“Cheers” Star Ted Danson Say’s He’ll “Apologize For The Rest Of His Life” For Performing In Blackface For 90’s Roast Of Whoopi Goldberg [VIDEO]

Kevin Harts roast on Netflix has been the hot topic as of late following comedian Tony Hinchcliffe making an offensive joke about George Floyd’s death. The joke drew immediate outrage from advocates and George Floyd’s family, however Kevin Hart defended the joke saying that people who understand roasts understands that it’s a no hold barred joke space.  Interestingly enough “Cheers” star actor Ted Danson recently in an interview shared how he participated in a roast in the 90’s that he would apologize for the rest of his life for. 

In the 90’s before social media and streaming actor Ted Danson, who was actually dating the legendary actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg was asked to participate in the Friars Club roast of Whoopi Goldberg.  Ted Danson who is not a comedian, that really didn’t want to participate, decided he would show up in to perform in blackface telling jokes laced with racial slurs and explicit references to their relationship.  Needless to say the situation went viral before their was even such a thing as going viral, and his career nor their relationship was ever the same.

“So my brain was going, OK, here is one of the most outrageous, funny Black women in the world. And I’m supposed to be roasting her and I’m not a stand-up, I can’t run with the bulls,”…“so arrogant and stupid” 

Ted Danson said he knew almost instantly that he’d made a grave error. For years, he leaned on the defense that his intentions weren’t malicious, but said that line of thinking no longer holds up for him.

“Your intentions do not matter. The impact you have on people is what matters,” he said. “I thought I could run with the big boys, and I couldn’t. And it was stupid and it was not my place, and it was wrong and it was hurtful.” As for where he stands today, Ted made his commitment clear: “I need to and want to apologize for the rest of my life.”

Ted Danson on the ‘WHO’S WITH ME’ podcast tells the full story, because he knew he never took enough responsibility for what he did and who he hurt.  Take a look at the possible teachable moment that seemed to get missed recently in the video below.

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