Cari Champion, the host of ESPN’s show First Take, was the unfortunate target of several tasteless, offensive and demeaning tweets by comedian Artie Lange.
Lange’s perverse comments were racist, sexist and completely insensitive to rape victims. Lange didn’t seem to grasp that he was in the wrong and that his “joke” wasn’t funny.
He later reluctantly sentt an apology tweet directed at Champion, saying, “if this hurt u in any way.” But then he sent out tweet after tweet explaining why he didn’t feel the need to apologize.
He said his humor was an observation and that he’s used similar taste at home amongst his friends. He said he “know(s) black women who could join [him] and handle it.”
Below are some of Lange’s tweets about the ESPN hostess.
The chick on ESPNs First Take is so f**kin 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
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 sh*t out of me & runs free — 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
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
In response to the ridiculous Twitter outburst, the late night TV show @Midnight on Comedy Central cancelled Lange’s scheduled appearance on the show.
I’ve been asked not to appear on @midnight & uve ruined any chance I had at dating @CariChampion (That was a joke). I’m not racist. — Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
ESPN came to Champion’s defense today in a statement that said, “His comments were reprehensible and no one should be subjected to such hateful language.”
ESPN went on to say that the comments “objectify and demean one of our valued employees under the thin guise of ‘comedy’ and are offensive to all of us. We well not dignify them with any other comment.”
Despite all the backlash, Artie Lange still hasn’t removed any of the offensive tweets.
And then there was this, another Lange tweet of an unwarranted “observation.”
Now that we’re all cool again. Zoe Saldana is f**kin hot!
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014
