As you may already know, a private phone conversation between Duane "Dog" Chapman (the star of the hit A&E reality series "Dog the Bounty Hunter") and one of his sons (Tucker) was recorded and posted online by The National Enquirer. The conversation consists of Chapman voicing his displeasure over his son's choice of an African American girlfriend. Chapman added that he would not jeopardize his career on the chance that the girlfriend would go to the National Enquirer and report his use of the N-word.During the portion of the call that was posted, Chapman uses the N-word six times. Using a super-sized shovel with which to dig, Chapman goes on to say that if one of his daughters was dating a black man (aka the N-word) the family would say "f*** you". He continues by implying that although the way they use the N-word is harmless, America would take it the wrong way if this was ever made public. To listen to the recording, click here.
Chapman has issued a statement in which he apologized and said that he has the utmost respect for black people. Sure you do "Dog", that's why you use the N-word on a regular basis when referring to us. I'm surprised that he didn't pull out the old "some of my best friends are..." card for his statement.
He also has said that the conversation was taken out of context. Huh?! After listening to the recording several times, to me there is no mistaking that Chapman meant what he said. His claim that it was taken out of context reminds of when a character in a movie/TV show is caught in the act of cheating on their significant other and the cheater says, "Honey, this isn't what it looks like."
In the statement, Chapman also says that his concern over his son's choice of a girlfriend was due to her character not her race. However, in the clip made public, Chapman never provides any examples to his son as to why the girlfriend is of questionable character. His main concern is that the public doesn't find out about how often the N-word gets used at his house.
In the aftermath of Chapman's rant, A&E has halted production of his series pending an investigation. I wouldn't blame them if they eventually washed their hands of him completely. Even if they don't, I would imagine that sponsors of the series will be hopping off the "Dog" bandwagon as fast as they can. As for the person responsible for pulling the proverbial white sheet off of Chapman, the National Enquirer won't provide their name. However, Chapman's lawyer says that his son Tucker is the culprit.
It's ironic that the very thing that Chapman was worried about may end up happening anyway. Somewhere, Alanis Morissette is smiling.
12 comments:
I haven't heard the recording. I'll listen to the one you posted when I'm on my PC. I've seen his show a couple of times and he strikes me as so fake and phony on there, I couldn't believe it. He may think he's trying to redeem himself by being the praying bounty hunter, but somehow you can see right through that.
You make me laugh with teh taken out of context thing....maybe he was, um, rehearsing for a movie role like the umbrella weilding Britney Spears! Yes, that must be it! LOL
Jessica
It amazes me that so many Americans (of all racial backgrounds and ethnic groups) insist on being in such denial about race and racism. Folks need to stop behaving like ostritches and take their heads out of the sand (or their you know whats *smile*).
Standing around the campfire singing "Kumba-Ya" is fine and dandy, but we'll never fix what so many of us won't even acknowledge . . .
Chapman wants to be free to call people the n-word without anyone considering him a racist? Please. Somebody needs to hurry up and send his dumb-butt to the pound.
Well, I'm going to dissent here. Not to defend Dog; what he said was simply stupid.
I'm upset to the nth degree over the fact that this man's privacy was invaded to such a degree. This was a conversation between father and son. It had no business being sold to the Enquirer.
I'm upset that no one seems to care that unless Tucker was doing the recording (at which point he's a disrespectful kid who deserves this woman of supposed icky character), the recording of the conversation as a whole might have been illegal. Why the hell isn't the investigation focusing on that?
Why the hell can't our society let celebrities have their personal space? We are so in their lives and under such scrutiny that they can't help but screw up.
Let the man have a private conversation with his son. Stop violating his privacy.
Same for this Lance and Ashley stuff. Do I care that she sat in his lap? Hell no. Let them have dinner. Leave them the hell alone.
Let them be people, not celebrities, even for a few minutes.
I did hear the recording, and actually found it to be somewhat amusing. It wasn't just the use of the N-word that betrayed Chapman's racism, and it wasn't just the fact that he forbid his son to date a black woman. What really betrayed him was his rationalization that he wasn't a racist despite expressing racist feelings.
It's like when people tell you, "I don't want to sound racist or anything" a second before they say something incredibly racist, as if this disclaimer excuses or justifies their bigotry. In that case, it's the speaker who is ignorant of him/herself.
I am so tired of all this racist bull s**t. Although A&E is one of my favorite networks I have only caught glimpses of the show in question (I never found it to be interesting). If A&E has the integrity that I think it has, the power that be will without a doubt get rid of his dumb ass. If not, I am through watching because I refuse to support any network that produces programming which promotes racism, bigotry, and stereotyping of any kind against any group of people.
Dog was never an intellectual giant. He comes from jail where (as I have heard) racism and blacks with blacks and whites with whites is not a choice but the status quo. That's where he comes from.
Having said that, I went through my Dog watching stage and the show got old. Even more than the racist stuff, I think AnE will probably drop him because we've seen the same show a billion times.
That sucks he is racist, but it just goes to show you it is still a problem in our collective population.
I will not listen to the phone call but I trust your representation of it. I think the both the language and the sentiment are deplorable. And is there ANY acceptable use of the N word? In my opinion, no. If others disagree, I would love to hear their reasoning (really).
I can tell you one thing, he will never be promoted in The Beat again (Malcolm knows what I mean).
Jessica: I'm surprised he didn't lie and try to say that he was rehearsing for a movie role. He might be thinking now, "Damn, why didn't I think of that?!"
Lori: It takes a certain level of stupid for Chapman to think that he isn't a racist. Maybe a public access channel will pick up his show because I think that A&E is finished with him.
Susan: From what I've read, Tucker sold the recording to the Enquirer. For his son to turn on him the way he did, Dog must have really done something to piss him off. Although I am speculating, it sounds as if this animosity has been building up between the two over the years. I imagine that Tucker has taped other conversations with his dad because it would be quite a coincidence for the one that may end Dog's career to be the first one recorded. I think that Tucker was looking for an opportunity to show the world what his father was really like. Dog made it way too easy for him.
X. Dell: As soon as someone utters "I don't want to sound racist or anything" or something similar, they have already tipped their hand as to what they are all about. Dog's rationalization of his feelings reminded me of "12 Angry Men" and Ed Begley's character's beliefs about Hispanics. Although his character's language wasn't as harsh, they were just as ignorant.
Pjazzy: I just can't think of a scenario where A&E wouldn't drop his ass. I have a feeling that the cable channel has a bar of Zest on stand by and they will wash their hands of Dog the first chance they get.
Damien: Yeah, I never expected to see Dog on "Celebrity Jeopardy". The scary thing about what Dog said is that many folks feel the same way... or worse.
Book Mama: I know exactly what you mean by that last sentence. "The Beat" will definitely go on, but without Dog littering it up.
Wow. We listened to the entire recording the other night, and were just shocked. What an idiot. His career is over. We sometimes watched the show mostly b/c it's amusing. Beth's rather giant (well you know)and the way she would get in the criminal's faces, etc. But we're done with Dog....he's screwed. There's no excuse for what he said.
Holly: I read the other day where Dog made a pathetic apology. I can't see A&E or anyone else for that matter picking up his show.
I think you are right about him being done. I'm ready to stick a fork in him.
so why is it OK when black rap celebrities use the word ??
or use of any other 'alphabet letter' word to express the race or nationality of any other group
regardless of your opinion against racism or anyone elses', americans have a fundamental constitutional right, yes RIGHT, god diven as written, to speak and express their opinion whatever it may be, you don't have to like it or listen but unless you are unpatriotic, or unamerican and oppose the constitution, you do HAVE to respect their right to speak it as much as they or anyone else has to respect your right to your views...
D-last word
D-last word: Thank you for visiting. Although I'm not a big fan of when rappers use the N-word in their songs, I hope you aren't comparing that to Duane Chapman's racist tirade.
Because it wasn't necessary, your mini-lesson on The Constitution made me laugh a bit. One of the great things about this country is that we have the right to freedom of speech... even people like Chapman.
By the way, I also write for a blog called Diversity Ink that deals strictly with race relations. If you are interested in joining in on the discussions, you can do so by visiting the following link:
http://diversityink.blogspot.com/
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