Roger Ebert Calls Out John Mayer for Racist Remarks
Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images ; Bryan Bedder/WireImage
Add Roger Ebert to the list of critics of John Mayer's controversial Playboy interview.
In a tongue-in-cheek post on Twitter late last week, he wrote, "To John Mayer regarding black women: What's not to like?"
The white film critic, 67, has been married to an African American woman, Charlie "Chaz" Hammel-Smith, since 1992. (He also went on a few dates with Oprah Winfrey in the 1970s.)
See what some experts said about Mayer's controversial remarks about race
In the March issue of Playboy, Mayer, 32, is asked, "Do black women throw themselves at you?"
He replies: "I don't think I open myself to it. My d*ck is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a fu*kin' David Duke c*ck. I'm going to start dating separately from my d*ck. …I always thought Holly Robinson Peete was gorgeous. Every white dude loved Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And Kerry Washington. She's super hot and she's also white-girl crazy. Kerry Washington would break your heart like a white girl. Just all of a sudden she'd be like, ‘Yeah, I sucked his d*ck. Whatever.'"
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GLAAD also slammed the singer for using a gay slur, "f*g," in reference to kissing celeb blogger Perez Hilton in 2007.
Peete, 45, defended Mayer on her blog, writing that she hates "that anyone would have the impression I condone or excuse racist comments in any context," but saying she does "not believe John Mayer is a racist" for his statements.
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Mayer broke down on stage Wednesday night while explaining his interview (which also included crass statements about ex Jessica Simpson), and apologized on Twitter the same day.
He has not made any public statements or Twittered since.
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60By the way,(TO THE UNIFORMED LADY WHO SAID YUCK) Roger Ebert is a cancer survivor and his jaw had to be removed. He can't chew food or speak without the help of a computer. He is an amazing human being and his wife is the perfect person for him. She's been there with him through it all and she clearly loves him to pieces and vice -versa. He's still reviewing movies and his wife assists him. They were on Oprah together. You should google it. They are an amazing pair. Educate yourself.
There's no such thing as a "Hood Pass". I've never heard such nonsence. An American is an American. Pop cultural influences affect us all. I like all kinds of music like everyone I know does. If you like a song when you first hear it..your'e not going to suddenly hate the song when you realize the singer is a different ehnicity than yours. HOW RIDICULOUS WOULD THAT BE?? As ridiculous as John Mayer's illiterate remarks. He clearly hates himself and is a very sad person. What he said about Jessica Simpson was out of control. He clearly hates himself. I've dated people of many ethnicies and it goes without saying that there's no difference. People are people and a ass is an ass like John Mayer. I used to love him as an artist but I can't stomach him anymore. I hope he gets the therapy he needs.
Botton line is that Mayer is a f*kg idiot.
First, to Fan, Roger Ebert has been extremely sick recently. I can't remember the exact disease but I think it might have been a form of cancer. So maybe you might want do some research before posting mean comments. As for Mayer, yes, I do believe he was being racist but at the same time everybody is talking about those particular comments. I think his comments about Jessica Simpson were extremely disrespectful and totally out of line as well. How arrogant is he to think it is alright to humiliate a person in this forum? I don't particularly like Simpson that much but this definitely crosses the line.
John Mayer is such an idiot. I don't think he is being racist... he just has no class and no common sense. The man needs a roll of duct tape for his mouth. I cannot imagine a woman being attracted to him after all he has said over the past year or two.
There is really too much being put into these comments, many people wouldn't have sex with people of a different race. That's their prerogative. FIELDS, I went black, it wasn't any different, haven't went that way anymore but I haven't needed to or been in that position.
These hood passes should stop being given out lol. Although it becomes unfair for people like Justin Timberlake who actually have respect(assuming he has a hood pass lol)
WTF happened to Rogert Ebert? I don't remember him looking like that! Yuck!
People like him make me want to hurl. I have been with a black man for close to 13 years and he is the most beautiful, wonderful human being I have ever met in my entire life. And being part of his family is a blessing. Jon is a piece of garbage. He should just become a porn star because that's the only talent I can see that he may have.
Mamacita, I am a almost 51 year black woman and I too did not know what a hood pass was. John Mayer is just a stupid dumba**
He just said what he thought Playboy readers wanted to hear true or not. And he used bad judgement in doing that.
I'm thinking he really needs to think before he says ANYTHING. He just couldn't get anything right in this interview.
I am a 52 yr. old black woman and I sorry to say I didn't know what a hood pass was either. Believe it or not there ARE SOME people who have never heard of the word. It's not the saying you wouldn't date black women that is racist, it the mention of david duke and white supremcy that is racist.
ONCE YOU GO BLACK IT'S HARD TO GO BACK.BEING WHITE AND MIDDLE AGED,I'LL TELL YOU SISTERS HAVE A LOT MORE SOUL AND SHARE IT.YOUR DICK DON'T HAVE A BRAIN ASSHOLE,SO YOU ARE JUST NOT GETTING TO KNOW THESE NUBIAN BEAUTIES LIKE YOUR TRYING TO FIND YOUR PLACE IN MUSIC.I DON'T THINK YOU'VE TRIED DISCO YET.WOMEN AND MUSIC,YOUR LOSING OUT EVERYWHERE.WHAT A WASTE.
don't know why any black woman would want to take offense. I surely wouldn't have sex with him. Not because he's white, probably because he has a "tiny weeny" that he knows won't match up to what we are "supposedly" accustomed to. Just thinking. he probably needs d surgery before he can muster up the courage to go after a black woman. Crawl back to Jessie.
please! who in hell cres what skinny boy John Mayer says about lovely black women that obviously he cannot handle as a man.....maybe he really isnt a man! hmnnnn come to think, he does look lke maybe he had a little surgery done.....anyway, i wouldnt sleep with any man that is as flaky as a woman men and women call 'dingbat'! make up your mind what you want first John then maybe the world will think more clearly about you!
Marie If John Mayer never said that he wouldn't date a black woman rather he wouldn't sleep with one. Black woman should be breathing a sigh of relief with everything he has shacked up with and not even what he has slept with in Hollywood. Eddie Murphy flat out said that he wouldn't date a white woman while white America sat quietly. Here is what Quest love had to say since he is defense of John Mayer. "The Rootsâ?? Questlove was a little more forgiving. â??hmmm. ill give mayer a benefit of the doubt (remember how people misinterpreted my photo?) and assume that was a punchline gone awry,â?? he Tweeted on Wednesday. â??lol then again on 2nd read....can't wait to see spin on this. i swear his #1 demographic is the white dude black women would do in a second.â?? Was Questlove attempting to be funny or right? You're holding the answer in the same hand your holdinh the race card so please Marie do tell.
Hood Pass, I've just come back from my valentines celebrations and this admin is frustrating me. Please don't put words in my mouth. I never said a thing about white women, it is probably what you are thinking and now want to project your thoughts about white women on me. I'm really baffled as to where white women came into this. I don't know much about Halle Berry who you keep harping on about but ig she qualifies why not. Never mind that her husbands have been white beaters or what not, it can happen in any race. The fact though might be she prefers black men. I'd like to re state that this is the first I've heard of a hood pass. Are you so ignorant that you think everyone should know the same things as you and the people you hang out with do? My issues with this mayer guy is not what he said, because he is entitled to his preference the same way i'm entitled to mine. I just find the way it was said distasteful and derogatory.
It was a silly interview with a musician in a girlie magazine for god sake! All he was saying that while he found black women attractive, his equiptment doesn't seem to function with them. (Too many good punchlines there). The "hood pass" B.S. was a dumb comment made to him that he shouldn't have passed on. I doubt he is really racist but definately tactless. I'm sure he selects his shoes for their taste out of necesity.
I dont know of any black women who would want him anyways