Ted Danson’s 1993 performance of Blackface in a skit at a Friars Club roast of Whoopi Goldberg remains an unsettling case in celebrity roast history.
Danson, who was in a relationship with Goldberg when the segment aired, said that he will ”apologize for the rest of my life” for the racial slurs and graphic language used in the performance.
Ted Danson’s 1993 blackface routine at a Whoopi Goldberg roast is one of his biggest regrets in life
Danson recently appeared in W. Kamau’s “Who’s With Me?” podcast and heavily apologized for his racist 1993 performance, which was “so arrogant and stupid.”
Danson appeared as “Blackface” – an impersonation of a black man with loud makeup and exaggerated white lips. Contemporary reports described the routine as including lines like: “I’m telling you, this woman is so hot… [N-word] this, [N-word] that,” along with graphic sexual references and stereotypes.
Danson appeared to be ashamed of the roast even after 33 years since he made the damaging comments. He said that he had thought that the skit would not escape the walls of the room. He reiterates the fact that his intentions were not malicious and was risque entertainment, which he shouldn’t have gone ahead with.
The fact that they were romantically involved at the time gave the incident more power, and it became a lasting memory for the public. Danson said that his comments spread like wildfire, and he came back to the hotel with stacks of notes clogging the door to his room. He also got a call from David Dinkins, the first black mayor of New York. The former mayor said that Danson’s jokes “were way, way over the line.”
Goldberg, however, supported Danson throughout the public fallout he had, and the Good Place actor apologized for the actress having to “defend” him over the years.
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH FOR A ROAST?
