Cannes: J.C. Chandor Sets Next Project ‘A Most … 
Hannibal Classics Sets Cast For Nic Cage Pic … 
Hammond On Cannes: Robert Redford’s Brave New Role … 
Hot Trailer: Jennifer Aniston And Jason Sudeikis’ … 
Warner Bros Tells Space Story, From The Bra Designers Who … 
Brad Pitt’s Plan B Banner Promotes Jeremy Kleiner To … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Don Jon’ 
Billy Crystal-Starring Comedy From Matt Nix & Larry … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Dancing With The Stars’ … 
Hammond On Cannes: A New Day Comes To The Fest As HBO and … 
Cannes: Fleming Reflects And Finds Talented Trio A Breath … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Man Of Steel’ 
Former Digital Domain CEO & Auditors Sued For Fraud By … 
ABC’s ‘Nashville’ Undergoes Production … 
CBS Wins Season & Ties Sweep In Demo; ABC Tops Adults … 
Alki David Agrees To End Name Games With Aereo And Barry … 
Next-Gen Xbox One Unveiled With Content Including … 
Cannes: Weinstein Co Acquires Keanu-Reese Sci-Fi Pic … 
Hot Trailer: ‘The Wolverine’ 
Ang Lee Departs FX Pilot ‘Tyrant’ 
How Many Times Does Seth MacFarlane Have To Say No To The … 
Jay Leno & NBC Sued Over Mitt Romney Joke
Jay Leno’s now-infamous Mitt Romney joke has spurred a lawsuit, formal complaints, hurt feelings, an avalanche of commentary and, today, a motion in the British Parliament. Last week, Leno performed a Tonight Show bit that showed a photo of a building cited as “Mitt Romney’s summer home.” In reality, it was an image of the Sikh holy shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. On Tuesday, Leno and NBC were sued for libel in California over the matter, and now British Labour Party lawmakers Virendra Shrama and John McDonnell are seeking an apology from Leno and NBC to all Sikhs “for this disrespectful depiction of the Golden Temple.” The MPs are also calling for Prime Minister David Cameron’s government to “make representations to the U.S. government that while recognising principles of freedom of speech there should be more understanding and respect shown to the Sikh faith.” The full motion:
That this House notes with concern the sketch on the NBC Jay Leno Show where the most sacred Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple, was disrespected by Jay Leno when it was referred to as GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s summer home; expresses concern and regret that this depiction of the Golden Temple as a home of the rich shows a complete misunderstanding of the Sikh faith and is derogatory to Sikhs across the world; believes that these comments are not acceptable to all those who believe in respect for all religions; calls on Jay Leno and NBC to apologise to all Sikhs for this disrespectful depiction of the Golden Temple; and further calls on the Government to make representations to the US government that while recognising principles of freedom of speech there should be more understanding and respect shown to the Sikh faith.
Loading ...
Why should religion get a free pass? Do they clamor for the respect of politicians? For a celebrity’s feelings? Why is faith more important than anything else that gets mocked?
This is all beside the point, since the joke was clearly about Romney’s extra untaxed money and a ridiculously extravagant house and had nothing specifically to do with the Sikh faith. Not that it deserves more respect than anything else even if it were.
I don’t even like Jay, but this is what happens when we give every hurt feeling equal weight. Nonsense.
You could say the same thing about homosexuals. Why can anything be joked on except homosexuality? So you can take your incredulousness and stuff it.
Please, give us an example. I’m curious what your sense of humor looks like.
I don’t think gays should get a free pass, either. Nobody should. That’s the slippery slope we need to avoid.
But the point is, the Sihks weren’t even the butt of the joke. Romney is. This is just another example of political correctness run amok. Pretty soon, the comedians won’t be able to make a joke about anything because someone will get butthurt about it.
“Why can anything be joked on except homosexuality?”
Obviously you don’t watch TV or movies b/c you’d see more flaming queens than a cruise ship. It’s cheap, easy humor and plays into a bad stereotype. But little fuss is made of it.
Ever watch the Hangover? Highest grossing comedy of all time. Remember the line “Paging Doctor F***t!”
Hilarious, let me tell you. But atleast gays have a sense of humor.
The Sikhs on the other hand do not. They clamor to work in countries that support freedom in all forms then resort back to their backward, ignorant, intolerant roots in a heartbeat.
You think there’d be some common sense wrapped somewhere in that turban.
This incident has a few parallels with the Danish cartoon controversy depicting the prophet Mohammed. In the US most people thought it was nuts b/c we are used to positive and negative portrayals of Jesus/the Pope/priests/ministers/rabbis/religious sites, etc. But the cartoons were offensive in the extreme to many Muslims. At least in this case the Sikhs aren’t burning anyone in effigy.
The reality is that as the USA becomes more religiously diverse, and as the globe becomes even more technologically connected this type of thing is going to keep happening. I think Jay Leno is a pretty lame/bland comedian but I highly doubt he would go out of his way to insult an entire religion.
Yeah man, im a Sikh and im offended that idiots are offended by a stupid joke. It wasnt portrayed in a negative light, and this situation is turning itself into a position where people are going to say Sikhs are like other religion that cant take a joke. But at least Sikhs stick to using courts and not H.E.
Don’t apologize. This is political correctness rum amuck.
Agreed. Does DUMB & DUMBER come to mind? God forbid if Jay – or anyone else for that matter – jokes about… oops, can we say ‘God’? Oh well, who cares. Thank God we Americans have freedom of speech AND can ‘take a joke’! There… I said it. Jay’s line was a “JOKE.” JOKE. JOKE. Get it?
Technically our right to free speech only extends to the individual’s right to speak on their own time. Leno is an employee of NBC, they are free to put any limits on his speech that they choose.
You see, this is where political correctness has taken us. A comedian makes a dumb joke – with absolutely no intention to offend or slander anyone – and not only does it result in a civil lawsuit in the US, but it’s now an issue in British parliament. Absolutely absurb and dangerous.
No one should be allowing these pathetic, professional victims an ounce of power by apologizing for making a joke. It all began with the PC movement in the 80s telling people to be careful with their words so as not to hurt sensitive peoples’ feelings, and now this.
Fuck, we’re finished as a society…
Political correctness hasn’t taken us anywhere. People are offended by the joke and are complaining about it. What’s new there? NBC will make a commercial decision as to whether they think its a big enough deal to threaten the popularity of the show (and thus their ad revenue) and act accordingly. What’s all the hubbub?
Surprising that the British Parliament got into the act, but unless Congress or the FCC does as well, its kind of a non issue.
NBC and Leno owe American an apology for putting that awful show on the air every night.
The offended parties have a right to make their feelings known and to encourage dialog on the issue, BUT their request for government intervention is not compatible with the freedom of speech rights we enjoy here in the U.S.
Only politicians and fundamentalists can make something out of nothing.
Do not succumb to the pressure. If you do, comedians will be forced to apologize for their routine. There is only one comedian who should not be exempt from apologies and that person is Andy Dick.
It’s called free speech. Apparently they never read our constitution.
Tell that to GLADD.
Sad but true.
This was just a publicity stunt. NBC and the Tonight Show will do anything to become relevant and get press.
Looks like its working.
Yes, it’s a global conspiracy involving the British Parliament.
WTF? If you are that sensitive about the WEALTH of your religion as depicted by the photo shown on NBC, that a Mitt Romney JOKE offends you it’s time you should consider another religion!
And why in the WORLD does the UK and it’s lawmakers care? Aren’t there enough Mosques in England to keep them happy?
@ alan smithee – FYI: Different religions,but I would expect an American to make that mistake. Mosques are muslim, the Golden Temple is Sikh.
You got your religions mixed up! Mosque is Muslim, Golden Temple is Sikh.
Haven’t these comedy writers figured it out yet? The world has NO sense of humor!
But NBC just picked up 8 sitcoms! Hooray! Good luck, there.
Correction: 10 sitcoms!
The libel suit in California has 0% chance of prevailing. We’re not in Canada or the UK. NBC attorney’s will get the complaint dismissed and hopefully go after the person who filed this frivolous suit for fees and costs.
Libel suits of this nature do more harm than good. If someone can’t take a joke about their religion then they must be very insecure. Comedians joke about everything and anyone. Its not meant as a personal insult. Its time we started learning to laugh at ourselves and not take everything so serious.
Glad we’re all on the same page here
Oh, for the love of–I can’t believe somebody found something that makes me want to defend Leno.
As a television fan,the saddest part of this whole lawsuit business for nbc:the lawsuit is getting more comments & reactions for nbc than their horrible programs ever will.Nbc now =’s Need better content. Thank you.
@jennifer – good one!
Wow, the next Star Trek movie had better not be about Khan after all – if Sikhs are suing over a silly joke that wasn’t even directed at them, imagine what they’ll do when JJ Abrams tells the world that the Sikhs will one day produce a genetically engineered mass murderer!
I hate Jay Leno but it was a joke, and not a very good one at that!!! Get over it!!
Ha, Bosten tea party anyone…
as if there are no other minor problems in the world.
Jay, stick it to them…
Wow. Jay Leno’s CHIN is more offensive than THAT joke.
I’m on board w/ the free speech crowd here (no group should be immune from satire/criticism), but I do feel bad for the Sikhs since they are the Rodney Dangerfield of religions in the USA – they get no respect.
Sikhs make up the 5th largest religion in the world and the only time Americans ever seem to notice them is when someone wants to commit a hate crime against a Muslim and mistakes a man’s Dastar (turban) as an indication he is in an Al Qaeda. (You can see a dramatized version of this in a scene from Spike Lee’s “Inside Man”.)
This could be a good “teachable moment” (ugh – I hate that phrase) for everyone involved. Sikhs were insulted, but the use of the photo by Leno was most likely grounded in ignorance at wanting to use a picture of an opulent building – not a deliberate attempt to insult a religion. The kerfuffle has raised the profile of Sikhism in the USA (at least temporarily) and it is unlikely they will be the butt of unintentional ridicule/offense in the near future.
Doesn’t Great Britian have enough serious socioeconomical problems on it’s hands right now to even address such silliness? 18% unemployment and youth alcoholisim on the rise require more of Parliments attention, I would think.
The real question here is, can I still shop my buddy comedy spec, HIDE & SIKH?
The religous leaders of the Sikhs still need to apologise for the bombing of the two Air India Airliners. Their lack of doing so should make them objects of derision and scorn. Their hurt feeliings over a joke in another country rings very hollow when their fanatical followers killed 800 innocent people. In India they would get a crowd of 100,000 to riot at Leno’s studio, but this is the US, so this is their only option.
Send them and their thug tactics to the curb.