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Mark Gordon, co-President of the Producers Guild Of America, just sent this email to PGA board members a few minutes ago about my exclusive, Producer Mark Gordon Uses N-Word Twice At TV Pilot Table Read: Lifetime Notifies ABC Studios “This Needs To Be Dealt With”
From: Mark Gordon
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 6:58 PM
Dear fellow PGA board members –As your Co-President, I feel it is important to express my embarrassment and regret about a recent incident that was reported in the press today. As many of you know, I frequently put my foot in my mouth and say offensive things, not because I intend to but because I am sometimes careless.
Two months ago, during a table read, in response to a line in the script, I attempted to act out an impromptu version of “Blazing Saddles.” At the time, I immediately understood my actions were inappropriate because of the racist language in the scene. I apologized to everyone in the room, as well as producers, studio executives and the network. I also am apologizing to you. I hope you do know that my heart is always open to everyone.
The producing community has nurtured me and supported me through countless ups and downs throughout my 30 years in the business. We all make mistakes, and believe me, I know that this was a big one. I ask – although I may not always deserve – for your understanding.
Respectfully,
Mark
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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For reenacting a scene about a lynch mob, the guy got his very own in real life.
In America, we have this thing called the First Amendment. It’s in this document called the Bill of Rights, which is part of the Constitution, which is the highest law in this land. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech.
There is no right not to be offended. Colorful language is part of American life and always has been. The fact that one of the biggest producers in this town felt it necessary to apologize for this event shows how far we have strayed from freedom. The offended ones can go cry in their beer. Only suckers beef.
Only a sucker would come up with the ignorance that you spewed in your comment. Perhaps you’ve cried in too many beers in your life.
Karnage,
There is something called the first amendement. He has the right to say what he said and he did. His freedom has not been trampled on. Just as he has the right to say what he wants, other people have the right to respond and tell him he’s a fool, out-of-line, inappropriate, insensitive or worse.
Actions have reactions, right? Or are you one who thinks they can do or say whatever they want and people have to just accept it? The only one crying so far is you. Hope that beer tastes good.
There’s also no law against being offended and reacting accordingly. If you walked up to your boss right now and insulted him/her and his family, would not only expect him/her to let it go but also expect your job to be protected by the First Amendment?
This “thing” called the First Amendment limits the government’s ability to regulate speech — and, even there, of course, there are important exceptions. It doesn’t have any application in this situation. You seem to be talking about “freedom of speech” in a more general, cultural sense — that people should be able to just walk around and say stupid, offensive shit whenever, and to whomever, they want, without having to worry about what anyone thinks, or apologizing. So be it. My own sense is that this is ridiculous, and unworkable, and that you’re not the big tough guy you say you are, but whatever — leave the First Amendment out of it.
Thank you for your articulate and well-thought lesson on freedom of speech. I guess that means I am free to say you are a moron. However, calling people names is childish and doesn’t address the issue.
The issue seems to be inappropriate behavior in the workplace. Happens all the time and there is no exception in Hollywood. I had a former employer (who was incidentally president of the company) call me a tragic mulatto and then proceed to perform a minstrel show for me complete with a “yessah boss” and an on one knee “mammy” ending. Did I report it? No. Was I offended? No, more shocked than anything. Did he intend to offend me? I really didn’t think so. He was just clueless. So I told him not to quit his day job and took a two hour lunch.
But this whole incident begs the question, why is this news breaking now and not two months ago when it happened? And if he apologized, why is the news breaking at all? I mean we all watch Entourage. We know there are tons of guys like Ari in Hollywood. I agree a little sensitivity would be appreciated but I don’t think making an example out of the individuals that do it curb it.
I’m sure Gordon learned many valuable lessons among which are:
He can’t use the n-word (in mixed company) no matter how cool or funny he thinks he is, and…
If he thinks about reenacting a scene where a Black actor repeatedly uses the n-word, he won’t.
I think this is really just a matter of a joke gone terribly, terribly wrong.
I knew Mark as a teenager ~ yes he had his moments of tantrum and chaos, but I also know that he is pure in heart.
It is part of the native LA culture to act out scenes to get the room together with laughter.
Having know Slim Pickens, Blazing Saddles was a hit ~ and who doesn’t love the infamous Mel Brooks.
I say knowingly… Mark’s intentions are worthy and caring underneath it all.
This is a non-story. He was re-enacting a well-known scene from an extremely well-known movie. Are we really this thin-skinned?
Is it okay to act out Amos n’ Andy in 2010? The Zionist Protocols? This is only not a big story to fellow racists.
You sir are an idiot and a moron. You should never be hired by anyone for anything.
Um, “Blazing Saddles” was satirizing racism and the racist white townsfolk. “Amos & Andy” was offering up black stereotypes for the amusement of whites. If you really don’t get the difference, you’re either dense or simply don’t understand comedy.
Dude, if you can’t discern the difference between the patently offensive Amos & Andy and the brilliantly satirical Blazing Saddles, you are not educated enough to be in this debate.
You’re talking about “Blazing Saddles” like it’s the Second Coming. It’s a movie, nothing more or less.
This is ridiculous. I don’t know the guy, but it sounds like he was just quoting a scene (similar to the one at the table read) from a movie that was making a satirical point about racism. He wasn’t calling anyone a n-word, he was acting out a scene with which anyone who works in this business should be well acquainted.
Richard Pryor would think you all were complete morons, not unlike the characters named Johnson in BLAZING SADDLES.
all of the posts that think that this should be done with and swept under the rug, should shut the fuck up! if he had made an anti-semitic remark like this, and wasn’t jewish, you would all be asking for his head on a platter.
The thing I’ve always found the funniest is how black people… excuse me… African-Americans (Labeled so whether they hail from Africa or not. So DUMB!) are always the first to scream “Racism!” when that horrible friggin word is used AND the first ones to use it in stand-up acts (Chris Rock has made a career of that word) and rap music.
Not saying what Mark did was appropriate. Just wish a certain segment of the population would either stop the usage of it on such an obnoxiously regular basis or shut the f up about it about it.
Do you really think that the same people who get angry about the use of that word are the exact same people who use it on a regular basis? Black people are not some monolithic entity.
You don’t get it. His lack of professional courtesy is what was most appalling. That he would put a series regular and a guest star in an uncomfortable position is what’s appalling. And yes, anyone can use whatever language they like, but they need to be prepared to face the consequences, including the fact that many people may be upset.
Dude,
why are you worried how African-American’s refer to themselves. White people could actually be referred to as African-Americans. Go learn your history before you make a fool out of yourself. Secondly, every ethnicity has ways of communicating with each other that other ethnicities have no business being a part of.
There are things Italians say within their group and Jewish people and so on and so forth. Why are you so concerened with what Black people say to each other? If you don’t happen to be Black that is really none of your business anyway. Move along.
Gordon’s head on a platter? “That’s terrible. And the portions are so small.”
Very nicely put! I hope Mr. Pryor is L[H]AO at all of this.
Considering that Richard Pryor PUBLICLY renounced his use of th “n” word over 25 years ago I think he would be laughing at YOU!
Stopr making excuses for racism. You only make yourself look ridiculous.
Mark Gordon knew damn well what he was doing. ABC ought to sever ties with him and put this douchebag out to pasture.
If Isaih Washington had to go, if Mel Gibson had to go if Michael Richards had to go then this talentless greep has to go.
End of story.
it’s cool that B-Lister thinks he/she knows what richard pryor would think. i like that.
people can say whatever they want. i’m not gonna tell this dude he can’t say what he said. would i quote that line, at that moment, in that context? no.
he should have just chris farley’d it, “Remember that one movie, with the part with the n word and the horses…? That was awesome.” he would have sounded just as stupid, but skipped the public apology.
Fantastic. He owned up to it, apologized, and as far as im concerned the issue is over.
Mark: Dont do that shit again – you know better and frankly we need you producing good material and not diverting focus away from that material by doing dumb things. Quote any movie you want for context but maybe skip over BLAZING SADDLES next time.
Now everybody get back to work.
Hey Griffin. Piece of advice. When something bad happens, unless you’re the person targeted by it or involved with it don’t try to dismiss it.
ONLY african Americns can say whether the issue “is over.” You aren’t one, so you don’t get to make that call. Glad I could clear that up for you.
Because next you’ll be saying that since BP finally got around to plugging their oil leak that the issue is “over” everything’s all better now and those pesky Gulf shore residents ought to let it go already.
I’m amazed you know Griffin’s race just by reading his post. Grow up and toughen up. It wasn’t hateful, and only MIGHT have been out of ignorance. I think more likely, the people who were offended in the room were the ones ACTUALLY guilty of ignorance. It’s satire. It’s supposed to be funny, jackass.
You are living proof that incest needs to be punished more strongly.
Racism is never funny, and neither are you. Now please return to your mother’s basement asshole.
Bravo, well said!!!
I know Mark for almost 25 years. He is a gentleman and to think that his attempt at a lame joke would tarnish him or his career in anyway is absurd.
That’s weird because I worked for him for over a year and heard him use this word multiple times in company meetings… Oh well.
Course you did – you don’t really expect us to believe that?
If you really did hear him say that how come you haven’t left your name? Hmmmmm….
Course he’s used it before – you don’t expect us to believe that do you?! Get off the bandwagon.
You’re right, he’s never used language like that before – we would’ve heard about it. Let’s face it this is a nothing story. So what, he acted out a scene from a much loved movie.
What did you expect? “Welcome, sonny”? “Make yourself at home”? “Marry my daughter”? You’ve got to remember that these are just simple producers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons.
File under dumb-ass but not racist.
I agree Michelle. I file you under dumbass, not racist.
Mark Gordon produced my first prime time TV script in 1986. He was — and is — possessed of a fine brain and a good heart. And sometimes, words can tumble from his mouth that he’d love to snatch back and beat to death with a stick. In other words, a human being.
We’ve been friends for two and a half decades. I can tell you that the letter he sent the Producers’ Guild is Mark, through and through: sincere, self-effacing and willing to to take responsibility. In other words, a great guy.
- John McNamara
…and sometimes people are willing to put up with all sorts of rotten behavior from producers, but should we keep quiet and take the abuse just to get a project made? Or should we demand a healthy work environment instead of producers pitching screaming fits or groping the help? At the very least we should ask that they not scream racial epithets. It’s not that much to ask for is it? They can steal beat the help for not getting their Starbucks order right.
So true.
the Mincing Leviathan ..Political Correctness will be the END of this country!
Funny how it’s only decried as PC when the racial slur isn’t aimed at you, Adam.
I won’t crucify him but I certainly won’t defend him. First of all, he’s a producer and it’s a bleepin’ table read — who the hell is he trying to impress by “losing” himself in the character and the scene during a cold read? Second, again, it is a table read! I don’t see the purpose of going off script and IMPROVISING during the presumed first read-thru. Cool, guy, your racist impromptu reenactment is really going to help the writers and the rest of the creative staff improve. I don’t know the guy or context, but it’s just ridiculous that a producer loses it during a table read, departs from the script, and drops N bombs in the process.
I am black. And I have worked in this town for years, most of them at a pretty high level. I’ve been in rooms where I hear white people saying the n word, and I can assure you that I am horrified, offended and disgusted. It is never funny. It is never appropriate. I wish other black people wouldn’t use the word either, but that’s a longer conversation. Mark Gordon should have known better. I don’t know him. I don’t believe he is racist. But I do believe he has done something racist, and for that, I will never look at him the same way again.
I hate that word. HOWEVER, it is the black comedian and the black rapper that keep that word alive to this day.
You did acknowledge that other black people use it, but I’m not sure you’re aware of how often they use it. I wish it would go away, but it won’t anytime soon. We can thank Chris Rock and Fitty Scent for that.
The word is still alive because of the people who taught African-Americans the n word: Caucasians. And, thanks to Mark Gordon, the word is extending its shelf life.
What a crock on every level. First, why is this a story. This is wimpola execs and spineless
reporters and it is a non-story of the highest order. And, Mark, please, there is no community of
producers.. There are only self-interested parties without a shred of altruism.
What if he had done a Mel Gibson anti-semetic rant?
What if he had re-enacted some scene where gays and lesbians were treated to hate speech?
It’s easy to say it’s no big deal when you’re not the one offended.
You do know the Mel Gibson rant wasn’t Mel quoting one of the most beloved comedies of all time? A comedy that makes fun of the racism of whites at the time and was co-written by the genius Richard Pryor?
No idea why Mark Gordon felt the need to quote it right then, but it is a VERY different context.
Again, a dumb-ass. Not a racist.
Different.
Umm, it wasn’t a mel gibson rant and it isn’t “hate speach” because there is no malice in the context of the conversation. Quoting Gibson would have been quoting “hate speach” and been a faux pas, but he was in fact quoting something critical to ignorance and bigotry. By not allowing people to enjoy, share and discuss these tools of cultural enlightenment, we actually reinforce ignorance.
Sorry, but this is not a ‘non-issue.’ Ask the African-American actresses sitting at that table. They’ll tell you. This guy has a bad reputation. Practically admits it in this letter to the PGA. He shouldn’t get a ‘pass’ for this one. But as long as he keeps making studios and networks money, I’m sure he will.
Post your name. If you are going to go on a website and say someone has a bad rep, prove it. If not, you are a coward and you deserve this type of anonymous flogging when it comes your way next.
Don’t have to prove anything. Welcome to Hollywood. By the way, nice use of contractions. “You’re an ass.” There. Much better.
Really mark, beyond making an ass of your self, you offend an entire race of people in a blatant abuse of power, and your first thought was to apologize to the PGA? Your response tothe situation? even for the biz, yourur arrogance is almost at the level of disgust.
excuse me dumbass, he is the recently elected Co-President of the PGA; get some facts to go with your ignorance.
I don’t know the guy, but saying the n**** word in front of blacks is ALWAYS inappropriate. Even if your one black friend told you it was okay. I’m black and I don’t feel comfortable saying that word. It makes me cringe. I can’t believe he felt bold enough to say it in a professional setting. I think it was time for his ego to be checked.
I hope you never watch Lenny Bruce, or All in the Family, or read Mark Twain.
Plenty of whites using the n-word brilliantly in all those cases (to remark on the power of words, show a racist, capture a time, etc.) It’s about context, not the simple putting together of two syllables.
Should it normally be used? Of course not.
But is it ALWAYS inappropriate? Um, no.
“using the n word brilliantly.” Brilliantly?
Wow, I sure wish Mel Gibson had YOU as his PR consultant.
Have you ever seen “Blazing Saddles?” Despite the use of the n-word, it is not a racist movie. Like Chris Rock or Dave Chapelle the movie uses racist language to draw a comedic point about the absurdity of racist behavior.
Quoting “Blazing Saddles” does not make someone a racist. Quoting it in a business situation in front of a group of executives and actors makes someone stupid and inappropriate, but it does not make them Mel Gibson or Michael Richards.
“saying the n**** word in front of blacks is ALWAYS inappropriate” I think we’re talking about real life here, not reading a book or watching a movie. Yes it is inappropriate and I’m glad that at least Mark Gordon understands that or acknowledges that some of us feel that way and we matter, so apologized.
I likewise have an aversion to that word unlike any other you may use in my presence no matter who is saying it. It is vulgar and hateful, that’s why it’s used by racist characters to identify them as racist in literature and film.
“Plenty of whites using the n-word brilliantly…” Are you really bragging about this as if it’s an attribute. Shows how clueless you are to the brevity of this issue.
Couching the “n” word in comedy doesn’t make it any less hurtful or offensive. Besides, Mark Twain’s books are from the 19th century–not an appropriate comparison to 2010.
N***** puh-leeze!!!
Not necessarily making the mistake, but his response or lack thereof, showed no class and looked to be an attempt at an apology…except he never acknowledged those he actually offended. Specifically those african americans present in the room.
I think it is clear from the previous posts that he offended more than just African Americans.
As an African-American I feel bad for the guy. It’s not that serious! No offense taken. It’s just a word (to me). Historically, some white people just used the word way too much and as a result you (all white people) don’t get the privilage of using it.
It’s the rule, I guess.
Sorry, the fact that it’s a classic scene in a classic movie doesn’t make it okay. The scene is a poke at racism. Imitating it just for a laugh isn’t. It was insensitive in the extreme.
But in fairness to MG, being astonishingly insensitive is not the same thing as being a racist. I wonder, though, if this had been someone who works for Gordon, would Gordon have been as forgiving as he now wants others to be toward himself?
Yesterday the wretched Dr. Laura uttered the N-word several times on air. She was attempting – in her very own uniquely arrogant, ignorant manner – to make a point to an a caller (an African American woman no less!) about the N-word because obviously she’s an expert on this. My point? We were talking about this moronic incident today and I said for all the garbage and foul language that comes out of my mouth I cannot fathom using the N-word. Ever. I’m open about my disdain for this word from anyone who is not black (like me). If someone from the community wants to use that word it’s none of my business.
It never fails to boggle my mind how this word falls so freely from people’s lips. Like it’s nothing. It’s a fucking ugly word that can rip a soul. No other word comes close.
Agree on all points, but would add that it’s typically the race this word is directed at that uses it the most. Undeniably. As another poster suggested, black comics and rappers have made careers out of using it.
When Mark becomes a black comic or black rapper then maybe it will be okay. But right now, it’s not.
Whomever filed this at Lifetime needs to be reprimanded for failure to apply reasonable judgement and just pass it along. Just another case if a lazy executive passing the buck.
if the derogatory term did not have a second definition which is being used by brothers then it wouldn’t feel more comfortable for the rest to use. Some cannabis smokers don’t even think it is illegal. The more you sleep with something the less it bothers you.
Maybe in another 50 years, all the raging geezers will die off and the constant, wondering if someone is being racist will be history. Shouldn’t Cuba be there about now?
He clearly has a screw loose. This is almost as unforgivable as the idiots here making excuses for him.
Imagine the EXACT same scenario, but instead of Mark Gordon, it was John Singleton or Lee Daniels. This would be a non-story. Since there was no hatefulness at all in the way the word was used, I see NOTHING wrong with it.
I think our furry friends on “AVENUE Q” sang it best:
Everyone’s a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn’t mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one’s really color blind.
Maybe it’s a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race…
Ethnic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They’re based on truth.
Don’t take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them –
So relax!
“Ethnic jokes might be uncouth, But you laugh because
They’re based on truth.”
The point is we DIDN’T laugh. And not based on truth, especially since a non-African American wrote those lyrics and the see in that movie.
This is truly a Michael Scott moment. If it were a scene from The Office we’d all be laughing. But alas it isn’t and in real life this is more cringe- worthy than funny. The guy behaved stupidly but I don’t think it should’ve been blown to this proportion. He does owe everyone in that room apologies but that’s it.