Outrage and disbelief filled the ballroom of the New York Hilton hotel as actor Ted Danson delivered a racially insensitive performance at a roast.
The event, organized by a show business group, attracted over 3,000 attendees who paid $250 per ticket for the charity benefit.
Danson's monologue, which included him even eating watermelon at one point, left many feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed.
A line of more than 100 celebrities occupied a blocklong dais, including notable African Americans such as New York Mayor David Dinkins, performers Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, Anita Baker, RuPaul, Mr. T, and boxers Michael Spinks and Sugar Ray Leonard.
As the monologue unfolded, a closed-circuit camera captured their expressions of embarrassment and discomfort.
Talk show host Montel Williams, unable to bear the offensive content, turned his back to the audience and focused on the closed-circuit screen.
Director Gilbert Cates, known for overseeing the last three Oscarcasts, also expressed his dissatisfaction, deeming the performance “terrible” and “way over the line.”
Williams silently nodded in agreement before leaving the podium.
In a later message to Friars chairman Bob Saks, he compared the event to a gathering of the Ku Klux Klan or Aryan Nation.
Friar's roasts are known for their rowdy and explicit nature, but Danson's use of blackface and racially coded language crossed a boundary that resonated with most attendees.
The incident highlighted the fact that the complex history of race relations in America remains too sensitive to be crudely joked about.
Comedian Whoopi Goldberg, whose real name is Caren Johnson, has dedicated her career to challenging racial stereotypes.
However, her support for Danson's approach may have misjudged the audience's reception, as his performance fell flat and failed to connect with the crowd.
