De Niro says no offense meant with first lady joke
Source: Agencies |
March 22, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
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ROBERT De Niro says he meant no offense when he joked at a presidential fundraiser featuring Michelle Obama that America might not be ready for a white first lady.
"My remarks, although spoken with satirical jest, were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone - especially the first lady," the veteran American actor said in a statement.
The joke drew criticism on Tuesday from presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who said the racial reference to the Republican candidates' wives was "inexcusable" and demanded an apology from President Barack Obama.
Former House speaker Gingrich said the comments made by De Niro divide the country and "if people on the left want to talk about radio talk show hosts, then everybody in the country ought to hold the president accountable when somebody at his event says something as utterly, totally unacceptable as Robert De Niro said last night."
The White House referred questions to Obama's re-election campaign. Mrs Obama's campaign spokeswoman Olivia Alair called the joke "inappropriate."
The tough-talking star of "Taxi Driver" and "Meet the Parents" was host of the re-election fundraiser on Monday night in New York. He opened by listing the wives of Republicans running for president.
"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney," De Niro said. "Now, do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?"
The crowd of donors waiting to hear from the nation's first black lady roared in approval, and De Niro finished: "Too soon, right?"
"My remarks, although spoken with satirical jest, were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone - especially the first lady," the veteran American actor said in a statement.
The joke drew criticism on Tuesday from presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who said the racial reference to the Republican candidates' wives was "inexcusable" and demanded an apology from President Barack Obama.
Former House speaker Gingrich said the comments made by De Niro divide the country and "if people on the left want to talk about radio talk show hosts, then everybody in the country ought to hold the president accountable when somebody at his event says something as utterly, totally unacceptable as Robert De Niro said last night."
The White House referred questions to Obama's re-election campaign. Mrs Obama's campaign spokeswoman Olivia Alair called the joke "inappropriate."
The tough-talking star of "Taxi Driver" and "Meet the Parents" was host of the re-election fundraiser on Monday night in New York. He opened by listing the wives of Republicans running for president.
"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney," De Niro said. "Now, do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?"
The crowd of donors waiting to hear from the nation's first black lady roared in approval, and De Niro finished: "Too soon, right?"
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