Crystal criticized for blackface at Oscars

Billy Crystal as Sammy Davis Jr. in the opening skit of the Academy Awards ceremony Feb. 26, 2012. / ABC/AMPAS

Oscar watchers set Twitter aflame over Billy Crystal's skit during the opening of last night's Academy Awards ceremony which featured the comedian in blackface.

During the filmed montage parodying the Best Picture nominees, Crystal encounters the mysterious time traveling car in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris," whose passengers include Sammy Davis Jr., played by Crystal in blackface.

Crystal had played Davis the same way many times on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1980s, but that didn't stop hundreds from questioning the bit on Twitter.

When Octavia Spencer later won Best Supporting Actress for "The Help," comedian Paul Scheer tweeted that her win "shows just how far we've come since Billy Crystal performed in Blackface."

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Alluding to the controversy last fall when Eddie Murphy bowed out of Oscar hosting duties after the show's original producer Brett Ratner exited over his use of a gay slur, "max read" wrote: "lmao remember when you were all like "billy crystal is going to be so SAFE" and then he did BLACKFACE."

Morgan Carroll concurred: "Good thing the Oscars went with the safe choice!"

Brian Glidewell tweeted: "When the announcer said "Ladies and Gentlemen, Morgan Freeman," I 90% expected Billy Crystal in blackface."

Julie (@jas508) called Crystal's act "pretty tacky,"

Galia Mango wrote: "Who does he think he is? Robert Downey Jr?" (Downey received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the comedy "Tropic Thunder," playing a Method actor so Method-y he undergoes a skin-darkening process to play a black character.)

My Damn Channel opined, "When Billy Crystal dies, I really really hope his "In Memoriam" clip is him as Blackface Sammy Davis Jr."

But not all tweets were condemning, noting that Crystal has impersonated Davis for years, and that Davis (who died in 1990) himself enjoyed it.

Neil Miller tweeted: "Billy Crystal in blackface is already better than the last 4 hosts combined."

Matt Goldberg tweeted: "Billy Crystal in blackface. Night: MADE."

Gregory Violet wrote: "Nobody does blackface like Billy Crystal does blackface."

And Scholaris took the high road: "Billy Crystal slammed for blackface skit - what next, we are way over the top 2 precious- if u skit a dog n wear hair and tail r u doggist?"

What do YOU think? Was Billy Crystal's impression harmless, or over the line?

[askagain]

Such a fuss over someting so unimportant. Why should anyone be bothered over a skit where a white person blackfaces himself? It is time for people to grow-up and stop being so petty. We have more important issues to deal with.

[debbie1120]

agree. did anyone come out and protest against the movie White Chicks?

[ellensmithee]

Grow up, Oscars! It's comedy! Get over yourselves.

[PourpaixPourpaix]

I'm sorry this type of thing is so controversial. I wish folks would learn the difference between an intentional slur and just art. Billy Crystal intended a slur against Sammy Davis, Jr or black folks. I doubt it. Amos and Andy were no different than Laurel and Hardy. Just a couple idiots who are entertaining. Whoever believes that the acting of any of those comedy teams are representative of their race really is the one with a problem. What, you think black people are the only ones who are entitled to pay homage to the wonderful memory of Sammy Davis, Jr? Save it for the still all too many cases of those who intend real slurs.

[blahblahxo]

I'm sorry, white folks, but since when is it your place to decide whether blackface is offensive or not? I mean, considering its history and all... regardless of its intent, it shouldn't have happened and it annoys me to the umpteenth degree when I see a namely white person say that it was just a joke, its 2012 etcetera. No, it wasn't right, shouldn't have happened and so on. Also, in regards to white face: If you can honestly say that they "stereotypes" that black comedians portray in white face offend you... well, all I can say is wow. When you are a minority, then you can deem what is and what isn't offensive. If you don't like that, well, that's just how life is.

[poobearnb]

That is because it is not "blackface." There is a HUGE difference. Blackface is an intentional depiction of a black stereotype. Actors would use the darkest shoe polish, and paint their lips extra red and perform racist songs. The point of blackface was to ridicule the entire Black race. I am not trying to tell you NOT to be offended, go ahead if an impression of Sammy Davis Jr. offends you. You are just using the term "blackface" incorrectly...and that matters.

[blahblahxo]

Sigh.

If you tell me I shouldn't be offended by blackface, as a white person, your whole argument is basically void. You can't tell a minority what is or is not offensive-- you wouldn't know. Just because you see it as not offensive, doesn't mean that said minority doesn't. Which, in turn means that you don't have any place to make such comments like: "oh, it was just a joke", "this isn't real blackface as done in minstrel shows" and etc. When you are in that group, then you can be the judge. Since things like that don't affect you, then you really just shouldn't speak on it. This kind of thing has nothing to do with equality, it has everything to do with understanding, empathy (or lack thereof, and so on.)

Are you a minority? I mean, personally, I don't feel held down by the term. So, don't make up dumb arguments to try and prove your point. Exactly, it isn't rocket science (I believe is the term, buddy). BTW, you do know that minorities are not treated very special, even in today's time. They aren't treated equally, unless, I'm living in a different USA.

I never said Billy was racist, did I? His act, however, was not. I do believe I'm using the term "blackface" correctly. If you're purposefully darkening your skin to portray a black person, whether in the ways "A Birth of a Nation" did it or not, it IS blackface and the fact still remains that even if his intent wasn't malicious, the very fact that he did it only brings on the past images and history of more racist blackface incidents. Don't try to trivialize and make less of something because you aren't offended and don't think it is true blackface.

Seriously, if a minority tells you they are offended by something, white people, please stop trying to tell us/them that something isn't racist/offensive/whatever. To you it may not be, but considering the said incident wasn't geared toward you or have a horrible history doesn't make it any less. Seriously, **** like this is annoying.

[iiiiffffiiii]

Billy Crystal obviously didn't do this with any malicious racial intent, but blackface reminds a lot of people of an era when it was used to demean and dehumanize a group who were actively oppressed and treated as non-citizens, and it has never served any other purpose. His intentions might have been sound but there was really no reason to do this rather than finding some other way to pay tribute.

[omnibus66]

If it were actually "blackface", the criticisms would be justified, but it was not. If you personally see racism in this incident, whenever you look in a mirror you will be looking at a racist.

[hillbillyvol]

People feign too much sensitivity on the racial subjects. This is ridiculous. Ever see the movie 'White Chicks'? How about Dave Chappel and his black KKK character. It's comedy folks . Get a grip on reality.

[debbie1120]

I was thinking of the same movie. White Chicks came out and I didn't see anyone making a big fuss out of it. However, here we go someone puts black makeup on their face and its racist.

[Overruled1]

My grandmother's 2nd husband was stage performer. He wore the blackface makeup because they wouldn't allow black people to perform in some places. This was long before civil rights and even WW2.
The actors wore the makeup not to humiliate the black people, but to show how dark some racist people can be.

[blahblahxo]

You are absolutely uneducated if you really believe that actors donned black face to "show how dark some racist people can be", especially during the time period you speak of. Wow.

[Overruled1]

I didn't say that right....sorry if I misstated myself...

[msay3]

Get over it, people!!!

[jose_z1]

Billy Crystal has been doing sammy davis since SNL in the 80's. EVEN JESSIE DID NOT COMPLAIN!!!
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it's not like he was doing mama, mama, sambo skit
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