Ted Danson (lost video recordings of actor's blackface performance at Whoopi Goldberg's Roast; 1993): Difference between revisions

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Danson had a few notorious controversies in the early 1990s. He had an affair with actress Whoopi Goldberg which ultimately led to him getting a divorce from his second wife,  Cassandra Casey Coates. During his relationship with Goldberg, he did '''a performance in blackface during a "roast"''' (a comedic routine where comedians jokingly take stabs at each other out of admiration).
Danson had a few notorious controversies in the early 1990s. He had an affair with actress Whoopi Goldberg which ultimately led to him getting a divorce from his second wife,  Cassandra Casey Coates. During his relationship with Goldberg, he did '''a performance in blackface during a "roast"''' (a comedic routine where comedians jokingly take stabs at each other out of admiration).


The performance in question took place on October 8th, 1993, at the Friars Club Comedy Roast. Wearing typical old-fashioned minstrel costume and make-up, he reportedly used the word "nigger" well over a dozen times in his dialogue. While the performance won Goldberg's blessing, many other people of color found the performance degrading and offensive. Danson would finally publicly apologize for it after his affair with Goldberg had run its course.
==The performance==
The performance in question took place on October 8th, 1993, at the Friars Club Comedy Roast in the ballroom of the New York Hilton hotel. Wearing typical old-fashioned minstrel costume and make-up, Danson reportedly used the word "nigger" well over a dozen times in his dialogue, even eating watermelon at some point.


Many sources claim the performance was videotaped. However, aside from a few snapshots taken by members of the press, nothing of the performance has surfaced online or even on the wide media coverage. It is speculated that Danson's publicists held it from being leaked out of not wanting it to damage his career any further than it already had. It is unknown if the tapes were destroyed if they really do exist (though most evidence strongly points to their existence, meaning that its existence is very likely).
While the performance won Goldberg's blessing (saying it ''"took a whole lot of courage"''), many other attending African-American celebrities found the performance degrading and offensive. Danson would finally publicly apologize for it after his affair with Goldberg had run its course.
 
==Recordings==
Many sources claim the performance was videotaped, with at least one mention of a closed-circuit camera showing the uncomfortable reaction among the black celebrity guests. However, aside from a few snapshots taken by members of the press, nothing of the performance has surfaced online or even on the wide media coverage.
 
It is speculated that Danson's publicists held it from being leaked out of not wanting it to damage his career any further than it already had. It is unknown if the tapes were destroyed if they really do exist (though most evidence strongly points to their existence, meaning that its existence is very likely).


The performance remains a piece of "treasure" by Danson's fans. He is now ashamed of it, however, which makes a release, official or unofficial, quite unlikely.
The performance remains a piece of "treasure" by Danson's fans. He is now ashamed of it, however, which makes a release, official or unofficial, quite unlikely.
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Blackface ted.jpg
Blackface ted.jpg
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==External links==
*[https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/dansons-racist-humor-appalls-crowd-at-roast Roger Ebert article describing the incident, two days after it happened]


[[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
[[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
[[Category:Existence unconfirmed]]
[[Category:Existence unconfirmed]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]

Revision as of 16:42, 8 August 2020

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This article has been tagged as NSFW due to its sensitive subject matter.



Rs 560x415-131028153256-1024.ted-danson-blackface.ls.102813.jpg

A photo of Danson in blackface, taken during the controversial 1993 roast.

Status: Existence Unconfirmed

Ted Danson is best known as one of the lead actors from the long-running TV show Cheers. His performance of Sam Malone landed him ten Emmy nominations, of which he won two. Ever since he has had small roles in other television series and films.

Danson had a few notorious controversies in the early 1990s. He had an affair with actress Whoopi Goldberg which ultimately led to him getting a divorce from his second wife, Cassandra Casey Coates. During his relationship with Goldberg, he did a performance in blackface during a "roast" (a comedic routine where comedians jokingly take stabs at each other out of admiration).

The performance

The performance in question took place on October 8th, 1993, at the Friars Club Comedy Roast in the ballroom of the New York Hilton hotel. Wearing typical old-fashioned minstrel costume and make-up, Danson reportedly used the word "nigger" well over a dozen times in his dialogue, even eating watermelon at some point.

While the performance won Goldberg's blessing (saying it "took a whole lot of courage"), many other attending African-American celebrities found the performance degrading and offensive. Danson would finally publicly apologize for it after his affair with Goldberg had run its course.

Recordings

Many sources claim the performance was videotaped, with at least one mention of a closed-circuit camera showing the uncomfortable reaction among the black celebrity guests. However, aside from a few snapshots taken by members of the press, nothing of the performance has surfaced online or even on the wide media coverage.

It is speculated that Danson's publicists held it from being leaked out of not wanting it to damage his career any further than it already had. It is unknown if the tapes were destroyed if they really do exist (though most evidence strongly points to their existence, meaning that its existence is very likely).

The performance remains a piece of "treasure" by Danson's fans. He is now ashamed of it, however, which makes a release, official or unofficial, quite unlikely.

Gallery

External links