The racist comments made by Donald Sterling were a big story all over the country this weekend, but it was especially big here in LA. From time to time, Jimmy Kimmel likes to keep tabs on how closely people are paying attention to the news, so we sent a camera crew out onto Hollywood Blvd to ask people this question: “LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling was caught on tape telling V Stiviano he believes black people should not be allowed to Instagram or Stedman Graham…even if Putin drowns while President Obama looks on. Do you have a puzzling response?” Clearly that makes no sense but that doesn’t mean people didn’t try to weigh in on it.
I love these interviews. There can be no ‘right’ answer, and you’d never guess the impossibility of answering the nonsensical question by the eagerness of those who respond. Whether it’s the allure of appearing on a well-known TV show, or reasons unfathomable to most, people eagerly dive in to share the fruit of their weighty consideration.
One of the more puzzling responses concerned Sterling. The response was; “It wouldn’t have been racist if it wasn’t on tape” Was Cliven Bundy on Hollywood Blvd.? No, this reply came from a black man, oddly enough. Did he mean that no one would have called Donald Sterling a racist (again) had this bru ha ha not surfaced – or was he making a different and much more puzzling point?
For a chuckle, check out the self described ” rock n’ roll guy.” Obviously a rebel for the counter culture for many, many years, he knows what it’s like to be misunderstood and hated for no reason other than his appearance…You know, like Sterling. Soon though, he is punctuating the interviewer’s observation that he looks “ridiculous” and “it’s time to grow up,” with an enthusiastic “absolutely!”
I may not know why people feel compelled to try to answer these questions, but I do know they aren’t paying much attention to what’s actually being asked of them!