Billy Crystal Blackface: Oscars Host Causes Controversy With Sammy Davis Jr. Impression (VIDEO)

First Posted: 02/27/2012 9:52 am Updated: 02/27/2012 9:52 am

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After director Brett Ratner resigned as Oscars producer in disgrace because he uttered a homosexual slur, it was assumed that new Academy Awards producer Brian Grazer and host Billy Crystal would keep things decidedly P.C. About that: during the opening sketch of the 84th annual Academy Awards -- where Crystal put himself in a number of the Best Picture nominees -- the nine-time host appeared in blackface as Sammy Davis Jr.

Crystal was onscreen with Justin Bieber -- in a sly nod to the demographic problems faced by the Oscars telecast, Bieber joked that he was there for the 18-24 year olds -- during a "Midnight in Paris" spoof when the comedian also showed up as Davis.

"Billy, is Biebs the young Sinatra, or am I nuts," Crystal-as-Davis said to himself through the magic of technology.

Crystal would often appear as Sammy Davis Jr. during the 1980s, but the sight of him in blackface at the 2012 Oscars stunned many viewers and media professionals on Twitter.

"If you had 3 minutes for First Blackface of the Night in your #Oscars pool, congratulations!" New York Times writer Dave Itzkoff joked.

Check out a smattering of opinions on Crystal's blackface appearance below.

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After director Brett Ratner resigned as Oscars producer in disgrace because he uttered a homosexual slur, it was assumed that new Academy Awards producer Brian Grazer and host Billy Crystal would keep...
After director Brett Ratner resigned as Oscars producer in disgrace because he uttered a homosexual slur, it was assumed that new Academy Awards producer Brian Grazer and host Billy Crystal would keep...
Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:
Jon Chattman

Jon Chattman: Bring Some Chutzpah Back: Billy's 9th and Last Oscar Telecast

It was as if Crystal was preserved in time like Austin Powers, thawed out for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, and recycled past bits without trying at all to show off something fresh and new.

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RavenHoney
1 Fans
03:43 PM on 03/05/2012
I was a little confused about Billy Crystal's inclusion of a Sammy Davis, Jr. What was the point? Furthermore, its a very dated reference. I don't think most of the people watching the show even know who his is.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RV1025
76 Fans
01:01 PM on 03/01/2012
Brown makeup to impersonate an African-American person?!? Oh, the outrage!

When I read "blackface" I was thinking of the exaggerated Al Jolson style, not what Billy is doing. I didn't see anything racist about his impersonation.

Ridiculous article, Moviefone/HuffPo...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Phillip Ramirez
No reason, really...
45 Fans
03:49 PM on 02/28/2012
I think HuffPost is simply trying to get attention. All the posts I've read have been Pro-Crystal. Yet somehow I get the feeling the Libs at HuffPost will somehow put a spin that "America has become desensitized" or some such nonsense.

It was funny, it was quick and it's over. Let it go, kids... let it go.
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AlejandraAlend
0 Fans
 
12:16 PM on 03/01/2012
Biily Crystal has been doing Sammy since SNL back in late 70's or early 80's. That comment was about nothing.
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littlejohnnie
1 Fans
01:07 PM on 02/28/2012
A white comedian put on makeup to do an impersonation of a black star? How offensive!!! And hey, how about that movie Albert Nobbs, where a female actress is nominated for an award for putting on makeup to play a man? As a man, I'm totally offended by this whole sexist manface! Give me a break.
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Jimmy MO
28 Fans
07:49 PM on 02/27/2012
Much ado about nothing. Crystal has impersonated Davis for years and anyone watching should know it comes from a place of respect and even reverence.
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Classof89
464 Fans
06:17 PM on 02/27/2012
I remember Billy doing this on SNL in the '80's. This is nothing new. He always does a great impersonation of Mr. Davis, and his admiration for him shows.

You want to talk offended, I'm a black female, and I'm still pissed that a song about pimpin' (I've read the lyrics) is somehow worthy of an Oscar.
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Jackie730
282 Fans
06:04 PM on 02/27/2012
OMG! I didn't realize that was Billy. I thought it was funny.
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Aleks Hunter
Dear God, please save us from Your followers.
1974 Fans
 
05:59 PM on 02/27/2012
I'm not a Billy Crystal fan at all. He really doen't seem all that funny to me, esp in the context fo his contemporaries like Carlin, Pryor and Williams. The Sammy bit is part of his schtick. It was not black face. It was not to degrade Black people, it was in no way Steppin Fetchit or Amos and Andy -esque. Get over it folks. Real racism is absolutely mean spirited, costing untold human misery. This was just a lame-ish attempt to make people laugh by a guy who really does care about how he is perceived.
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Tulka2
Solidarity. Courage. Humor.
2559 Fans
05:19 PM on 02/27/2012
Oy.
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momarlon
5 Fans
04:36 PM on 02/27/2012
MAYBE, next year's Oscar telecast can emulate this year's winner for best picture... 2+ hours of silence.
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mxcoach26
40 Fans
04:24 PM on 02/27/2012
we are in a very weird very P.C. world now. he was doing an impression! big deal. if eddie murphy had hosted and did a white person impression would there be this much backlash?
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Gabriel Sylvian
23 Fans
04:02 PM on 04/06/2012
There might be. from some quarters. Just sayin'......
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staciel199
10 Fans
03:25 PM on 02/27/2012
Blackface - Come on!!! It's was his old skit!! Seriously people
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qud
140 Fans
02:58 PM on 02/27/2012
Why is it so wrong to impersonate a black person, put on black make-...whatever. Black people can do what they like. Why the double standard. Learn to laugh, take it for the surface, meaningless stunt that it was and move on. this is not to be analyzed like it's an advanced english literature class. You are giving the situation way too much credit (and exposure)
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hauntingsummer
13 Fans
02:21 PM on 02/27/2012
That wasn't weird at all, he was doing an impression...there was NOTHING racist about this. So ridiculous that anybody cares. This is NOT blackface..this was an impression of Sammy Davis Jr and Jr alone, not an entire people. Give me a break!
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MissTigress
167 Fans
02:19 PM on 02/27/2012
Oh please. Billy has done Sammy along with dozens of other characters for years. This is silly. It was a funny bit....the whole opening was great and I loved seeing Sammy. Billy loves Sammy and if anything, it was a tribute. I fail to see how this was offensive.
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