Comedian Artie Lange tweeted an NSFW slave sex fantasy today involving ESPN host Cari Champion, and got dropped from a planned TV appearance this week as a result. Lange was watching Champion, a black woman, talking on TV, and tweeted out the following observations and fantasy (again, VERY NSFW):
The chick on ESPNs First Take is so fuckin hot!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
Trying to maintain erection and jerkoff to chick on First Take but they keep cutting back to Stephen A Smith and the white guy. Frustrating!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
I want the Chick on First Take to laugh at my white dick!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
Here's the scenario I'm using to jerkoff to chick on First Take I'm T. Jefferson & she's my slave. She beats the shit out of me & runs free
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
Then I cum and she's free! The Happiest ending ever!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
Then as reparations I make Skip Baylis my slave!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
This is a God Damn mini series!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
I attempt to whip @CariChampion cuz she disrespected the Jefferson Plantation but she grabs whip & beats me I cum like a fat founding father
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
After having 8 illegitimate kids together @CariChampion & I marry at The Knights of Columbus in Linden New Jersey. Prob with that?! F- Off!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014
So… yeah.
Lange’s tweets got a LOT of social media pushback, with plenty of people using the #ISupportCari trend:
#ISupportCari because she continues to go after her dreams, in a world of racism & misogyny determined to bring her down. Congrats!
— ✨Outside The Lines✨ (@LuvLyricalMusic) November 5, 2014
So when this white man says he is Thomas Jefferson, he is making a linkage to his racist sexist spiritual ethos.#iSupportCari
— Chris Roberts (@croberts5) November 5, 2014
#iSupportCari because women in sports journalism (hell, women in general) have a hard enough time without pigs like @artiequitter
— Rashae Boyd (@boydrashae) November 5, 2014
Looking through the events that led to the #ISupportCari hashtag. This is why I hate "He's a comedian, lighten up" as an excuse.
— Ian (@RandallJohn) November 5, 2014
I have no problem with offensive comedy, but I've seen episodes of Roots funnier than Lange's little tweetfest.
#iSupportCari
— Nick D (@PleasantThinker) November 5, 2014
Not a professional tweet, but have to say #iSupportCari. @espn needs 2 speak up & shut down disgusting rhetoric & bigotry. SO disrespectful.
— Monica Amburn (@MonicaAmburnRD) November 5, 2014
Your employee just got verbally assaulted in a horrid and disgusting manner, @espn — and you're silent about it? Not cool. #iSupportCari
— Lisbeth Darsh (@lisbethdarsh) November 5, 2014
Now, on that last point, it’s worth noting that ESPN eventually spoke out on Lange’s tweets. In a statement, the network said, “His comments were reprehensible and no one should be subjected to such hateful language. They objectify and demean one of our valued employees under the thin guise of ‘comedy’ and are offensive to all of us. We will not dignify them with any other comment.”
Lange took to Twitter over the course of the day to defend himself:
I'm about to tweet a few things I can't believe have to be explained in a rational world. I observed that @CariChampion was a gorgeous lady
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
This observation came while I was watching one of my favorite tv shows ESPNs First Take. I also noticed she was black.
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
I then thought it would be funny to tweet JOKES about that observation. A decision which might be the end of modern comedy
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
I tweeted jokes that in the past I would've said in privately in my home among friends. I know black women who could join me and handle it
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
I won't debate if the tweets were funny. That could take minutes of precious time left in my career. The issue is do they warrant an apology
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
Tricky question. I would rather load trucks for a living then ever apologize to one of these awful PC groups ruining the country
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
So that's a NO. But if it upset the lady in question that's another story. Let me say to @CariChampion if this hurt u in any way I'm sorry
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
I'm a comedian. Sometimes I'm funny! For the record my moms disgusted w the tweets. But if I based my humor on my mom I'd be broke
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
But who cares. I love the show & it's my living but who cares. These groups have won again. All I care about is @CariChampion Truly
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
But I'm sure you'll be ok. You're gorgeous & talented. I hope that didn't offend u. To the PC army. Congrats! U won again! Gluten free cake!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
I don't hate women. And to u PC groups that did this I wanna be clear. Go FUCK yourselves! Now get back to saving the world. Done. Peace
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
Lange also revealed that his upcoming appearance on the Comedy Central show @midnight was pulled as a result of the tweets:
It's official. Comedy Central will not let me on @midnight Comedy Central has always been good to me & I don't blame them. Not worth it!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
Champion has so far not publicly commented.
[h/t Variety]
[image via s_bukley/Shutterstock]
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