Samuel L. Jackson bashed

[Moviefan1234]

http://us.imdb.com/PeopleNews/


"Mekhi Slams Sam

Up-and-coming Hollywood star Mekhi Phifer has slammed Samuel L Jackson for saying he wouldn't work with hip hop stars. The 8 Mile star says that Jackson's statement that he wouldn't work with "rappers who act" was unfortunate. He says, "First of all, rappers aren't taking roles from him. so I don't understand why he's so passionate about not working with rappers. Is it just rappers? Would he not have worked with Harry Belafonte or Frank Sinatra or Bette Midler or any number of actors who sing? Would it matter if they were UPS workers? Sam Jackson used to be a crackhead! Would it be intelligent for me to say I don't ever want to work with anybody who ever smoked crack, or was on the street? I think it's a very silly statement. I don't appreciate it and I don't ever look forward to working with him, actually." Phifer adds, "Now he's doing a movie with Ll Cool J! So he's a contradictory, hypocritical dumb ass. We can't respect anything he says after that." "


Pretty interesting if it's true. The IMDB isn't the most trusting source, but it's still interesting. Any thoughts from anybody?

[James Logan]

If it's true, than Mekhi deserved to be bitch slapped for calling Sam L. a "dumb ass". Prick.

As for Jackson's statement, I agree with it. And Mekhi comparing what Jackson said to "not working with crackheads" is the most stupid comparison I've heard today. Jackson stated he wouldn't easily work with rap stars, because they just aren't bloody actors, and they don't have an acting work ethic -- they just come in for the money. Not because he doesn't like 'em -- he even went on to say he respected Will Smith, because of all the rappers turned actors, he's the only one who developed a true craft.

I agree with Sam L. Nothing against rappers, but just stick to what you know -- don't try someone else's job just for the money if you know you won't work hard at it.

[vtadave]

I wholeheartedly disagree. Mekhi was right on target if what Jackson said was true. There are actually rappers who can act:

1. Tupac in my opinion would've eventually won an Oscar if he had lived.

2. Snoop Dogg - great charisma

3. Ice Cube

Others....

For him to say that is idiotic and ignorant.

[MarkItZero]

If Sam Jackson actually said that (and if his quotes were taken in the proper context), then I think he deservees to be called out for it.

It doesnt matter what past professions an actor had, if he or she is serious about tackling the art of acting. It is wrong of Jackson to try and single out one group of people and say that they are all not worthy to be actors.

But my guess, is that this is just another example of a quote taken out of context and being blown out of proportion to make it sound like it is something that it isnt.

[MarkItZero]

Originally posted by vtadave
1. Tupac in my opinion would've eventually won an Oscar if he had lived.

Come on now, be serious!

[Grebdron]

I kind of think Phifer's right on. I do remember Jackson making those statements. And the "crackhead" comparison wasn't off at all.

If he's really making a film with LL, then he is a hypocrite.

[RogueSpear]

Originally posted by Grebdron
I kind of think Phifer's right on. I do remember Jackson making those statements. And the "crackhead" comparison wasn't off at all.

If he's really making a film with LL, then he is a hypocrite.

Actually, he's already made a movie with LL Cool J. It was Deep Blue Sea.

Anyway, I remember reading the interview in which Jackson said this and I believe there were a few rappers turned actors that he didn't have a problem with. I'm guessing LL was one of them.

[Gregorious8]

Originally posted by Grebdron


If he's really making a film with LL, then he is a hypocrite.

Yeah that film is SWAT coming out this summer

[Grebdron]

Originally posted by Gregorious8
Yeah that film is SWAT coming out this summer

So apparently when the money's right, SJ's all for it.

Sounds pretty hypocritical to me.

[sharkstank]

maybe phifer's right.jackson was hypocritical,and some rappers can act really well(Ice Cube,Mos Def).
but Jackson is not a dumb ass.

[Jon Lyrik]

This is from IMDb's news, so I don't believe it in the slightest. If he actually did say that, well, that's pretty hypocritical.

[Lyle Waggoner]

Jackson DID say this. It was around July or August last year though - not as recently as Mekhi's response might imply (Ice Cube took a shot at Jackson over this a while back, too). He later refined his point as not wanting to validate star vehicles for rappers wanting to get their acting careers kickstarted by sharing the screen with already established actors.

"I do think that if somebody's building a film around some rapper and they want me to go with it, I have the right to say no," Jackson says curtly.

"These rapper movies are crude business deals designed to target a music star's built-in, hip-hop audience.

Even if the film is no good and people don't see it, they still get a great soundtrack out of it and they make money off the CD."

BTW, he also worked with Busta Rhymes, in Shaft. He complimented him for his work ethic, and how committed he (Busta) was to his own performance, but that, along with his willingness to work with LL Cool J (and his praise for Will Smith) ought to demonstrate to him why his generalisation was pretty poor. Better maybe to just deal with the stars on merit. As to why he sought to single out rappers rather than musical artists in general, I don't know - it seems ill-advised, and he'd be naive not to realize how his comments could be politicized as a racial critique.

The funniest thing about all this is how Jackson's forgotten that, prior to being famous, he got some much-needed exposure in a rap video - Public Enemy's 911 Is A Joke, in 1990.

[arto_j]

Yeah, Lyle got it right, he said this ages back. I think he mostly critisized how the rap stars took roles from more deserving (younger) black actors, who've worked hard to get these roles, and then have to give 'em up to DMX or whoever. As I recall, he didn't single out any negative examples, just good ones. I'd think he was mainly bothered by the rap stars taking the roles that unknown actors could've played.

But yeah, it's a bit of a limping generalization, as Lyle said, and Mekhi brought up some good points, just rather harshly. I doubt they'll be working together any time soon.

[Hairy Monk]

Ok let's be honest. Most rappers CAN'T act. I'm not saying all of them. I'm saying MOST of them.

An example of REAL bad acting from rappers are all the movies from the label: urban movies. BLEGH!!!! I rented out kold with ice-t in it once just to see what kind of movies they were.
Even though Ice-t has made a few movies, after watching out kold I can honestly say his acting isn't too great.

[ERIN_LoJ]

Yes a lot of rappers cant act and are just brought into movies for hollywood profits to get the younger audience of fans of that singer - and they end up ruining the movie for the true fans.

Not saying all rappers cant act. Snoop Dog was so so in bones and Ice Cube is great, so is Ice-T or however his name is spelled.

Perhaps if we had the whole interview with Samuel Jackson we could see the context of what he said. If you take out one phrases without the others, than naturally it can be interpreted in hundreds of ways.

I don't agree with the crackhead comparison either - logically it makes no sense, you cannot compare the two in an intelligent manner.

If he does think this way however (about starring with rappers) he needs to keep his mouth closed and not be insulting on the subject in public.

Just my 2 cents as always...