Chris Rock's comments supporting Michael Vick seem to have cost him a plum movie role. According to Badrap Blog, via Contactmusic.com, Rock made comments defending Vick on the The Jay Leno Show: "What the hell did Michael Vick do? Pitbulls ain't (sic) even real dogs! Dogs have never been good to black people!" But Rock was up for the lead role in a movie about the life of Richard Pryor, and Pryor's wife Jennifer was not amused. She wrote to Rock:
For your information, Chris, what Michael Vick did was to torture, drown, electrocute and murder dogs all for fun and for profit! He went to prison for felony animal cruelty! That's what he did! . . . These types of comments only encourage abuse and misunderstanding of this breed, as well as actual dog-fighting. Clearly this part of your latest stand-up routine would not make Richard laugh!
Instead, the role reportedly went to Marlon Wayans.
Was Rock's comment so different from others' supporting Vick? Yes. Usually, if people defend Vick, they start by admitting that Vick committed a terrible crime. The disagreement tends to center on whether Vick deserves a second chance at fame and fortune, considering that he served jail time and and says that he regrets his actions. Instead, Rock decided to excuse the crime, and as Pryor's wife points out, making light of Vick's actions make it easier for people to dismiss animal cruelty.
Oh, and for the record, Leno also seems to support Vick, and Vick is not sorry.
Malcolm Taylor / Getty Images
Suggested Reading:
- Michael Vick to Work with The Humane Society of the US
- Every Dogfighter Has His Day?
- ASPCA Turned Down Vick
- Boycott Nike
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I am trying to recall the last time I heard about Chris Rock torturing an animal, and I am having a really tough time thinking of a single instance. Chris Rock also has a joke about him driving his car with his feet and he also never did that in real life either.
My point here being; you can’t decide to dismiss the material that makes you laugh, and condemn him for the material that suits you or your particular situation. As a comedian, I would find the art hardly as interesting if people started telling me what I could, and could not joke about.
You’re all fighting for animal rights here, and I will not question or criticize that. I will however, ask you to cast some of that compassion and understanding on to your fellow man. Michael Vick did a horrible thing. So horrible that I believe most comedians have done what they have been doing since stand-up comedy came about, and that is taking the horrible, and coping with it through humor .
When all is said and done, actions are actions, and jokes, are just what they sound like, Jokes.
Kenny Klein
side note: i believe the entire wayans family is vegan!
I saw Chris Rock in concert when he was debuting his material on Vick. While I agree that comedians often tread on controversial ground and make light of horrible things (Sarah Silverman is a prime example), they often do it in a satirical or ironic way. Rock sounded like he was trying to make a point. I don’t think it was comedy as much as social commentary. I think he and many other (I’m not saying all, or even most, but many) black people have a disconnect over the public’s strong reaction to Vick’s crimes.
There are differences in how various communities/cultures view animals and animal rights and I think Rock’s material on Vick is a reflection of that. Great comedy plays off of differences, but also transcends them. So to me, Rock’s material adds insult to injury because on top of the lack of compassion it shows, it’s just not great comedy.
Kenny:
just because somebody doesn’t do the things they say doesn’t mean they don’t support it. Most neo-nazis haven’t waged a genocide, doesn’t mean it’s okay for them to support it.
Chris was trying to make the point that dogs have been used in the past to harass and attack black people. Which is an incredibly bizzare thing to say, because Michael Vick’s dogs were never used for that purpose, and it wouldn’t be the dog’s fault anyway if they were.
Also, if you think Vick and Chris are the victims here, and not the tortured, electrocuted dogs that were forced to fight, i think you really need to take a good long look at your conscience
When I HEARD the (above) exchange between Chris and Leno, both of them just suicided in my house!!!!!
There’s NO room for such ignorance and sadism-approval in my home…
I am so incredibly PLEASED by Mrs. Pryor’s actions!!!!!
Thank You!! Jennifer Pryor!! More people need to point out that support of such horrific acts will not be tolerated. When you have the power to influence so many, you should use that influence very wisely.
No words can begin to discribe everything that is so tragic about Chris Rock’s comments in this video.
Chris Rock:
“….. hey, I have a dog too, I have daughters too. Guess what, you can rape my dog, just leave my daughters alone cuz I’ll kill you….”
Blacklist Project video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmOHdWzdPVM
So in Jack’s mind if Chris Rock makes a joke about sympathizing with the nazi’s, that makes him a nazi?
Thank you Jennifer Pryor!
Now someone needs to get Amazon.com to stop selling their stupid “Michael Vick School of Dogs” t-shirts.
Sorry Kenny, but this isn’t material to be used in a joke. Just like it’s not ok to make jokes about Christopher Reeves, it’s not okay to joke about what he did.
The reason animal rights activists can’t move on is because Vick has never apologized for his actions. He doesn’t feel bad, he just wants to make sh!t tons of money again. Also, and this may be news to Mrs. Pryor, he didn’t go to prison for dogfighting or animal cruelty, but for bank rolling a dogfighting ring. That is what most people don’t understand, and what makes it so easy for people to say “he’s done his time/paid his dues.” HE HASN’T DONE TIME FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY, DESPITE ADMITTING TO EVEN THROWING FAMILY PETS IN A FIGHT AND LAUGHING AS THEY WERE RIPPED TO SHREDS! You want to know why we’re still angry, still upset with the NFL and sponsors, still unable to let this issue go? Read this: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/11/03/petscol110309.DTL
JOKING has limit’s Kenny and you need to figure that out.
I so applaund Mrs. Pryor for taking a stand against Chris Rock and I myself will NOT be watching anything with him in it again. As for Leno, I know where the OFF button is on my TV also.
Have YOU looked at the court documents and READ what Vick DID to those dogs? Is not, YOU can find them on “the smoking gun” web page. Try NOT to LAUGH to loud as there was some seriously SICK, DEMENTED, VICIOUS and BRUTAL things done.
Chris Rock went to FAR when he defended Vick and said Vicks VICTIMS weren’t even “real dogs”. Well real or not, tthey FELT THE PAIN when they were tortured and abused the way they were. Maybe YOU think that is a joke, but for the average person, it is not nor will it EVER be.
I applaud Jennifer Pryor’s decision & believe that she truly honored her late husband with this action. I do believe certain subjects just aren’t funny & should not be touched by comedians & this Vick subject is one of them. The point is Richard Pryor, great comic & willing to be controversial, would NEVER have joked about dog fighting & would NEVER have made light of such animal cruelty. Rock blew his chance for an unbelievable role for a few bad jokes! That’s show biz!
I’m addressing Ronda’s comment – #3 – she says, “There are differences in how various communities/cultures view animals and animal rights and I think Rock’s material on Vick is a reflection of that.” Whoopi Goldberg made the same type of comment – that dog fighting is viewed differently by the black culture. Well, you know what, the same could be said of white culture and slavery back in the day. Just because a culture doesn’t think it’s wrong doesn’t mean it’s right. And trying to defend that cultural bias is moronic. If that holds true, then we shouldn’t try to stop women from being circumsized in Africa, people hunting and killing endangered animals, or men stoning women to death in the Middle East. I’m sure they will all defend their actions based on culture and tradition.
Michelle, thanks for the link to the SFgate article. The whole world should know what a sadist Vicks is.
As the article states, jumper cables were clipped to the ears of underperforming dogs and then hooked up to a car battery, then these poor animals were thrown into a swimming pool. When investigators saw the pool, the liner had been shredded and the aluminum edge destroyed due to the desperate thrashings and frantic terror of dogs who DIED SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY in this warped, sick, twisted manner.
What does this tell you about the human being who sanctions this? Or his supporters? I am absolutely sickened beyond belief.
culture and tradition is NO excuse, people know when they inflict pain, they know when they take that life. I have also heard how he was just young and didn’t know, oh gimme a break!! my grand son was single digits when it happened and he was sick over it, he wanted to know how bad it was for those dogs, and he asked why someone would do that.
culture, tradition, his youth? my backside!! it was money that led him to do those dispicable acts, it is unethical, immoral, and ILLEGAL. think he may have had a clue to that one?
THANK YOU JENNIFER PRYOR, YOU ARE A SHINING EXAMPLE IN JUST ACTION!
you can joke about almost anything, as long as you’re on the right side of the debate. someone asked rock about roman polanski and, using his jokey voice, he cried out, “she was 13?!” he could’ve roasted vick and things would be a.o.k.
ALL ANIMAL ABUSERS SHOULD HAVE THEIR AT LEAST 30 YEARS IN PRISON, WITHOUT TO SEE THE SUNLIGHT!
Mrs Pryor did the right thing and I’m sure her late husband would very please with what she did. As for Chris Rock, a very sad excuse for a human being for to be human is to be humane.
Regarding comment #3, animal cruelty cannot be justified for any reason what so ever, whether it be culture, tradition, religion, entertainment or what ever label is put on it.
HOW ABOUT NO ONE WATCHES THE 8 PART SERIES THEY ARE MAKING W/ VICK???? HOW FAIR IS THAT??? DON’T WATCH, AND IF ANYONE DOES, PLEASE LIST ALL ADVERTISERS SO WE CAN BAN THEM OR SHALL I SAY I SAY ADD TO THE LIST.
chris rock as for as a comedian goes he dose not exist,i find more entertainment in watching egg fry.
I feel the need — even this much later in the game — to clarify my comments on this matter. Anyone who thinks I’m excusing animal abuse based on culture 1) is misreading my post 2) doesn’t know me. What I am saying is maybe our nation is overdue for an honest discussion about various issues of oppression and the complicated dynamics at play. It’s hard for me to imagine how we’ll advance the cause of animal rights w/out acknowledging where various people are coming from and what kind of cultural messages they’re exposed to.
I think it’s a shame that people try to think so simplistically these days instead of seeing things in their full scope. Yes, it’s easy to say that animal abuse for any reason at any time by anyone is morally wrong — of course I think so too. But if you want to address it in any real way, you have acknowledge all of the societal forces at play.
You forgot rape too. This is a sick individual and I do not for a second believe he has any remorse. I am grateful that Chris Rock, even though I love his work, didn’t get the job based on a ridiculous, uneducated comment like that. I will never look at him the same and I would like to thank Vick for bringing this to light. Colour of skin has nothing to do with animals like or dislike of someone. Now who’s prejudice.
I’ll have to admit, I think all of this is pretty funny.
Great Point, Vicky, “Color of skin has nothing to do with animals like or dislike of someone.” I believe animals sometimes have more of a sixth sense about an individual, than do some people. I had a neighbor who had someone visit him he had not seen in a very long time. His Rotweiller would not stop laying there and growling at this person. The owner could not even get him to quit, which I know for a fact, was even very odd. He always listened to his owner. A few days later, when the owner was gone, this individual was going to try and rob the owners house. He was caught, as this Rotweiller kept him at bay, until the owner got home.
I should have added that it sounds like to me that Rock may have had a few negative experiences with dogs, which would explain his remark. And the person I was talking about in the Rotweiller incident, was white, not black.
For everyone saying this isn’t material to be used in a joke;
What makes you think you can tell someone what they’re allowed to talk about? Chris Rock is free to say WHATEVER he wants in this country. If comedians stopped saying things because it might upset someone the whole art would die. If you’re worried you might be offended by what someone says at any given time, my advice would be to stay in your house and turn off your television.
Well, Chris Rock is a real douchebag, I’ll leave it at that. And I applaud Jennifer Lee Pryor for speaking out and for all the work she does for animals ~ http://www.pryorsplanet.com/
How many more comedians got to apologise for “offending” people? That’s why they are there – to say the things no-one else will. The last bastion of political incorrectness. Hell…it’s blindingly OBVIOUS it was a joke about black people!
You know what? I’m offended at all you offended people with your pathetic inability to let people be or to understand free speech means OTHER PEOPLE are allowed some too.
PS – to pre-empt the idiots, i have not once mentioned the initial crime in my comment so don’t go using your two remaining brain cells to assume I’m advocating animal cruelty. K?
That’s a (Edited to conform with About.com User Guidelines) comment, Kenny. I have several friends in the comedy business, and while some of them thrive on crossing the line, it’s weak and trite to fall back on the lame “Hey, it’s just a joke” excuse when it doesn’t go over for you. Up to now, I’ve always liked Rock, but I won’t waste any more time on him. Or you, for that matter. And Leno has always been an asshole, so no surprise on that front.
Watch it Kenny Klein. You’re not making any friends. We are not telling you guys what to say, but to pick better topics. White people are already told what to say. Certain words we can’t use. Cause someone might get offended. White people that make so called wrong comments are fired from their jobs. I hope Vick and anyone like him die a horrible death and go straight to HELL.
I will never watch Chris Rock again. I am totally disgusted by his remarks. To stand up for Mike Dick is going too far. Hope his career goes in the toilet, that’s where it belongs.
Yes! Chris Rock is free to say whatever he wants in this country..as are the people on this forum…and Mrs. Pryor. Way to go Mrs. Pryor for making a stand. I’m so done with late night TV! Jay Leno and David Letterman’s rating have nose dived in the past year..and I’m glad for it! On Thursday, July 15, David Letterman made ignorant & damaging remarks about pit bulls when he was talking to Kyra Sedgwick because she adopted a dog that looks like a pit bull last year. With fame, I believe, comes some responsibility…and that’s no joke!
Vick has never apologized for his actions. He’s only said he was sorry for what it has done to his family, he said he was sorry to his mother and basically never has even asked for forgiveness for what he actually did. He’s never publicly asked about the dogs or gone to see the dogs. Basically he is sorry he got caught.
Even if Chris Rock was trying to be funny, he is doing it at the expense of the dogs, innocent dogs, who through no fault of their own were abused for profit, treated like commodity and when they outlived their usefulness were disposed of in the most horrific of ways. By poking fun at something like that and defending the person who committed those acts, you are making light of it and guess what Chris, kids will read those remarks as “it’s okay to do what Vick did”.
Yes everyone deserves a second chance, but only if they truly realize the cruelty of their actions. Yes, he did his time. He served a 2 year sentence that were our animal abuse laws actually any good would have been longer. So the price for willfully, abusing, neglecting, torturing, electrocuting a living innocent creature is only 2 years, and for some it’s too much. Then again, it’s all about the money right?
I’m glad he lost the role. Marlon Wayans is a better actor anyway and you know what? I hope he wins an Oscar for this role, and I hope Chris is sitting in the front row so he can take a good look at what his ignorant comments took from him.
Mrs. Lin, just because Vick didn’t accept the invite of a local club doesn’t mean that he’s not sorry. He has paid his debt and went to prison! This was CHRIS ROCK making these comments, not MIKE VICK. I am all for animal rights and love dogs, but dragging Vick back into it is uncalled for. You need to get over it and leave the man alone.
If chris rock truly believes what he said then I hope he rots in the same hell as the lowlife piece of scum called michael (the p…k) vick. The torture of animals is a sign of a diseased mind and vick got away with murder. Each night I pray that he suffer for the rest of his pathetic life.
Those who feel it isn’t horrific should be ashamed of themselves. They probably feel that those who abuse children and the elderly are innocent of criminal activity as well. michael vick and his cohorts should have been stripped naked, have meat tied to their private parts and put onto a football field. The very same dogs they tortured should have been given the opportunity to chase the bastards on the field. That would have been JUSTICE.
Mrs. Pryor is a woman who stands up for what she believes in and is not afraid of offending these show biz idiots. You go girlfriend.
I always liked Chris, but is he serious??! Did he think that episode with Vic was funny?!
There is no joke comming out of this horrific incident!
I’m really dissappointed Chris!
You could, very well, loose lots of fans!
Maybe you just put on an act, that was not so funny??!
Vic should not have all this fame on the horrible things he did, making a movie??! That money should go to the Dog Rescue, not to the people who did the damage. What’s wrong with some of these people!!!
Big deal he was sorry!!!!! There is not enough money, community service, and sorrys that can take it all back!
Those animals will never forget!! There is no cure in the memory. Thank God some of them are OK… ?
Movies should be made on all the episodes of kind people rescueing animals, and the heartbreak that people try so hard to prevent such horrible things. We are supposed to have respect for God’s little creatures.
Glad he lost that part!!!! GO GIRL!
Janet
Blah Blah blah… you people cry cry cry.. so what it happen get over it
And since Richard Prior is the cornerstone of good sound morals and judgement it’s only right that a comedian who never made outlandish statements portray him.
And I’m sure that when Prior’s wife finds out that Marlon Wayans has made fun of autistic people in some of his comedy acts she’ll drop him too, right?
GIVE ME A BREAK.
Chris is contributing to Vicks animal abuse if its about his carreer and not about his life including his gross abuse of PitBulls! Beautiful animals! Bad choice Chris!!!! Smarten up! But as the majority of those who are lucky enough to make it and have money and influence- that’s all they seem to care about!
I still believe that there are certain things that you never joke about…..and not because it is politically correct….It’s because it takes a serious matter and makes fun of people’s pain and sorrow. It’s like those morons that joke about a disaster after people have lost their lives…..why? What happened to having empathy for others.
Helen Keller, baby, AIDS, abuse/cruelty of any kind, death and dying…….
I’m glad that Mrs. Pryor chose another actor to portray her husband.
Kenny Klein, yes comedians can say what they like, but also Mrs. Pryor can state her displeasure with Chric Cock and if it costs him a movie role, well too f*#+ing bad. I applaude Mrs. Pryor.
Wow, done with Chris Rock, Leno and Kenny Klein, what a waste of talent on all fronts. I will NEVER support anyone with such a lack of compassion. And what Rock said was suppose to be funny? To what sick mind? Done, not that one of them will care, but if enough are done, they just might??
You go Mrs. Pryor, Proud to hear your stand and support.
Chris Rock just lost any respect I had for him.
Any comedians that make light of & defend someone who has GONE TO JAIL for animal cruelty need to check themselves.
Chris Rock & Michael Vick are doing very little to help the black community right now.
The consequences of Vick’s dogfighting ring are so far-reaching & affect the lives of so many dogs & people that now care for them.
Anyone who tries to downplay the situation is, in my mind almost as bad & pathetic as Vick himself.
What goes around will come back. This man with all his fame & money will be truely punished for what he alloud to happen to these aniamals & don’t tell me that it was for the money. There is a very dark side to this indiviual. Time will tell.
I l o v e these sort of “mishaps” ….. resulting in good publicity for those animal lovers appalled by neglect and abuse …. hopefully the most tallented Mr. Rock will avoid being Stoned and stand for the important cause he so mindlessly tried to joke about.
It’s obvious Mr Rock never bothered with the entire Vick story. All he saw was a black man being wronged by “The Man.”
I wonder if Rock ever read the entire indictment in it’s entirety. If you haven’t, you can find it online. It’s disgusting and even the likes of Chris Rock should be appalled.
Read it, Chris. Then go back to Letterman and tell him exactly what Michael Vick did.
Note to Chris Rock: There’s nothing funny about it.
Too bad such an insensitive and unproductive exchange occurred between Rock and Leno. I appreciate Gayle’s reaction and comment.
There are so many good comments here. I agree with most of them. First, let me say that Vick served only 18 months of a two year prison sentence. He has thousands of admirers who think he’s a “hero.” You can look at all of his pages on Facebook. His admirers say he just “made a mistake” like it was a one-time laspe in judgment. He fought hundreds of dogs, tortured, and killed them for six years! That’s not “a mistake”! And, no, we animal lovers won’t forget what he did!! I believe in freedom of speech, but it when it comes to animals, who have no voice, those of us who care about animal welfare have to be their voice. And so many people on this comment section are the dogs’ voice!! So thank you for that.
Dian, you said it so well: “There is a very dark side to this individual” (Vick).
I will make sure I go see this movie now when otherwise I probably wouldn’t have because I don’t see very many movies. I want to financially support Mrs. Pryor for taking a stand in the Pitties’ name, AND I want to see the movie do well so Chris Rock can sulk. I hope others on this page see the movie, too, and invite their friends—well, everyone except Kenny the Comedian, Kevin, Not Chris Rock, and Eric. I ceretainly wouldn’t want to run into them at the movie theatre or anywhere, for that matter.
Once people realize how blurred the line gets between spousal abuse/child abuse/animal abuse than making jokes about it just doesn’t seem that funny. Substitute the word “child” for Pit Bull and see how well the joke does.
Interesting observation. Have you noticed that once separated the Bad Newz dogs are on the road to recovery and are intergrating into society nicely?
And Vick’s cohorts are still in trouble, getting shot, and doing drugs. So who was/is the menace to society?
Thank you Jennifer!!!
I thought the whole exchange between the two was disgraceful. I have not watched Jay Leno since that night and if I see Chris Rock on ANYTHING I change the station. For anyone who thinks it was comedy, I think it was not funny in the least. Jokes are not made about such atrocities.
To Kenny,jokes are only funny when people laugh at what you tell them….what that idiot rock said WAS NOT remotely funny!!That turd vick and anybody who condones him will get what they deserve eventually as karma as a funny way(excuse the pun)of turning round and biting you in the ass or in vicks case hopefully it will be a pack of pitbulls!!
Here’s free speech for you bubba fett tosspot why don’t you do one and get a life this comment page are for people that actually love animals!!No one cares what your small minded opinion is go away you sad little man! (Edited to conform with About.com User Guidelines)
Michael Vick should never have been released from prison, and Chris Rock should be there with him. Oh yeah! Since Chris Rock says, ‘Pit Bulls ain’t even real dogs’, maybe someone should toss him in the ring with a few of Mikey’s fineds. Uh……………….yeah……….they’re real dogs, just like people of all colors are people
Thank you Mrs. Pryor for taking a stand, Richard was one the first shock comedians and argubally the best,but there always came a time in his set where he touched on a truth that clearly came across as instruction and we are all the better for it. Chris Rock’s and Leno’s statements show the ignorance of tv faces weighing in on situations of which they truly have no understanding. Mr. Vicks mistreatment of dogs is well documented and repulses members of society who can show empathy. The other part of Vick’s association with Gamblers, drug providers,criminal enforcers and elected officials,should invoke anger and suspicion among football fans and the majority of people who somehow make through life without such associations. Mr.Leno in the real world (where people don’t waste money on amassing material objects for which they have no use) anyone displaying Mr Vicks leanings would lose their job. The NFL has lost this viewer because of his reinstatement he can play with the drug abusing, spouse abusing, violent childeren that populate pro football.
Hey Chris — how dare you say they’re “just jokes.” I am St. Lenny, crucified for your sins, baby. There’s 23 documentaries about me, and two in the works, because what I said was IMPORTANT! You can’t have it both ways — get on the old PBS pledge drive and tell us how meaningful the arts are (like comedy), how they affect lives, how it’s not frivolous, how it changes a culture’s perspectve (Pryor) — and then when you want to distance yourself from a particularly callous one — “hey, they’re just jokes, folks!” Choose one, Kenny, old pal. I did.
Wow, Ali. Way to exercise your rights.
Here’s the thing. It was a joke. One most people found in poor taste it seems, but a joke nonetheless.
Does anyone remember Steven Colbert referring to great horned owls as “sky nachos?” Don’t see you guys calling for his head.
~a proud member of the Colbert Nation
(Edited to conform with About.com User Guidelines)
Screw U Kenny Klein.. The Pryors did the right thing.. I don’t find any of this amusing.. Chris Rock is a Jackass I never liked him.. Now I will urge everyone to boycott him! Until youve been electrocuted and slammed to the ground you should shut your pie hole because you can CR have sh*t coming out of it!
Why is dog fighting illegal but killing a human unborn baby is???????????????
Why is dog fighting illegal but people hunt and kill sharks, whale, tigers, lions, rhino, wolves, bears every day!!!!!
BUT that’s OK, right??????????????
THANK YOU JENNIFER!!! =)
And thank you All who are for the animals on this thread! I couldnt have said it better myself! All for the animals here out-number the few idiots here.
I use to love Chris Rock..what a disappointment. Will never watch anything to do with him ever again! My boys are also disappointed. Anyone for Vick, obviously doest have a heart.
Jennifer Pryor, you rock! Thank you so much for your actions. These dogs have enough problems without Chris Rock making it sound OK to abuse them and torture them. Making this kind of joke is akin to making a joke about abusing or torturing a child, another innocent being that has no say in what happens to it. Dog fighting is not funny, and if Chris Rock doesn’t get that, then he doesn’t deserve to get that role.
I am not an extreme animal rights person, not at all. I hate the animal rights movement and agenda. But I am for the welfare of all animals, and torturing them is totally unacceptable.
Both Rock’s and Leno’s comments are abhorent, joking or not. I am not amused by either of them and never watch Jay Leno. I certainly hope neither of them have any animals.
I’m confused about what you say about the movie, however. Isn’t Chris Rock one of the producers, directors or something????
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1642953/20100702/story.jhtml
I’m black and have three Pits. I love this breed. And for anyone to think abusing them or any other breed is OK, is out of his or her mind. This breed bleed and have pain just like any other breed. Not only did sick ass Vick fight them. He tortured them as well. Letting me know he has some serious mental issues. By Chris Rock making light of this shows he has humanity of poor taste in judgment. Not all Blacks have a dark living arrangement with LIFE. Lets make that very clear. And DOG FIGHTING IS WRONG IN SO MANY WAYS. LETS NOT MAKE JOKES OF THIS SICKNESS
Mac, i don’t think and hope anyone on here was implying any coloured person has a “dark living arragement with life”I don’t think it matters what colour your skin i,if you are a sick twisted evi, p***k like vick you could be white ,black,yellow,blys or pink with green spots and called primrose but still be rotten all the way through.Colour doesn’t make the human it’s what’s inside of them what matters and unfortunately there’s too many people like vick still out there and it’s up to people like you and the rest of us that feel the same way to do the best we can and protect all these beautiful animals from scum like him.And Meg i know it was supposed to be a joke but as i said a jokes only funny when people laugh…and that fett idiot just annoyed me sorry if i offended anybody else.
To J who wrote asking why is it okay to kill human babies and all kinds of wildlife: I just really want to scream when people do this!! This article/thread of comments is NOT about the millions of other atrocities in the world; it is about Chris Rock’s callous jokes regarding Vick torturing and killing innocent, defenseless dogs who had no choice in the matter. STICK TO THE SUBJECT AT HAND!! Go write your comments elsewhere in which it’s talking about abortions or whatever is is. THIS is about Chris Rock, Michael Vick, Jennifer Pryor, and Pit Bulls—nothing else.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2078723/michael_vicks_second_chance.html?cat=9
As Bill Maher hysterically wrote about Vick in Rolling Stone at the time,
“Stop saying what he did is a cultural thing, just one of those things black folks are known for, like jazz. He’s not one of the Scottsboro boys, he electrocuted dogs.”
To Clawz — THANK YOU – THANK YOU. Well said. To Michael — that was a great article. To Jay Leno & Chris Rock “It is better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and resolve all doubt” — Abraham Lincoln — Advice you both should have heeded
I’m very glad that he lost that movie role because of that ignorant comment. Nobody should make jokes about torture and murder. (yes, even with animals) I don’t even believe Vick should have been given a second chance to play football. What he did says alot about the kind of person he is. I can’t believe anyone would welcome him with open arms after what he did. ays something about their character.
Chris Rock…you suck!! Mrs Pryor good call!!! Mike Vick sucks he’s evil i have two pits myself! Never ever will like him or people that thinks its a joke.How they died is unreal! No i dont eat anything with a face either!All animal abuse is wrong! I mean the dude rich as hell…..but just goes to show you there are people in this world that care! $$$$ down the drain but your money were your mouth is i he sure did:) (Edited to conform with About.com User Guidelines)
It really hurts my feelings that Chris Rock lost out on making tons of money for a movie. Comedians make jokes all the time about controversal issues and we laugh because we know they are funny, let’s not confuse a statment with ajoke. What Michael Vick did was wrong and intentional. He tortured animals for profit and sport yet continued to lead the kind of life for fortune and fame that many wish they could. NO EXCUSE! The way we worship our sports heros is mind blowing. They can do what they want as long as they play well.. I commend Mrs Pryor for standing her ground. If it was’nt Michael Vick and an ordinary Joe they would have put him under the jail.
Strider while i agree wholeheartedly with most of your statement again this joke issue rears it’s head.It didn’t look like either were making a lighthearted remark or joke it was a idiotic sentence that came from one failing chatshow host to a mediorce mmmthink the best word for this man is clown!!Rock lost a big money part and leno lost more viewers…but because of the publicity it raised hopefully the dogs are the winners here,and Mrs Pryor you are a wonderful lady and i’m sure your husband is looking down very happy and very proud of you!!
Sorry one last topic to not chris rock cause he hasn’t got the balls to put his real name…vick will never repay his debt for what he did,he could spend 10,000 years in prison and still owe those poor dogs!! vick will always be remembered not what he did on the football field but the horrific,evil,vile acts he did to animals that couldn’t defend themselves from bullets,electrocution and being drowned to say but a few.And kenny kliene your really can’t be that good at what you do cause over in europe we haven’t heard of you whatsoever!! If my lanuage has offended the real animal lovers here i am deeply sorry but idiots and people that don’t understand or want to rile me intensley (Edited to conform with About.com User Guidelines)
Relax people. Comedians make tasteless jokes about all manner of horrible things. On a serious note, a person dies of hunger every single second (that’s +/- 36,000,000 per year), a child every 5 seconds. But you keep saving animals.
Kenny Klein is a BLEEPIN IDIOT if he thinks this is funny!
Let’s clamp those jumper cables on your ears and throw you into the pool and see how much you’re laughing then …
IDIOT !
Chris Rock and others like him who defend or make light of the Vick dog-fighting abuse, need to be read the now infamous page 93, in Jim Gorant’s “The Lost Dogs”. If after that, they still stand up for Vick it will prove they are the same low life scum as Vick–trying to prove their manhood through fighting dogs. And like Vick, they will all fail miserably.
Thank you, everyone, for your comments!
J, animal rights activists also oppose the killing of sharks, whales, tigers, lions, rhinos, wolves, and bears. I do agree that current laws that allow the killing of some animals and not others are speciesist, and I would love to see the laws changed to protect all animals.
Abortion is a separate issue, but caring about dogs does not mean that one supports abortion. There are animal advocates on both sides of the abortion issue.
have always liked chris rock, but making a joke out of torturing dogs is disgusting. am proud of jennifer pryor for taking the position that she did. those jokes were in such bad taste that mr rock should apologize and so should leno for allowing him to say them on the show. there is no excuse for rocks attitude or vicks behavior.
I should really just not comment anymore, but I guess I can’t help myself. Like I said, Rich, let’s stick to the subject at hand. Maybe you don’t like animals, but there are a lot of animal lovers in this world. We’re not talking about starving children here. There are a million atrocities in this world, and animals are God’s creatures as much as people are. If you ask me, when God looks down at this screwed-up world, I’m sure He is much more pleased with the animals than He is with the so-called human race.
Wolfwhisperer, they should also have to look at the horrific, graphic pictures of Vick’s dogs who had their noses and ears ripped off and their faces literally torn to shreds. I wish all of Vick’s fans would see those pics—ENLARGED pics so they can see the details! I’m betting it wouldn’t impact any of those people, though. To think that Michael Vick has thousands of fans who worship the ground he walks on is very disturbing.
Thank you to all the people on this thread who love dogs and take a stand for them. They can’t defend themselves; they depend on us humans who do have a heart. There are way too many people in this world who don’t have a heart for animals.
If Michael Vick wants to fight dogs, I have a 150lb Malamute/Lab mix and a Chow Chow who would be glad to take him on. We can set up a ring here in my yard and let Vick face Nanook and Ophelia.
He won’t walk away.
Who’s Kenny Klein?
please get a life vick basher’s and hater’s ur just like the tea party’s”GREAT WHITE HOPE” sarah falin , as long as you can cast negativity on a black person and feel like you all are holier than thou,that’s just what you’ll, do go to hell in a hand basket,the same way you worry about dog’s and illegal’s getting treated better than black taxpayer’s,where was the concern for all the black’s lying in these river’s throughout the south murdedr by all of your people,oh yeah dog’s are better.
I like dogs and I don’t have a big problem with what Vick did because it was just an animal. My German Shephard is the best, but he is still just a dog. I couldn’t bring myself to harm ANY living thing human or beast, but I have to be realistic about the world I live in; people harm other living things all the time. Getting outraged and arguing on the net wont stop it, it’s who we are.
I love chesseburgers and I know for a fact that cows are bred and tortured to death so that I can enjoy that burger. I feel just as much empathy for the cow as the dog, but God made the Cow delicious. With the outrage I’ve seen against Vick, one wouldve expected the same outrage toward the beef industry. Maybe if people stopped treating thier pets as “babies” there would be less emotion involved, because with the posts I’ve read, you’d think Vic came to your houses and raped/murdered your Grandmother.
As for the Jennifer Pryor’s comments, she is also letting her emotions cloud her thoughts. Richard Pryor was the rawest performer on the stage at the height of his success, and he pretty much influenced many of the “edgy” comedians you see today. He was a genius because he understood how to make you laugh even when you didn’t want to. NOTHING is off limits in comedy no matter what the previous posters claim. It’s all fair game. If you people who claim to have been fans, are now done with Rock, then he probably wasn’t for you anyway. You’re looking for safe comedians.
@ Absulaam: Your viewpoint is quite disturbing & it saddens me to know there are so many who share it. Even if you don’t have a real sense of compassion towards animals or what happens to them, you should at least be concerned that people who have it in them to torture animals many times move onto “bigger & better things” (put simply, it has been shown time & time again that many serial killers began with animals). People don’t torture and murder animals because “it’s who we are”, but because something is wired wrong within them. Yet as a society, we like to turn the other way until the problem advances to the stage of killing other humans. How sad that only then do we see this as unacceptable.
For those who state that Michael Vick is sorry, or had “done his time”… what a joke. For 6 years he & his friends tortured & murdered these animals, only stopping because they got caught. After he “served his time”, what really did you see him do that showed how sorry he was for his heinous acts? Did he willingly volunteer at shelters to help animals, volunteer to donate money to help animals worldwide in similar situations? No, he went back to his high profit career & prayed that many would care too much about his “value as an athlete” to truly open their eyes to the pure horror he inflicted on these animals. That is not remorse, it is greed, pure and simple. And as a double slap in the face to those who see him as the monster that he is, our society honors him as “Sportsman of the Year”….
…yes, this is exactly what I’d like my children to emulate when they grow up.
& as for the true topic at hand… farewell Chris. Kudos to Mrs. Pryor for standing up for what she believes in. I’m all for freedom of speech, & Mr. Rock is certainly free to say whatever he’s inclined to. Just as Mrs. Pryor and many more of us are free to spend our money elsewhere & spread the word on our distaste for such concerning values.
Chris’s heartless remarks about the agony these poor souls endured only perpetuates abuse. Remember, it wasn’t long ago that whites thought blacks ‘had no soul’ only bcs the skin color was different. This gave whites the ‘excuse’ to hang, drag, burn, drown black people??? These are the murders Vick committed – Does Chris not realize that just bcs the shell is different, the soul is not the same??? Animals FEEL, have EMOTIONS, and AGONIZE when tortured!!! Thank you Jenny, for NOT rewarding bad behavior! Richard is PROUD – thank you for protecting his name and legacy, u are a loyal defender
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