Racist/Homophobic Remarks from Chris Jericho at Festival

[The Industry]

I don't think this is really that big of a deal WWE [and wrestling in general] has always been full of racism and homophobia. I don't see Jericho getting punished for saying something that is probably thrown around every day in the locker room. It took them forever to punish Hayes, and he is still the head booker of Smackdown and not really booking minorities [excluding Rey] strong, no matter how over they are.

[Sasha Fierce]

Omg. This totally sucks, since I like have the biggest crush on him. He's still uber hot and all but unless this was kayfabe(even if it was, it's alittle harsh)I think I might have to scratch him off my list.

But in the end, yes I guess theres freedom of speech and if want's to say that, then all the power to him(doesn't effect me), but he's off my list. I do think people are too quick to prosecute or critisize though, it's not like he's publicly saying he hates gays(and middle eastern people)but this sort of thing, just gives fuel to people who actually do hate.

In the end life goes on. Jericho's still going to be a great wrestler, super sexy, and a great heel, he's just off my list.

[JGlass14]

Jericho was out of line, but what he did was not unforgivable. Now taking a girl into the bathroom of an arcade and banging her and getting her pregnant... now THAT'S unforgivable. But back to Jericho.

Apparently Jericho didn't understand his audience. They clearly did not respond well to the racist comments, and the word "fag" is highly offensive. He was also clearly drunk, which, while not making things magically disappear, makes the situation a little lighter. I honestly believe he is sorry this time, but I can see how some people are still insulted. However, Chris Jericho is not a mega-star, he is a professional wrestler. Mainstream media will forget about this in a few days, wrestling fans will forget about this in a week, and the WWE will pretend it never happened.

[Lord Sidious]

Originally Posted by asswhip

(Moderator Comments)

(Referencing deleted comments that were removed)

Okay. Let me present this scenario then. If you were Black, and someone called you a "n****r", would you react the same way? If Jericho got up there, and the Host was Black, and he said the word "N****r" in passing to the Host, do you think the Host or the Audience members who were Black might be offended?

I certainly do.

The word "Fag" is the equivalent to the "N" word for Blacks. Gays find it personally highly offensive, because it is highly offensive to them. Just like it is now part of our norms not to use the "N" word in public because it is offensive to a lot of Blacks ... the same consideration should be applied to the word "Fag".

What I don't see is as much "Liberals trying to twist the meaning of words around and make them a big deal".

Instead, what I see are people like yourself, trying to find ways to justify still using the word, even though you know it is highly offensive to people who are Gay.

[PEP3]

Originally Posted by Lord Sidious

Okay. Let me present this scenario then. If you were Black, and someone called you a "n****r", would you react the same way? If Jericho got up there, and the Host was Black, and he said the word "N****r" in passing to the Host, do you think the Host or the Audience members who were Black might be offended?

I certainly do.

The word "Fag" is the equivalent to the "N" word for Blacks. Gays find it personally highly offensive, because it is highly offensive to them. Just like it is now part of our norms not to use the "N" word in public because it is offensive to a lot of Blacks ... the same consideration should be applied to the word "Fag".

What I don't see is as much "Liberals trying to twist the meaning of words around and make them a big deal".

Instead, what I see are people like yourself, trying to find ways to justify still using the word, even though you know it is highly offensive to people who are Gay.

This is exactly correct.

People in this forum have thus far justified Jericho's actions by saying use of words like "fag" are common and everyday. Well, 40-50 years ago, so was use of the "N" word. Now our society has evolved to a point where that word is no longer socially acceptable, but it was only because people made a similar stink about it that others are now making about "fag" and terms like "Hadji."

What made Chris Jericho think those terms were acceptable is beyond me. While I don't think he should be severely punished for his statements, I do think WWE should reprimand him, ideally to advance awareness of sensitivity to these terms (or, at a minimum, just to smooth it over publicly).

I'm absolutely sure things like this are said all the time in the locker room. That alone is not necessarily right, but Jericho wasn't in the locker room. He was in front of an audience, with a microphone. He needs to be reminded of a professional code of conduct.

And being drunk is no excuse. Period.

[Mustang Sally]

Originally Posted by colalella2891

I mean in his apology he even sounds like a dick.

That's probably because it was an apology that his employer forced him to make. In today's world, there's always someone ready and willing to be outraged by words casually spoken by someone else. These "meant-to-be-funny" comments used to be taken more lightly.....but not anymore. I doubt Jericho was trying to offend anyone, so any apology he's ordered to make isn't going to come off as sincere.

Maybe I've got it all wrong, though. I'm reminded of Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins saying about Michael Vick: "They're his dogs, if he wants to kill them, he should be able to."

The team forced Portis to apologize, but what did the apology really mean? Obviously, the man has no problem with another man torturing and killing his own property, so what good comes from forcing him to apologize?

Slurs aren't good, but I wish people could take it easy, y'know?

[Saritafan]

shame on chris jericho,he's definitly known for causing issues outside WWE

I don't care what the rest of you have said,some of you are just finding an excuse to defend him because your a fan of his so shame on you guys. If he made those remarks to you,i bet all of you would make it seriously but since it was on someone else,i guess it's "freedom of speech"

[Lord Sidious]

You know, come to think of it, these comments from Jericho really shouldn't surprise anyone.

When he was up in Toronto for that House Show earlier this year, and when he got in that scuffle with the girl and her boyfriend .... I remember she stated that Jericho made some sort of a racial slur at the boyfriend. Obviously, I'm not defending the couple's actions because security wasn't doing their job ... and people were getting on his vehicle and all. That was uncalled for.

But Jericho does seem to have a history of making these type of "hot button" slurs at people.

[Razor]

Yeah, Jericho was wrong to say that shit. Don't claim freedom of speech. Jericho is the face of the WWE when he's out and about. He shouldn't be saying stuff like that. It'd be like if Cena, Taker, HHH, HBK, any other main eventer said this stuff. It doesn't matter what he meant by it, what his intentions were, whatever.

This is the same reason Taker can't show up to the Hall of Fame awards. This is the same reason Punk was put in the dog house for smarting off to the Undertaker when being reprimanded by the vet for his dress in public. This is the same reason the faces are usually chosen to do the PR. And when the Heels do it, they break kayfabe for the most part. The WWE is a company that survives on what the crowd thinks of their performers.

These wrestlers are essentially actors acting in a play. What happens when people think an entertainer is a douchebag in Hollywood? Just ask Tom Cruise.

[pattycat22]

I have to agree with those who have said that the slur towards homosexuals of f** is as bad as other prominent racial slurs. Do people use these terms casually, yes-but that doesn't mean there is not a potential for harm if it is used too casually or in the wrong company. We all use some sort of slang at some point and usually will let our guard down more with our close friends and family. I'm not suggesting that everyone be punished for not being pc all the time, but there has to be some thoughtfulness towards how we use our slang and in what context. I think the most important part is that we don't diminish someone else's hurt over a derogatory term-even if we don't personally feel it.
The main crime Jericho committed is poor judgement. Not only in saying words that were of a defamatory nature but also by being publicly intoxicated. Like it or not, Chris Jericho represents the wrestling industry and a million dollar empire when he appears publicly. Even if he is trying to stay in character, he still has to retain a certain standard. I'm not saying that I think any less of Jericho as a person, but he should view any public appearance as if he were on the clock at a job. If he had said these things on air, the FCC would have fined the WWE. There might have even been a possibility of sponsor uproar. Representing the WWE in public or on a show is really no different. I think Jericho should at the very least be reminded to watch himself. I'd love to see the WWE take responsibility for some of the slurs on homosexuality that they have made in the past and either donate money to GLAAD in a show of goodwill or run a PSA for GLAAD during their broadcast. That would also go far in proving their supposed sincerity towards becoming a PG product and help Linda's campaign..