Jackson also mentions that her comments about books which prove President Obama is a communist were edited out as well. If that's true, the folks at the Factor may have done her a favor by leaving that nonsense on the cutting room floor.

We often hear conservatives (in particular, the ones at Fox) slam Hollywood for its liberalism. However, these same people cannot wait to line up and kiss the proverbial asses of Hollywood conservatives. Since Fox's raison d'etre is to promote the Republican/conservative brand, you'd think they would do a better job of featuring prominent and credible Hollywood conservatives. Although I disagree with their politics, I haven't heard anything outrageous from the likes of Kelsey Grammer and Gary Sinise. Why not invite them on more often? Maybe Fox has and their calls aren't being returned, I don't know. At any rate, how is Fox News advancing Republicanism/conservatism by giving the time of day to a washed up D-lister (at best) with zero credibility like Victoria Jackson? 

According To Right-Wing Blogger: Black Celebs Empowered in the Age of Obama

Recently, I got into a debate with a right-wing blogger in the comments section of a post he wrote about the incident at George Bush Intercontinental Airport involving Patti Labelle. Because the blogger connected the incident to President Obama, I asked him to explain the connection. He responded with the following:

"I feel that Black celebrities have a feeling of power and that they can get away with anything since Obama was elected. Case in point, the Professor Henry Louis Gates, where Obama RAN to his defense."

Although I disagree with this blogger's theory, I felt the topic could generate a lively discussion. As a result, I invited the blogger to write a guest post about it here. Since he declined, I decided to write it myself.

As I said previously, I disagree with the idea that black celebrities feel empowered to do whatever they want in the Age of Obama. I'll go even further by saying it's absolute nonsense! The blogger makes it sound as if there is a hotline for black celebs to reach President Obama so he can make their legal troubles go away. Oh and if people think President Obama serves as a human "Get Out of Jail Free" card for famous black people, tell that to Plaxico Burress and Lil Wayne among others.

The blogger cited the incident involving Prof. Henry Louis Gates as proof of "Black Celebs Gone Wild". Because President Obama and Prof. Gates were friends, I think it was this relationship (not race) which played a factor in the president coming to his defense. President Obama even admitted their friendship may have caused him to be a little biased when viewing the case. Also, there is no evidence President Obama played a role in the charges being dropped against Prof. Gates.

As it stands, I think the blogger is not only off base, but paranoid as well. If black celebs as a whole waited until the Obama presidency to start acting like they could do whatever they wanted, I'd agree with his statement. Also, if anyone can show me a stat illustrating an increase in black celebs causing trouble since President Obama took office, I'd love to see it. The bottom line is that any black person (famous or otherwise) is a damn fool if they feel they're above the law simply because Obama is president.

Do you think the Obama presidency has caused black celebrities to think they can get away with anything?

Note: If one buys into the right-wing blogger's theory, they must also be nervous over what would happen if a Latino becomes President of the United States. I can imagine them quivering at the thought of celebs such as George Lopez, Eva Longoria, Mario Lopez and America Ferrera in a smoke-filled room plotting all the mayhem they’ll unleash in the event Marco Rubio is ever elected president.

Vanity Fair's "New Hollywood" Cover... Does the "Fair" Stand For "Fair Skin"?

The cover of Vanity Fair's March issue celebrating "New Hollywood" has caused a bit of a stir over its lack of diversity. The issue features (from left to right): Abbie Cornish, Kristen Stewart, Carey Mulligan, Amanda Seyfried, Rebecca Hall, Mia Wasikowska, Emma Stone, Evan Rachel Wood, and Anna Kendrick. All reasonably attractive, all with promising careers, and all white. Unless Vanity Fair's definition of diversity is throwing a redhead (Emma Stone) into the mix, they need to do better in 2011.

Now I'm not saying that Vanity Fair should have included minority actresses on the cover just for the sake of diversity, but come on... they can do better than this. For one thing, Vanity Fair already had both Stewart and Seyfried on an August 2008 cover heralding "Hollywood's New Wave." As you can see, this cover is also diversity-free!


Even though movie roles for minority actresses continue to be scarce, women of color are managing to make an impact in Hollywood. Here are just a few who were worthy of being featured on the Vanity Fair cover:

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe: Up for an Academy Award for Best Actress In A Leading Role for playing the title character in Precious, Sidibe will next be seen in the 2010 film Yelling To the Sky. As a side note, Sidibe does have an interview with Vanity Fair that's included in the issue. For her take on not being a part of the cover, click here.



Freida Pinto: One of the stars of the Best Picture Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, Pinto will be back on movie screens this year in the Woody Allen film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger and is also starring in Dawn of the Gods (which is scheduled to be released in 2011).



Charlyne Yi: In addition to co-starring in the 2009 rom-com Paper Heart, the multi-talented Yi also co-wrote it, co-produced it, and helped write the soundtrack!



Zoe Saldana: She only co-starred in two of the biggest blockbusters of the past year... Star Trek and this little movie called Avatar. Slacker! Admittedly, Saldana isn't exactly new (she made her film debut in 2000). However, featuring her on the Vanity Fair issue would have been justified when you consider that Evan Rachel Wood (who's been around since the late 1990s) got a spot on the cover.

Update: Zoe was featured on the 2008 "Fresh Faces" cover of VF:

http://guestofaguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/cusl14_hollywood_covers0803.jpg

Let me also add that I knew Vanity Fair had done previous "Hollywood" issues that featured a diverse mix of actors/actresses on the cover. This is why I was surprised when I saw the cover of the March 2010 issue. In the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, here is a partial list of minority actors/actresses who have been featured on the cover of Vanity Fair's "Hollywood" issues in the past:

Angela Bassett

Benicio Del Toro

Will Smith

Jada Pinkett

Jennifer Lopez

Djimon Hounsou

Thandie Newton

Penélope Cruz

Samuel L. Jackson

Don Cheadle

Dev Patel

America Ferrera

Multi-platinum Teen Pop Star Did What?!

The photo above of teen pop sensation Miley Cyrus (3rd from left) recently emerged showing her and some of her pals posing with an Asian friend and pulling their eyes sideways. In response to the photo, the OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) issued the following statement on February 2nd:

The photograph of Miley Cyrus and other individuals slanting their eyes currently circulating the Internet is offensive to the Asian Pacific American community and sets a terrible example for her many young fans. This image falls within a long and unfortunate history of people mocking and denigrating individuals of Asian descent.

"Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans," said George Wu, executive director of OCA. "The inclusion of an Asian Pacific American individual in the photo does not make it acceptable."

"OCA hopes that Miley Cyrus will apologize to her fans and the APA community for this lapse in judgment and takes the opportunity to better understand why the gesture is offensive."

OCA is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.

Miley responded with the following on her official fansite:

"Ive also been told there are some people upset about some pictures taken of me with friends making goofy faces! Well, Im sorry if those people looked at those pics and took them wrong and out of context!

In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity! I was simply making a goofy face. When did that become newsworthy? It seems someone is trying to make something out of nothing to me. If that would of been anyone else, it would of been overlooked! I definitely feel like the press is trying to make me out as the new 'BAD GIRL'!"

I feel like now that Britney is back on top of her game again, they need someone to pick on! Lucky me! haha Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know what is on my heart. You guys know me and have been by my side every step of the way!

You guys know my heart and know the most important things to me are my friends, family, fans, and GOD! In NO WAY do I want to disappoint any of you! But, when I have made mistakes in the past, I feel like Ive owned up to them and apologized.

Anyway, I really wish everyone would stop focusing on my personal life and get back to focusing on what I love! Music and Acting! Hopefully, I will be touring again this fall! Yayy! =] It will be a nice change to be back out on the road again!

xoxo Blessings.. Miley =)"

The intentions of Miley and her friends may not have been racist, but I can understand why some would be offended by the photo. Although it's not as bad as Mickey Rooney's stereotyped portrayal of "Mr. Yunioshi" in the 1961 film Breakfast At Tiffany's, I think that Miley and her friends made a bad move by posing that way in the photo.

Miley didn't really help her case with the above "apology". She basically tried to blame the media for covering this story. I don't feel that members of the media should go digging through a celeb's trash or follow their every move, but being famous does mean that your missteps will be publicized for all the world to see.

Miley's slant eyed pose wasn't the worst thing she could have done so I'm not calling for The Disney Channel to yank Hannah Montana off the air or that the public boycotts her CDs. As those who read my pop culture blog know, I watch Hannah Montana on a regular basis and will continue to do so. Miley's slant eyed pose may have been nothing more than a 16 yr old making a "goofy face". However, if Miley and her other friends who pulled their eyes sideways don't feel they did anything wrong, they should at least acknowledge that their actions could be deemed offensive.