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Jerry Lewis is in town promoting his book, Dean & Me (A Love Story), about his tumultuous relationship with Dean Martin. The two were America's favorite comic duo during the 1950s, recording 16 films plus countless TV shows and club performances, but they suffered a less-than amicable split after 10 years of clashing egos. The two hardly spoke again until the 1980s, but that didn't stop Lewis from pouring his heart out in a book. He told the Sun-Times in an oboe-drenched, sepia-toned interview that writing has been his therapy in the 10 years after Martin died on Christmas of 1995. He claims to have written over 2,000 pages for the book, and wants to publish a second volume to include all the things he didn't get in the first.
Life isn't all wet kisses and baskets full of puppies for Lewis though. Protesters in wheelchairs heckled him a promotional event at the Chicago Library. Various groups have complained that Lewis takes advantage of the disabled and portrays them as people to be pitied during his annual muscular dystrophy telethon. Lewis yelled at the protesters then stormed off the stage. One witness told CBS 2 that he even said, "These people are going to walk out of those chairs and walk home tonight. I bought those chairs for them."
Jerry! Talk about biting the tube that feeds you. Okay, so maybe the protesters were able-bodied people pretending to be disabled to prove a point, but that's pretty cold. Chicagoist would go so far to say that you should never yell at someone in a wheelchair, even the guy that curses at us outside of the Cubs games, because you just never know. Definitely not a message you want to send when you've spent a big part of your career trying to help the disabled.
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As somone who was at the performance last night let me tell you that your entry here couldnt be more inaccurate. Jerry only yelled at those people after he was attacked, and his audience offended. 99% of the 500 people in the audience went home upset at the protesters who ruined the evening!
Actually Pete, if I'd said Mr. Lewis beat up the protesters then danced a jig on their broken wheelchairs, that would have been more inaccurate. Now I admit that I like to embellish, but as it stands I played this one pretty close to the two major news sources that reported on the story.
I was there, too. This was supposed to be a book promotion event where Mr. Lewis talked about his life in show business and his years with Dean Martin. There was to be a no-holds-barred question period after the talk.
If Jerry's critics wanted to confront him about MDA, they should have waited until he finished his talk and brought up the issues in the question period.
I went the event to hear life stories from one of America's greatest entertainers, and was robbed of that opportunity by a bunch of rude cowards.
I wouldn't go as far as calling him one of america's greatest entertainers maybe France's greatest entertainer. More accurate would be one of america's most annoying entertainers.
This year, I actually had a smidge of sympathy for Jerry since the MDA Telethon aired a day or two after Hurricane Katrina. Talk about a thankless gig.
I was one of the protesters there that night and we have tried to meet with him with no success. I can also promise that none of us got up out of our wheelchairs and walked because this was not the next Coming. Speaking of wheelchairs, Jerry never gave me anything I can thank my job and Blue Cross/Blue Shield for it.
Peace
Wow, Matt Wood's comments are almost as out of the ballbark as Jerry Lewis's.
He seems to assume that the protesters have been beneficiaries judging from his cute turn of phrase "biting the tube that feeds you."
Get a clue - Lewis lied. He had no way of knowing if these people had ever received any assistance from MDA, but figured he's be believed. Likewise his claim that the protesters would be getting out of their chairs - implying they were "pretending."
Lewis - like a couple of presidents I could name - knows he can lie to the public and get away with it. Or at least lie to Chicagoist bloggers and get away with it.
I am ashamed that borders is in support of Jerry Lewis. If you support Jerry Lewis, you support his attitudes. He portrays people with disabilities as pityful human beings. He says things like they could never have a family or any life worth living. If he was saying those things about minorities people would be outraged. But, because he is talking about people with disabilities no one cares. People with disabilities have civil rights and don't want able-bodied people pity. Jerry doesn't need to find a cure for people with MD, with all the money he helps to raise he needs to put more money toward healthcare, housing and medical equipment. People with disabilities don't want a cure and he could take his pity and shove it. I was one of the protestors last night and I was ashamed of the people in the audience calling us B***** and they hope we die. Well, News flash we all die someday. I'm glad Jerry walked off stage. He doesn't deserve the spotlight on him.
Okay folks, to clarify, I think Jerry Lewis is an ass and this outburst confirms it. Thank you to those of you who wrote to say that the protesters were in fact disabled people. This makes his behavior that much more reprehensible.
Looking back at my post, perhaps a better way to start that last paragraph would have been to say "...even if the protesters were able-bodied" instead of "...so maybe they were" Sloppy writing on my part.
I think Cinderfella, was the film that redefined entertainment for the 20th century. Don't you fools realize the genius of this great man?
"People with disabilities don't want a cure..." ??? Speak for yourself, Jerryhater. Maybe you should get off your self-pitying victim-wagon. It's obvious you are all about hate. Tell me how hate ever inspired people to give until it hurts, for the benefit of people in need. Maybe you don't like pity, but guess what! If you're in a wheelchair, somebody who sees you there today will feel pity. So if you don't want pity, to quote Jerry, "stay in your house."
It's so politically incorrect to criticize the people in wheelchairs who cut Jerry down. But it's about time people criticized you for your tactics and your hate.
To All,
Those creeps who heckled Jerry Lewis, and robbed 500 of his fans of a wonderful night of warmth and laughter, those creeps who replaced the joy of those fans with sadness are nothing but terrorists on wheels, no different than the coward who lied in wait to kill John Lennon... just standing around pretending to be a fan, just like these wheelchair-bound creeps who sat and waited for Jerry, pretending to be fans in order to do Jerry and his fans certain harm... creeps who seek to use the fame of others to bring attention themselves. Being in a wheelchair does not excuse this kind of horrific interuption into the lives of Jerry's wonderful fans and supporters whose only crime was gathering to be in the same room with their favorite star, who was only there to talk about his personal and professional relationship with his partner, Dean Martin. Hell is wheelchair accessable for just such people as these lame losers whose only love is toward self, and whose only goal is to do harm.
It is true that Mr. Lewis has made many mistakes in his life, but nobody is perfect, not even the poor unfortunate disabled people who don't like him. Maybe all of them have not received anything from MDA, but I know people who have, and they do appreciate Mr. Lewis and his efforts on their behalf. Mr. Lewis is almost 80 years old and has had many health problems, yet he continues to work to raise money for research. I feel sorry for those protesters. Yes, I PITY them. Don't like it? Too bad. They must be really miserable people. So many, my son-in-law included, persons in wheelchairs don't let the wheelchair turn them into monsters. Those people have not only a physical disability but a spiritual one, as well.
You may have based your story on what you heard on the news, but did you actually hear what happened? I did. The news reports I heard were rather slanted against Mr. Lewis. A couple of the people who were interviewed, however, did say that he is only human and couldn't help reacting. Mr. Lewis maintained his composure until almost the end. He did make a couple of remarks that he probably shouldn't have, but by then, he had already tried to talk to those people, only to be shouted down by them. Whoever said the F-word was used is a liar. Pure and simple. Quite a few people in the audience were yelling in protest of the protesters. The "boos" that were heard were directed at the protesters. They don't want pity? Then why do they try to use their disabilities to draw attention to themselves? Can't have it both ways.
Thanks for letting me vent.
The fact that this is even a discussion is repulsive. Mr. Lewis has raised over 2 Billion (that's a B) dollars for MD research. And ANYONE wheelchair or not, fan of his movies or not, that can say ANYTHING negative about his motives is purely an idiot. For those who understand no explanation is necessary, for those who don't understand no explanation will suffice.
I have wondered this for a long time - why hasn't MD been cured? That's a lot of money.
Jerry Lewis did not act like an ass that evening. The people who interrupted the program ruined an entertaining program for 500 people and created much unhappiness. I hope that a cure is found for their physical and mental illnesses.
Here's a link to my audio recording of the event. It runs about 23 minutes. Mr. Lewis starts talking at about the 2:30 point, the interruptions start at about 13:30, and Mr. Lewis leaves the stage at 20:30. Listen for yourselves and make your own conclusiions.
Chicago Audio
To all the idiots-on-wheels:
Do you think think that if someone who had never heard of Jerry Lewis saw you, that they wouldn't feel pity for you? It is human nature to feel sorry for someone in a wheelchair. Show me how any one of you has been hurt, I mean literally HURT, by Jerry doing so much for MDA. And I don't mean your feelings. Boo hoo! Everyone has their feelings hurt sometime. We can show you MANY people who have been HELPED by Jerry's untiring work on behalf of MDA.
Can he come across as an ass? Is he full of himself? Sure, at times. Who of us isn't? But who of us didn't spend many hours of our lives laughing at his movies, TV, and/or radio appearances? For the most part, everyone in that auditorium that night was there, in part, to thank Jerry for those hours of enjoyment. And to have that chance to say "thanks!" cut short by those morons, quite frankly, pissed us all off.
You complain that Jerry has shown you as pitiable objects, unable to lead a meaningful life? If your idea of a meaningful life is to make a large group of people angry at you, guess what?......I still PITY you!!
I was at the Jerry Lewis book-signing in the Harold Washington library. Ironically, the protesters were reading aloud from a list of some of Jerry's own nasty and ableist remarks about people with disabilities, that he has made over the last 10-15 years.
I wonder how Jerry's fans would have reacted if Jerry had a history of belittling a group of people on the basis of their race or gender. Would Chicago's Jerry fans still have applauded and egged Jerry on as he incited the crowd to harass and be rude to the grossly outnumbered protesters?
Some of Jerry's fans participated in trying to intimidate and silence these brave minority voices as they exercised their freedom of speech. The ugliness of these fans words and in their faces that were twisted in hate and anger has brought shame to the city of Chicago and dishonored the legacy of Harold Washington. This is exactly what the disability rights movement and disabled people that Lewis claims to raise funds on behalf of, are fighting against.
Jerry Lewis put his true feelings about people with disabilities out there for all of us to hear and see; If he can't exploit em, then "get em out of here." This should be a wake-up call for everyone. A thorough audit and review of MDA's financial management and operations are in order and probably long overdue. Lewis' efforts aren't curing anyone. Instead, he has been using the MDA to foster misunderstandings and negative attitudes about people with disabilities.
On November 16, 2005, in the lower level of the Harold Washington library, a handful of disabled Chicagoans showed our city's true spirit when they spoke truth to power, and at great personal risk.
These Chicagoans have helped to restore my faith in humanity and the strength of the human spirit even after generations of oppression.
Chicago owes a huge debt of gratitutude to these protesters. Long live disability! Down with ableism!
The security was in the process of evicting the last two protesters that Jerry had pointed out for removal, when he bolted off the stage!
Stop and think, folks. Why did Jerry do this? He was enjoying himself as he made 'jokes' about people with disabilities while security pulled the protesters out. Another minute and he would have had the floor to himself again. Lewis didn't have to leave! He didn't have to disappoint all of his fans.
This may be difficult for some of Jerry's fans to accept, but well, it looks like Jerry doesn't really care that much about his fans in Chicago. If fans are angry at anyone, it should be Jerry Lewis himself!
If fans don't want to see his public appearances disrupted, then why don't you pressure Lewis to stop portraying people as pitiful and half-human? The way I see it, it's up to Jerry and his fans to restore order at Jerry Lewis' public events. It can't be that hard to get Jerry Lewis to stop insulting people with disabilities can it? I think I heard Lewis say he would do anything for his fans. Take him up on it!
Disabled and Proud!
I have a lot of pity for the enraged fans of Jerry Lewis. They behaved very childishly and their facial expressions, as they outshouted people with disabilities who were explaining their position, were really scary! The disabled people were trying to be polite but these angry people didn't want to even hear their side.
Jerry Lewis and many fans were very selfish. They ruined my evening and the evening of many others. Jerry's behavior toward the group protesting him was absolutely insufferable! I think it would be a good thing if Jerry Lewis doesn't come back to Chicago. We don't need him coming in to stir up so much hate and turning Chicagoans against each other. Go home Jerry! Go home!
It's hard to believe that the Harold Washington library hosted Jerry Lewis. Don't they know the history of Jerry Lewis and the disability rights movement? The library staff needs to be educated in this area!
Incredible evening! This has got to be one of Hollywood's best kept secrets! Who knew that Jerry Lewis despises disabled people!
I don't know how anyone could not have been sickened by Jerry Lewis' mean-spirited and dehumanizing remarks about disability. Those people defending JL must be smoking something pretty strong!
But does anyone know what happened to Jerry Lewis? What makes him so hateful to disabled people? Does he hate the MDA poster children too?
Jerry Lewis is nothing more than a PLODO (person living off disability oppression).
The PLODO's must be stopped!
I am so upset by the way Jerry Lewis treated disabled people at his book-signing. And I found out he's been doing this for a long time! Oh, this makes me so mad! All of my family and lots of my friends have donated, even volunteered for Jerry Lewis and the MDA. I'm going to tell everyone what I heard him say to the disabled in Chicago! I hope that soon everyone will know the truth about the Jerry Lewis/MDA scam. Jerry Lewis will become known as the humanitarian who hates disabled people...the man who makes fun of disabled people!
Jerry Lewis has been using us all! He had the nerve to call the disabled people fakers, but it is Jerry Lewis who is the faker-he is the mother of all fakers!
I tell you this, I'll never donate to MDA again!! In fact, I want my donations back. I was scammed. I'm glad that protesters outed him in public!
Jerry's 'performance' at the library was a huge disappointment to myself and to my great-niece, who is a child with a disability.
I wish I had known this about Jerry Lewis before.
Many of these posts look suspiciously like they were made by the same person. A vociferous member of "Jerry's Orphans", no doubt.
A "man who hates disabled people"? Please... You are taking remarks that Jerry Lewis made in another era, and allowing them to fester until now. Let go of your hate. That's your true disability.
Jerry Lewis is not perfect. It could be that there are issues on Jerry's side, as well as on the side of the outspoken crips and gimps who hate Jerry for some reason, which need to be better understood by the public at large. However, as you all can see from the many recent lying posts just above this one, the crips and gimps have been here, not to honestly tell their side, but to trash Jerry... as usual, either plainly and out in the open, or tell it like a sob story, when supposedly these crips and gimps don't want want pity. Jerry's Orpahns, plain and simple, are a hate group, yet they paint themselves as heroes for trying to stop millions upon millions of dollars from being raised annually thanks to Jerry's efforts, which go toward research and providing wheel chairs and treatment for kids who cannot walk. What about little Mattie? THERE is a hero! Not once did ANY one ever pity little Mattie or consider him anything less than a vibrant boy with the kind of heart Jerry's Orphans WISHED they had. Mattie is a hero. He supported Jerry and Jerry supported Mattie and millions of others like him, who regularly show unbelievable bravery, courage and heart, while these pathetic crips and gimps brag about their protests and cry, "Jerry , Go Home". And by the way, the term "crips and gimps" is the proud term used by the head of the so-called creeps, "Jerry's Orphans".. see their website. Jerry had a right to be angry. These freaks talk about free speech, but they don't want to allow Jerry to speak HIS mind. Jerry's Orphans are pathetic hypocrites, who would be just as happy and would feel just as self-improtant and proud if they were instead showing up to shout down and shut down Bozo The Clown at a childrens' affair because he wears make-up.
Its funny to me that Jerry fans are so upset lol. I PITY his fans , if the highlight of their evening was to go see Jerry Lewis. Get a Life, You losers. Your Ignorant and naive.
Jerry Lewis Protester!!
well,....let me see......yes yes yes.....im one of Jerry's GREATEST fans and my anger at all you jerks is..... unspeakable and is rising oh yeah it IS.
Whatever i am hearing from all those jerry haters and protesters, fake. SIMPLY FAKE.
i dont know exactly what happened but do know that there were angry protestants and would surely like to hear a full description of whatsoever happened.
ONLY THEN can anyone make a comment, by the way.........in one of the comments posted there is an audio clip......listen to it.
It'll surely help you in making comments on dear jerry.
As a man who uses a wheelchair because of my MS (and thus never a recipient of MDA funds), but a former fan of the Labor Day Telephon, I find it ironic that from my perception, those who were offended by Jerry Lewis seem to have been people with disabilities, and those who were offended by the actions of the people with disabilities seem to have been people without disabilities.
Since I have grown up, learned the value (or de-value) of words, the potential hurtful nature of words, and finally, what life with a disability is all about (I've only been in a chair since I turned 40 a few years ago) my own attitude about Jerry Lewis has changed.
I used to applaud Jerry standing up for "Jerry's kids" until I was erroneously labeled as a Jerry's Kid in a very intentionally dehumanizing manner by someone upset with me over something else. I then started reading past news accounts and watching old videos of Jerry's speaches etc to discover his vile attitude toward people with disabilities.
I only hope that those of you without disabilities do not have to experience a physical disability in order to discover how hurtful and vile Jerry's attitudes are toward people with disabilities.
Thanks,
Jimmy
I wasn't at the event - but I do know Jerry personally - quite well in fact. You think Jerry hates people with disablities? Why would he spend 50 years building up MDA and raising $2 Billion dollars for the cause? Why would he cancel events to go be by the side of a "red blanket" an MD sfferer who is in their final hours? Jerry is a 79 year old man who has spent the majority of his life trying to bring people joy. If you ever met him - you'd understand. He got upset and lashed out in a way some don't approve of. My suggestion - spend 50 years raising money for a cause and then face hecklers who say you are doing it wrong - and don't react. Bet you couldn't do it - either one.
"Lord knows nothing's less dignified than sitting in a wheelchair." and "...sitting in a steel prison...." -Jerry Lewis
"My kids cannot go in the workplace. There's nothing they can do." -Jerry Lewis
"If you found out you had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, you might as well put a gun in your mouth." -Jerry Lewis
"...Pity. You don't want to be pitied because you're a cripple in a wheelchair, stay in your house." -Jerry Lewis (Click on the link in the entry below to HEAR him say these words and then (more importantly) hear the response of a disability rights activitst.
These are HIS words that he has never denied and in fact repeated...substitute another race another religion and more people might understand why PROUD people with disabilities despise this man. Many say of Labor Day when the telethons aire that "It's the worst day to be a person with a disability in America." I'm not sure I agree that there is a bad day to be a person with a disability as I'm proud of my culture and identity every day. But it is a very frustrating day knowing that as LIVE my life happy that I wasn't 'cured', as I study to be a psychologist today, as I drive, as I live independently, as I live as an ADULT.......he will be spreading so many damagine messages all day long. It is also very frustrating to know how successful and highly watched the telethon is each and every year. Imagine the possibilities if Jerry spread messages of disability pride, accessibility, and inclusion.
With figures like 54 million dollars raised in under 24 hours and 36% of Americans recognizing Jerry Lewis as the celebrity with the most recognizable cause...this problem becomes even MORE of a contribution to the oppression faced by people with disabilities.
Some people-even friends-respond with suggestions that I should really calm down, not worry about it, there's not much you can do, it's one day, and it does raise money for research....but research for what? Not living with a disability, but to eventually erase our culture.....that is the underlying focus of the telethon because the founders don't believe life with a disability is worth living. So, if counteracting that way of thinking in whatever small way I can isn't worth getting a little ryled up about.....I don't know what is!
"You life begins to end when you stop speaking up about the things that matter."
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Someone I would MUCH rather quote.
So what do I do about it? Well, first I vowed not to watch it and of course, I've tried to spreak that message to my family and friends. I must admit I momentarily broke that vow for about 2 minutes last year ...just long enough to see the Harley Davidson company giving rides to children with muscular dystrophy saying "These kids have hope that one day they'll be able to ride a motorcycle." Well...uhhh...yeah-hopefully they do since when they grow up there's already plenty of adaptations that would allow them to ride or DRIVE a motorcycle." But of course, that picture couldn't be painted.....it has to be this far off dreamy land that through money the ever great able bodied world could give us the pleasure of living more like them. Well, then I snapped to my senses and recalled my promise and turned it off......I am improving! One year I tried to watch it and take note of all that participated deciding to ban anything they did in future from my life. I decided that was pretty negative and not really productive....not to mention it made me really cranky on my day off!
So, I've tried to express my feelings on this not as a ball of bitterness which is a close cousin to he pity that Lewis preaches...but as a contributing AULT member of society NOT anyone's "kid" (well except my mama and papa) I hope that someday my voice and the voices of my friends with disabilities will be heard enough to stop the telethon's oppressive and discriminatory messages from being spread even one day a year. It's my dream that more people will see that life is definitely worth living with and without a disability and that people with disabilities can be excellent employees, employers, friends, leaders, parents, and fellow Americans. Other countries have long ago recognized the negativity in the messages of the telethon. The MDA in Canada rasies money in a positive way without the message of pity. America is not being a leader on this front. I do hope to do more in the future to fight for the end of the MDA Jerry Lewis telethon.......With Jerry's statements year after year after year, it is MUCH too late for any apologize conveniently worded by CBS executives. Jerry has made abundently clear how he views people with disability and worse-how he has decided most people do. America needs to have the chance to see more of the other side of the coin...not pity but independence, dignity, and pride. So I leave you with yet another of the remarks Jerry Lewis has shared with the world on his view of people with disabilities....This one especially hit home with his remarks on disabled sports. I had deleted this a few times-moving it up in this post with the other quotes so that I could end on an uplifting note of hope. But today is a day that you should be fired up and at least a little frustrated and angry about this. We all should.
"I know the courage it takes to get on the court with other cripples and play wheelchair basketball, but I'm not as fortunate as they are," Lewis wrote, halfway into the piece. He had so far managed to include nearly every term or concept offensive to disability rights advocates, and his next sentences would work in the others: "I'd like to play basketball like normal, healthy, vital and energetic people. I really don't want the substitute. I just can't half-do anything. When I sit back and think a little more rationally," he continued, "I realize my life is half, so I must learn to do things halfway. I just have to learn to try to be good at being half a person."
As a Paralympian last year-I've reached a PHYSICAL point in my life based on the skill of my DISABLED body that Lewis and I'm sure NO ONE on this board has....so if what I do is "half-doing" hmm...I don't know where that leaves Lewis or the vast majority of the rest of the able-bodied world.
IN RESPONSE To this post...
"I wasn't at the event - but I do know Jerry personally - quite well in fact. You think Jerry hates people with disablities? Why would he spend 50 years building up MDA and raising $2 Billion dollars for the cause? Why would he cancel events to go be by the side of a "red blanket" an MD sfferer who is in their final hours? Jerry is a 79 year old man who has spent the majority of his life trying to bring people joy. If you ever met him - you'd understand. He got upset and lashed out in a way some don't approve of. My suggestion - spend 50 years raising money for a cause and then face hecklers who say you are doing it wrong - and don't react. Bet you couldn't do it - either one."
My suggestion...LIVE as a proud person with a disability and you wouldn't want a DIME of his money. No one asked him to represent us...he makes money OFF of us..Stats show he is barely known by most OTHER THAN his telethon...look at YOUR language..a "red blanket"..please refrain from describing PEOPLE with disabilities as an object...did you learn that from your buddy?
excuse me, Kara.....making us go to ur website and see ur stupid fancy stuff, just don work get it.
ITs ur prob if u hate jerry URE A LOOSER get it. People like jerry, if u think u can turn them around ure INSANE, UVE GOTA PROBLEM...
so just beat it, u jerk.
Wow that was an insanely ignorant post...I couldn't even really make out what your opinion was. Making a mistake spelling loser is humorous-so I'll hope you were aiming for comedy? Because I'm not sure what else you were trying to illustrate. Also, for your future safety on the web..no one "makes you" go to a site. Thanks for visiting though:-)
I don't really care if some odd individuals enjoy the in my opinion shallow humor of Lewis-I do care that he has a negative impact on those that are easily influences and don't think for themselves (e.g. you) and that he spews prejudice and hate against my culture. So do I care if people like him? No. Do I care if he is held responsible for insensitive remarks just like someone else in the public eye would be if you replaced people with disabilities with any other minority in this country in his statements? yes.
I think it's pathetic that these pathetic hatemongers chose a forum for Jerry Lewis talking about his book and Dean Martin to unleash their venom. These people have nothing better to do than attack a 79-year-old man? It's no wonder no one takes them seriously.
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Those stalkers ruined a night many Dino & Jerry fans were waiting for. That's sacrilege in my book.
Jerry has done so much for the MDA... Jerry will never be PC, bus his heart is in the right place. Yes, he can be paternalistic in his ways, but he only means well. He started participating in the telethons in the 50s, when he was one of the top entertainers in the world *and he will always be a comedy icon to the world, no matter what anyone says...check your history books*. I think the people that want changes in the MDA and its telethons should approach this man respectfully. They should, first of all, thank him for all he has done. I think Jerry would like to discuss with them the needs of the people with disabilities in the world of today.