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Harry Connick Jr. Blasts Blacked-Up Jackson 5 Tribute

Harry Connick Jr. could have been forgiven for thinking appearing on the talent section of Australian TV show 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' would be a harmless affair -- perhaps a little teeth-grinding over some off-key singing, but nothing more serious than that.

Connick Jr., however, then had to sit through a performance by Jackson 5 tribute Jackson Jive, featuring a quintet of Aussie blokes wearing afro wigs and a Michael Jackson impersonator too -- and blacked up to complete the look.

The singer and actor couldn't hide his distaste. When fellow judge Red Symons banged the Red Faces slot's gong -- signal for hapless performers to stop -- the American musician left the performers in no doubt as to how he felt, after giving them zero out of 10.

He told the Channel 9's show host Daryl Somers: "Man, if they turned up looking like that in the United States then hey hey, there's no more show."

After an ad break, Somers chatted with Connick Jr., apologising if the show had caused any offence.

Connick Jr. said: "We have spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see stuff like that we take it really to heart."

He added: "If I knew that was going to be a part of the show... I definitely wouldn't have done it."

Dr Anand Deva, the plastic surgeon who played Michael Jackson in the skit, said the group hadn't meant to cause any offence and that Connick Jr. had taken it the wrong way.



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I Smell Poop

It may be a little late to comment on Connick Jr. and his usual kinds of attention-getting antics, but you folks down there need to know the truth about this fraud.
1.)He's not from New Orleans: He's from Weston, Connecticut, where he attended public school from 1970-1982, when he failed to graduate and had to then do so from Briggws Vacational School in Norwalk, CT.
2.) His father was never the D.A. of New Orleans, but one of the presidents of Sony Music and one of the major stockholders in Sony Pictures.
3.) He fails to mention his college years spent at Sarah Lawrence College, where he was asked to leave due to he and his rude and mean friends harrassed a student who had a neurological disorder, that is today largely fixed. The best part: The Neurological guy knocked Connick Jr. on his ass, just prior to his being asked to leave. Also, it might be worth looking into whether his wife was there at the time, you may find that the whole fraud will come trumbling down. Good Luck reporters of Australia, don't let a phoney tell your country a thing!

January 25 2010 at 4:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark S

A message for Harry Connick...HEY.. You should get out more. lighten up.

October 10 2009 at 9:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony

I find Harry Connick's comments both insulting and racist. Does he think Black people can't speak up for themselve's? Black people are no longer held back by there colour or background, they excel in most everything they get involved in.
Impersonating succesful Black people shows admiration for their achievments. The audience may have laughed at their bad impersonation, but I'll wager not one of them gave the real jackson five a second thought.

October 10 2009 at 7:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David J

If I were to complain about the act would I go to the black policemans association as there is no white policemans association, would it be heard by the black lawyers association as there is no white lawyers association.....it was humour whether you agree or disagree, the thing about humour is someone is affected either, gay, women, man, etc etc....Harry Connick Jr should get a life and do something decent with his day

October 10 2009 at 4:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Davie

The link below says everything about the state of the world regarding this subject.

http://www.shelterpop.com/2009/10/09/chia-obama-pulled-from-shelves-again/#comments

October 09 2009 at 8:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

There are a growing number of people that might consider the world to be a safer and better place to live if each race stayed put in their own part of the world. I find that if our dark skinned brothers think they can sue for racial discrimination and earn a few bucks then why not. There are more than enough do gooders to take up their corner and I feel it's these civil rights idiots, political correctness authors and such like buffoons that have nothing better to do in life than comment on a perfectly innocent tv show. Let em get on with it.

October 09 2009 at 8:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
REDNDEAD

I'm not sure which is more offensive - this act, or the rush to treat Jackson as a saint, when in fact he was just a paedophile with enough money to buy the silence of his victims.

October 09 2009 at 8:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

So many of these comments are from 'oh please forgive me for being white' liberal hysterics and, proactively 'sensitive' (racist?) black people.....get a life the whole lot of you. Grow up! And as for Jackson fans, did any of the Australians dangle a child out of a window; consort with young children; keep monkeys, or slice bits off their faces??? You make me sick!

October 09 2009 at 8:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

It is a sad fact that white people are not allowed to say, and do ANYTHING, pertaining to black/brown/whatever people unles it is to be permanently apologising for the past! Whereas, I'm still awaiting apologies from the Vikings, Normans, French, Spanish, Dutch et al.....oh, and one last thing, I WANT someone to apologise for 'Rap Music'!

October 09 2009 at 7:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
john mooney

Bad taste folks so soon after michaels death.
may michael jackson rest in peace, and the hound dogs leave him alone.
R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON

October 09 2009 at 7:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply