Jerry Lewis upsets gays and lesbians...

Jerry Lewis Echoes Isaiah, Apologizes by Natalie Finn

Jerry Lewis is going to have to walk alone on this one.

The original Nutty Professor publicly apologized Tuesday for using an anti-gay slur?-in the same vein as the one that got Isaiah Washington in so much trouble earlier this year?-during his annual Labor Day telethon benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

During the event, "I made a joking comment to a member of my production staff. I apologize to anyone offended," the 81-year-old actor and showman said in a statement.

"I obviously made a bad choice of words. Everyone who knows me understands that I hold no prejudices in this regard. In the family atmosphere of the Telethon, I forget that not everyone knows me that well.

"That something like this would distract from the true purpose of the Telethon pains me deeply. The success of the show and all the good that will come of it shouldn't be lost because of one unfortunate word. I accept responsibility for what I said. There are no excuses. I am sorry."

While Lewis' ability to remain tirelessly upbeat throughout the 21 1/2-hour variety show is a feat in and of itself, we now know that plenty of other people are still quite alert during hour 18, as well.

It was then that Lewis, goofing around onstage at the South Coast Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, started riffing about an imaginary family reunion.

"Oh, your family has come to see you," he said into the camera, beckoning a nonexistent relative. "You remember Bart, your older son," and, motioning toward another invisible figure, "Jesse, the illiterate fag."

But while Lewis immediately tried to change the subject, quickly stopping himself and saying "no," his mea culpa didn't come fast enough to prevent a tongue-lashing from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which called France's favorite fundraiser's choice of words "simply unacceptable."

"It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way," GLAAD president Neil Giuliano said.

GLAAD appreciated the funnyman's "swift and direct apology," however, saying Tuesday in a statement to tmz.com that the organization is among the millions who applaud "the important work of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and wish MDA and Mr. Lewis much continued success in their efforts."

And unlike Washington, whose name was mud for the remainder of the spring television season and who was ultimately fired from Grey's Anatomy in light of his use of a similar epithet in January at the Golden Globe Awards, Lewis' future as master of ceremonies in 2008 is pretty much a sure thing.

Despite the verbal gaffe, this year's telethon, the 42nd since Lewis founded it in 1966, raised a record $63.8 million, a $3 million increase from last year, to benefit the MDA, which helps fund the fight against more than 40 other neuromuscular diseases in addition to muscular dystrophy.

Still, GLAAD is planning to request a meeting with Lewis, as it did with Washington.

"We want to sit down with him, help him understand why these words are so hurtful, and give him an opportunity to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs, even more so in attempted humor," Giuliano said.

www.eoline.com