June 5th, 2012
03:21 PM ET
Jason Alexander sorry for 'gay' cricket commentFormer “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander got on the wrong side of some of his fans when he made a wisecrack about cricket being a "gay" sport, and he's since apologized. The actor was speaking with Craig Ferguson on CBS' “The Late Late Show” Friday when the topic came up, and Alexander said cricket was, to him, "a bit gay" because "There's a lot of people wearing white. People wearing helmets for no discernible reason…Everybody breaks for tea in the middle." And then, "You know how I know it's really kind of a gay game? It's the pitch," the actor went on. "It's the weirdest ... It's not like a manly baseball pitch; it's a queer British gay pitch."
By Sunday he'd realized his error, and to calm the rough media seas that erupted after his commentary, the 52-year-old actor tweeted a “message of amends." He explained that he'd used the joke previously when hosting a show in Australia years prior, and at first didn't understand why it was now being seen as offensive. But, after reflecting on the gag with some of his gay friends, he said he realized where he went wrong. "I should know better,” he tweeted. “My daily life is filled with gay men and women, both socially and professionally. I am profoundly aware of the challenges these friends of mine face and I have openly advocated on their behalf." "So, I can only apologize and I do,” Alexander added. “In comedy, timing is everything. And when a group of people are still fighting so hard for understanding, acceptance, dignity and essential rights – the time for some kinds of laughs has not yet come. I hope my realization brings some comfort."
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He said nothing wrong and should apologize for NOTHING.
"By Sunday he'd realized his error..." BY SUNDAY? Wow. That's gay AND retarded. Maybe Jason should get remedial head out of *ss classes or something.
If Jason meant the sport of cricket is soft, i want to see a baseball player catch a home run ball with bare hands regularly and face Nolan Ryan without wearing a helmet
people are just being over-sensitive now... comedians joke about different groups all the time, but now I guess gay people are off limits
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Get a sense of humor.. and besides fit and smart dressed guys playing a game of cricket vs heavy set guys wearing tight pants playing baseball.. hmmmmm
People have no sense of humor any more. Every time I see a picture of GW Bush, I laugh so hard I wet myself.
ARMAGEDDON!!!!!!!
Gay gay gay you can't say anything in this country anymore who cares freedom of speech gays dont like it to bad your gay anyway who cares.
And you apparently are illiterate. Perhaps you might want to work on some remedial Grade 3 spelling before attempting clever online quips.
Amber Lynette:
I understand, that as a black woman, you might find D. Chapelles imitations of white people funny. I do to and I am white.
However there is this whole sort of thing in which we are more acceptable of making fun of those who have not been repressed in our society or country. Black people have obviously and so have gays. Making fun of white people in this country is deemed less condescending—rightly so—because of our country's history.
That stated, I didn't find JA's comments anywhere near as hate inducing and vitriolic as Michael Richards's comments were. You can tell a lot from the anger and the apology in each of these cases.
His hair grew back?
Its Bosely! Hahaha
apologies are so gay.
I agree. Fake and gay.
When PC reaches its zenith, we will all be perfect Nazis.
His apology was maybe the best I've ever heard. He didn't justify or overplay it – he just explained where he was coming from, acknowledged his error and asked for forgiveness. There's a lesson here for everyone. I have gained more respect for him as a result of this.
Jason Alexander has proven himself to be a class act. He not only apologized once he realized his faux pas, but he did it with style and grace. We all make mistakes in life, and say things we shouldn't at times, but how many of us apologize in such a meaningful way? My hat is off to him.
australians are animals. they laugh at anything.
they are an extremely course people. I just think it was weird of him to comment at all. I was watching Craig Ferguson when he was on and the audience was silent and Craig sort of shook his head. But Constanza continued. And he has that ridiculous toupee on as well. He is just a weird guy like that Kramer fellow (hates blacks) Constanza (hates gays) and Seinfeld and Elaine probably will offend a group of people soon enough.
Now can he apologize for apologizing?
SICK of all this PC krappolla.
Here here....
Aw, it was kinda gay of him to say that stuff, really.
Cricket balls are as hard as a baseball and are caught bare-handed. No soft leather gloves for the "gay" cricket player.
Handling hard balls? That's sort of gay...
I'm still waiting for him to apologize for that offensive bubble boy episode on Seinfeld. Bubble people of the world, unite!
moops! moops!
one appology per episode
they were equal offenders and a different group almost per week was the target
lighten up, especially in the loafers
Holy crap people, stop being so dang sensitive..he's a COMEDIAN, that's what they do! This country is getting ridiculous with this PC crap!
Yes, please. Can the world at large lighten up? I thought it was funny. Thank you. From a blonde, senior citizen, who has heard countless jokes about blondes, dumb blondes, women, old women, mothers in law, Jewish women and on and on. It's clled humor.
Cricket is a very demanding physical activity and is by no means an 'effeminate' sport. But gay, yes.
Not that there's anything wrong with that
But what's with the ridiculous hair?
nice!
Another example of how political correctness has gotten out of control in this country. I'm so sick of constantly watching people apologize for saying things because of the chance that someone somewhere might be offended. If he had said "I hate gay people", then that would call for an apology. But a joke about cricket is not offensive.
How does a straight man know so much about the game of Cricket????? THAT IS PRETTY GAY!!!!
Now you know as much about cricket as he so that makes you gay.
If stand-up comedy performers are allowed to discuss race for the sake of comedy in an often offensive way, then he should be allowed to use the word gay. Everyone needs to back off, realize it was not a personal insult or a reflection of his views on ALL GAY PEOPLE or the British, and move on with their lives.
Alexander is a "Putz"!!! never liked him and oh well about gays...if they can't take it move to france!!!.....lol
What's up with PG America...stop being so sensitive about everything. Just live your life and be happy!
And I agree with nearly everyone above me, cricket is very gay.
whats gay is all this we have to be sensitive crap to everything. Grow the f up and stop being p*&^%$s every time someone says something remotely about a belief you have. what the hell is going on with this country.
He shouldn't call cricket "g@y"; it's more retarded.
thx
Is George wearing a rug? I'm a transgender lesbian, trapped in a g@y mans body. I was not offended by Jason's comments or by any comments on this blog board.
Who cares what George thinks anyway. Cricket is not a g@y sport. But men's water polo sure is g@y. So is womens volleyball and basketball. Playing checkers too. And anyone who dances on DWTS, is sure to be g@y too! -Art
Really? Is this really a story? You would think that the gays would be more offended by the way they're stereotyped on TV these days, where the guys are really effeminate, with the hoaky lisps and all seem to be interior decorators and clothes designers (see Bravo TV). People need to get over themselves. And yes, cricket is toally gay....
Jason, I'm not gay, and your comments were not offensive to me at all.
First Kramer, & now George. Wonder when Elaine is going to be exposed for being a red dragon in the kkk, & Jerry is an illuminate in the masons
"First Kramer, & now George. Wonder when Elaine is going to be exposed" They are New Yorkers. What did you expect? Yorkies are high-strung and often a bit inbred. They don't like strangers or children.
I thought people were offended because they were cricket fans!
Did Alexander apologize for the thing on his head in that photo?
"Did Alexander apologize for the thing on his head in that photo?" A Dutch artist is going to turn his toupee into a flying helicopter and fly it over a cricket match.
On the rare ocassion when I surf late night TV, Ferguson always seems to be doing anti-English "comedy". It's boring and not funny. Ditto Jason Alexander. Could say more, but......
Every race, ethnicity, religion and orientation should be fair game in comedy. WHY are we becoming such a stuck up country that's so afraid of offending everyone else? If a LBGT person made a joke about a straight person, I don't think a single person would say that was wrong; because it isn't. People want so badly to be 'that person' who appears to really get it and want things to be equal, and we're losing our sense of humor. I'm totally against repressing the rights of gays, they should be allowed to marry and do all the things straight people are allowed to do. That being said, guess what? Sometimes you're also going to be part of a joke. Alexander did nothing to repress their rights or advancement. Get over it. Same thing with race. When Dave Chapelle does his white guy impression it's one of the funniest things in the world lol everyone needs to relax.
I'm black and I didn't think Dave Chapelles white man impressions.Some of his impressions were funny and i've laughed at a lot of his stuff.Jason shouldn't have apologized for what he said,I get it,it was a joke. He's got to make his paper so he has to back peddle and kiss azz.
Jason, I'm gay and I know you meant no attacks on the gay community. I took your comment as being funny and harmless. No hard feelings here.
What's wrong with what he said? Everybody is to caught up in being to PC about the Gay. Actresses can't stop saying the n-word, but Costanza tells it like it is and people up in arms? Really America?
PS: Cricket gay.