Geraldo Rivera is the very definition of low-hanging fruit, but let’s do this anyway. He’s an awful, terribly unpleasant human being. From the days of his talk show featuring skinhead fights to the fateful moment when he revealed troop coordinates live on Fox News, Rivera isn’t anyone you’d trust on any level. He’s someone who shouldn’t be on television, but people keep handing him money to talk.
Geraldo’s currently promoting his run on Celebrity Apprentice. He stopped by HuffPo Live to unleash some random verbal diarrhea. Let’s just say that Geraldo won’t be watching Straight Outta Compton in theaters. He does want to make sure we don’t call him a racist, so he takes great care to mention his “dear friend,” hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. Once Russell gets wind of what Gerry boy said, I don’t think they’ll be friends anymore:
Hip hop < Racism: “I’m a militant moderate. I borrow from both. For instance, immigration reform, gay marriage, abortion are all things … that’s why I voted for Barack Obama … but … for instance, hip-hop. Hip-hop has done more damage to black and brown people than racism in the last 10 years. When you find the youngster, a Puerto Rican from the South Bronx or black kid from Harlem, who has succeeded in life other than being the one-tenth of one-tenth of one percent that make it in the music business. That’s been a success in life, walking around with his pants around his a** and with visible tattoos.”
Geraldo has a black friend: “I love Russell Simmonss. He’s a dear friend of mine. I admire his business acumen. At some point, those guys have to cop to the fact that by encouraging this distinctive culture that is removed from the mainstream, they have encouraged people to be so different from the mainstream that they can’t participate other than, you know, the racks in the garment center and those entry-level jobs, and I lament it. I really do. I think that it has been very destructive culturally.”
[From HuffPo Live]
Yep, I’m still gonna call Geraldo a racist. He’s namedropping Russell Simmons as a friend and also telling the guy he’s ruining the world by “encouraging this distinctive culture.” The funny thing is this — Geraldo clearly doesn’t realize hip hop’s origins as a creative outlet for voices who found no recognition in the mainstream. Geraldo is relying upon the image pushed by the corporatization of hip hop and one that is readily accepted by the mainstream. He may very well be operating on the basis of a hip hop song he heard in an elevator. He doesn’t even know what he’s criticizing.
Considering what this guy said about Treyvon Martin wearing a hoodie, I’m not surprised at his stance on hip-hop music. STFU, Geraldo.
Photos courtesy of WENN
For the older generation I think that is true, but apply in the same way to kids of all backgrounds who grew up with it. From what I see hiphop among young people has done more to sweep away barriers than to erect them.
I agree db.
My father was a conservative black southerner raising biracial kids in a conservative majority white western town. He served in the military and it served as his exit from a poor rural upbringing. He loved motown, jazz, music soundtracks and country music. He spoke german and prided himself for being well spoken and travelled. He hated hip hop and rap. He hated that guns and shootings were what he heard in the lyrics. He disliked the street grammar and sloppy appearance. He hated the image of women in rap videos. Two Live Crew sent him into hives. He hated what he perceived to be the glorification of deviant gang culture when he was trying to raise kids to maintain good grades and get into good schools to prep for a life in a world that would judge them much more harshly than their white classmates. Though I know hip hop is a very diverse and artful genre, many from his generation (and that would include Geraldo) were introduced to and still see many of the very rebellious, street -thuggish vibe it introduced to them.
I think this is a generational thing, I think there is a sincere dismay towards it bc my dad wanted us to be like the Huxtable kids (pre-Cosby scandal) and he saw hip hop culture with its baggy clothing, cussing and forward sexuality as a threat and an undoing of how he was raising us – to be respectful, to use good reasoning and to be responisble. There is a lot about hip hop that is justified in being criticized frm the misogyny to glorification of violence, but by the same token, it has also produced some of the brightest and most inspiring social commentary out there and created an entirely new performance art form. For every Two Live Crew, there was a KRS-1 was how we kids saw it, and we would always choose KRS-1. THat we can credit to dad.
Sometimes, you have to understand the reasoning behind the conservative Old Man thinking.
Maybe if he actually listened to some hip hop he might learn something about youth, popular culture, and communities that aren’t populated by the mega-wealthy. He should view the world from the ground, not from his ivory tower.
This was my feeling as well all those years ago when Tipper Gore got fixated on protecting kids from the horrors of hip hop. I suppose from where she stood she did not understand that hip hop and rap music were just a chronicle of the lives of a large, underprivileged segment of our population. As one in power, how about using the resources you have to address some of the problems that are being rapped about rather than spend them on trying to stop people from speaking honestly about their experiences (because they are offensive to you)? I think hip hop and rap music have given a voice to the disenfranchised, but some people just aren’t comfortable with letting everyone have their say, especially if they don’t like what is being said. Well, too bad. Don’t listen to it then.
Annaloo: Kudos to your father. It sounds like he raised you to be articulate and level-headed. I think you successfully illustrated both sides of the coin, without falling into the fray yourself. Well said.
Nice Dentures! BBBWWWHHHAAAAHAAAHHAAA
Ok, so we Blacks so far suck because of sagging pants, out-of-wedlock babies, being welfare cases, and listening to rap music. Anything else I need to take note of, Geraldo?
Yes, all of this, but I feel like what he’s saying is even worse than that. He basically said that the only successful PoC are hip-hop artists who are essentially thugs.
Has he really never seen a black doctor, lawyer, financial advisor, principal, professor, scientist, etc?
Only a racist would see one black/brown rapper as representing an entire race. Those of us who don’t live with our heads up our asses see successful people ever day in all facets of life–oftentimes that successful person happens to be a PoC.
He’s definitely racist-absolutely.
Exactly! And why is success only measured by how much money you have? This country freaking pisses me off with success being measured in dollars. Why can’t someone who goes to work everyday and takes care of their family be seen as a success? I know A LOT of Black folks who do that but are still seen as losers by Geraldo, I guess.
Geraldo is a far-right FOXNews jackass. He has failed more than he has succeeded, and he’s jealous of Kanye’s notoriety, as well as the seeming legitimacy that events like NYFW confer on him. Geraldo needs to learn a useful trade, because all he’s really good at is stirring the sh*t.
You bring up SUCH a great point, Monie.
“Why can’t someone who goes to work everyday and takes care of their family be seen as a success? ”
YES. My mom raised two healthy, happy kids who grew up to be healthy, happy, productive members of society. No she didn’t have a great career or make a sh*t-ton of money but to me, she is a success.
OT: Kitten I watched PBS News last night. Jeez, I didn’t realize HOW bad it was up in Beantown. My condolences.
Thanks, Kiddo. People think that Bostonians are exaggerating when we say that the past 3 weeks have brought this city to its knees–but we’re not. The hardest part is that there is no end in sight–the MBTA says public transit will continue like this for the next 30 days and that’s ONLY if we don’t get more snow–otherwise it could be pushed back. The public transit system is such an imperative part of the city functioning properly. It’s very hard to explain how not having public transit creates a ripple effect that spreads to every facet of urban life out here.
Everything is just complicated-to-impossible right now.
Kitten, so sorry for your snow troubles. Stay safe and warm. And totally agree with you and Monie about success. When you’re about to die, I doubt you’re thinking about how much money you made. You’re thinking about the people you loved and who loved you back, the things you did even though you were scared, the difference you made in somebody’s life, and things like that.
As for the baggy pants, Geraldo, I don’t like them, either. But you know what? I’m not SUPPOSED to like them. Kids push boundaries – that’s their job. If wearing dumb looking pants is the worst thing they do, then that’s pretty good.
How do people survive economically? How does food get shipped in? How can you guys make it another 30 days?!
*high-fives GNAT*
@mimif- BEER. Lots of beer and BBK is how we survive. Or at least how I survive.
I can’t judge a teenager in sagging pants because I fully embraced all of the horrible fashion trends of the 80’s. Cut-up sweatshirts, leg warmers with jeans, day glow pants, ankle socks with high heels, giant hair that took gallons of hairspray to maintain, safety pin jewelry, etc.
For real! I think back to all the horrible things I wore in the name of fashion and shudder. So glad there wasn’t Facebook or Instagram and Twitter to save it for posterity. I do have to say, though, that I am SOOOO tired of the saggy pants. When do they go out of style??
Sagging pants don’t bother as much as teenage girls going everywhere in their pajamas.
This guy is scum. He is racist and it absolutely drives me crazy when a rich white man feels he has the right to speak about race and women issues.
Not everyone has the right to open their mouth, especially when they don’t really have an idea what’s up.
Not to nit pick, but he’s actually of Jewish & Puerto Rican descent.
I was just gonna point that out, mimif. But of course he’s still a racist, far-right reactionary jackass.
Being Puerto Rican doesn’t make him a person of color; someone who is Puerto Rican could be white, black, native american or any random mixing of the above. ‘Puerto Rican’ is more of an equivalent of ‘American’; you’re from Puerto Rico but really could be of any ethnicity.
I don’t think Geraldo is racist , not with his background for sure. He is maybe quick to judgment and being Geraldo, making big statements, creating drama.
I don’t think a minority can be racist, but he can definitely be hyper-conservative, which Geraldo most definitely is.
Why can’t minorities be racist? He’s unfairly judging others based on their race. That’s racism.
I don’t agree. I’ve knew Asian people who are very racist against other Asian people (from different countries). When I heard what these women were saying about others my mouth dropped to the floor & I still haven’t picked it up. They were definitely racist. I don’t think you only have to white to be racist but I do recognize the “ones in power” & how their racism is more damaging (because of power). I’m not articulating this well but I hope my point comes across.
Okay, fair enough.
He’s Puerto Rican.
Puerto Rican is not a race. It’s a nationality.
Hispanic/Latino(s) is a race; I know it’s kind of a blanket that covers a wide range, but it is. Same for African-American, Asian, Middle Eastern, etc.
He is the living embodiment of a pit stain. He’s racist, narcissistic and orange. No different from many that call Fox News home. I ignore him as much as I ignore them.
Comment perfection. 💯
Yes. He makes my skin crawl, always has and always will.
+1
Maybe he should talk to Will Smith about how this “racism” idea is all made up.
He’s really not a deep thinker, is he?
Al Capone’s vault episode is a perfect metaphor for Geraldo.
Yup, Kiddo, exactly: closed to everything and when opened, there is no There there.
Yup. I’ve always despised this man and his moustache.
@Kiddo! YES! A lot of hype… and then nothing inside
You are brills…
@I Choose Me , Can we blame the moustache, though? Is it like Trump’s hair? Or does the moustache just go along with it in a case of Stockholm syndrome?
He looks exactly like a marionette puppet! Egads. And also – what a douche nozzle.
Looking at YOUR MANIACAL GRINNING FACE has done more damage to my Psyche than ANYTHINGELSE in the World right now GR! I need therapy now, I just can’t.
He is really a cartoon character, isn’t he?
Geraldo needs to go back into Al Capone’s vault and shut the door behind him. (I still maintain that it was “friendly fire” that winged his ass when he gave away troop positions.)
I will never understand why this moron has an audience.
Right?! Don’t feed the trolls!!!!
Well, GNAT, I think intolerant, ignorant, self-satisfied jackasses tend to attract a demographic with similar worldviews and a hankering for the empty sensation of scandal, half-truth, and hate-mongering.
+1
Yes, sadly.
Apparently you are correct.
My mom used to watch him in the 80s, but I think that was because his shows were such train wrecks that it was hard to turn away. Apparently he is on Fox News now, which I didn’t know because I don’t watch that channel.
his veneers scare the shit out of me.
His veneers, mustache, and red eyes aren’t cute. I hate when I have red eyes in pictures. He’s always been creepy
He took a creepy naked selfie in the bathroom and I accidentally saw it before I could be struck conveniently blind. My eyes are still scorched, but nothing compared to my psyche.
Bahahaha omg you poor thing!
*pours ice cold water on Lahdidahbaby’s psyche*
ETA: I just googled. Whyyyy do I do these things to myself??
Oh Lahdidahbaby I want to give one of those eye washes and a hug. No one should be visually assaulted in such a cruel way.
My husband watches Celebrity Apprentice, and Geraldo was on there prancing around in his boxers and lifting weights. He also has a mess of poorly done tattoos. He definitely thinks he is hot, though.
My Dad pledged the same fraternity with Geraldo in college and played inter-mural football w/ him. He said everybody always wanted to beat him up, but dad was nice to him because they both took Journalism classes together.
Dad also said his real name is Jerry Rivers and he was phones balones from the get-go…just throwing in my two cents since Dad’s not around to say it, not a shocker at all, lol…
@B. I’ve always heard that Jerry Rivers was his real name, too.
What on earth was the point of the name change?? Isn’t usually the other way around – ala Charlie sheen
I looked it up- his name is Gerald, not Geraldo, but his last name is Rivera for sure. His dad was (is?) Cruz Rivera. Don’t know why he added the O.
Ironically, it was to make him seem more ethnic.
I’m speechless. Literally.
Hip hop origins and music, and spoken word aren’t the problem. So much would be missing without it.
The problem are the negative, violent and misogynistic messages that some artists convey. This kind of garbage influences youth of all races.
So remember kids:
Hip hop is the real problem.
Black people are the real racist.
Certain things magically don’t appear in the white community like misogyny.
And black on black crime is just spiraling, I mean it is just every 5 seconds, out of control!
Rolls eyes. Boy take those Willy Wonka Orange-As-I-Wanna-Be sunglasses off and find your real name.
Let’s Try this: YOUR shitty assumptions of Hip- hop are what color your treatment ( and your Fox News Viewership’s) of Black and Brown people
Also Eat a bag of D_cks
Also Your Mustache-broom OFFENDS me
LMAO at all the white guilt liberals that post on this blog.
I love how you all think blacks are these perfect little angels who never do anything wrong, such delusional. But my favorite post in this topic was the feminazi who called Puerto Rican Rivera “white”. LOL. The self loathing is STRONG with that one, she musta been brainwashed really good by her lib professor.
Technically, Geraldo is biracial. And that’s quite a line you’re crossing.
Whoa, look who crawled out from under their bridge. You must be hongray!
Wow, Bill, “white guilt liberals,” “feminazi,” “lib professor”…Dingding, you win the Sean Hannity Kneejerk-Reactionary Award for the week. And for your extra effort at completely baseless generalization, we’re gonna send you to Ann Coulter’s School of the Damned.
No thanks, I don’t care for a cocktail.
Not even a pudding cocktail with extra pills?
(Yes, I went there)
Thank you.
@Bill: Kudos to you for managing not to drop the N word.
I give you a score of 10 out of 10, on fox-news troll-baiting style, for using terms ‘feminazi’ and ‘white guilt liberals’. The Bill Cosby name, however, just overly sells it, and thus your chain yanking remains limp.
But excellent try. ‘such delusional’ is hilarious, it’s on par with ‘cooks pasta amazingly’. I think I’ll hijack it later.
Overall troll score 6; 4 points deducted for Cosby.
You musta been brainwashed.
Amazingly analysis, Kiddo, well done. +1🚽 for good measure
such delusional, mimif, I deserve +100 amazingly
Cue the Mea Culpa tour in 3…2…1
Not sure WHY he’d promoting his stint on CA. He was such an @sshole – it was cringe TV whenever he was on.
haha he was a bit of an a-hole on CA. As a someone who doesn’t drink the koolaid of the far left on this site, I know I am going to be attacked here, BUT I really don’t see the huge problem with his statements here. He is echoing something Biggie Smalls said years ago, “you either slingin crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot.”
Hiphop music is the new wicked jump shot. Every disenfranchised youth wants to be a rapper. I understand what he is trying to say is that BAD hiphop (and I do mean the bad, meaningless videohoe make money shootemup hiphop and not the Taleb Kwalis of the world) is perpetuating the false ideas/hope in youth and some not ALL are giving up on good grades and hard work in favor of this ideal that doesn’t pan out for most.
Jay-Z said (I believe in a documentary about building his empire, but don’t quote me here) something to the effect of when he is rapping about b*tches and money people are picturing themselves as him. It’s a fantasy and unfortunately youth are not always sophisticated enough to realize that. Jay-Z admitted that he had to “dumb down” his message to make huge hits mainstream. Geraldo, however uneloquently, is stating that it’s their (enter Russel Simmons) responsibility to the youth to not perpetuate this stereotype and show them the way as role models.
Now the whole Rihanna doesn’t want to be a role model vs. the fact that she actually is a discussion for a different day. IMO Nas never settled for that and never had the huge success that Jay-Z did (he had a few party songs, but was more interested in “kicking the truth to the young black youth.”) Just my 2 cents, speaking as a woman of color with her own opinion. Just like everyone else on this site 🙂
I wouldn’t call Geraldo a racist. There are black people,most!y older, who share his opinion on hip-hop. Is he narrow minded? Yes. A racist? I don’t think so.
He has said other things…
And just because other black people have said as much doesn’t make it right. Some minorities are quick to “sip the kool-aid”….
Pariz, that ‘sip the kool aid” is an unfair comment and you know it. If the other black people have different opinions than the status quo, to insinuate that they can’t think for themselves is an insult. It’s the type of intra racial bullying that fuels comments like “oreo” and “uncle Tom”. Is there some sort of racial manifest we’re all to follow like some mindless herd of sheep? Some blacks have strong opinions about hip hop and they are entitled to it, positive or negative, and especially if they have their reasons, then what of it? If they are from an older generation and hate the sagging pants and sexual frankness, who are we to insult them for it? If anything, the only kool aid sippin’ happening here is the thinking that all blacks should operate, move, think and speak the same. Let them have their opinions.
Well said, Annaloo.
I would encourage some of you to read Jason Whitlock’s columns. He is a sports/cultural columnist for ESPN and he is heading up ESPN’s “The Undefeated” which is focused on minority issues. He is (sometimes) more thoughtful than Geraldo, but he is unrelenting in his criticism of hip hop culture and rappers such as Jay Z and the effect they have had on minority youth. He also takes aim at the for-profit prison system. I don’t agree with everything he writes, but he is worth a read if you’d like to think about some of these issues rather than just knee jerk to your preferred position.
More damage than racism
😂😂😂😂
I didn’t know I was so damaged by hip hop! Glad to receive a diagnosis.
I watched Celebrity Apprentice this year and I’m glad he lost. I don’t understand how he made it to the finale when he was just a jerk to work with. He has a huge ego and acts like a “know it all”. He’s annoying.
Russel Simmons commented & shut his a$$ down. Nice trying to think one black man as a “dear friend” but Russel says hell no. He’s off his Xmas card list (if he was ever on it). Geraldo is not relevant (expect on Fox News but nothing on there is relevant anyway).
Hip hop uses the ‘N’ word quite a bit which shows that the community does not respect itself. When one uses a word that was racist in songs it shows no self esteem and no self respect. The white people don’t need to call you that anymore because you are doing it for them.
Like the tiniest amount of research could have offered a logical contradiction to your opinion but you’re good. You got your opinion and your head in the sand, it’s working for you!
If it required such a “tiny amount of research,” then why didn’t YOU just provide a logical contradiction? You don’t get anywhere by just telling someone they’re wrong and have their head in the sand.
Because people like this already have formed opinions they use like a shield through the world blocking out information that doesn’t corespond to it. There’s only so many times you can attempt to throw information at a brick wall before you realize it’s useless.
Fwozbo– I agree with you about that disgusting word. Celebitchy had a great post about David Oyelowe from Feb 2 and the reapproriation of the N-word. I quote:
““I must say I hate the N-word, particularly when black people use it about themselves. It’s like chitlins: the offal that was a delicacy for slaves. It’s the small intestine of a pig. People get so used to eating something substandard that in order to survive they have to take ownership of it. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still the most disgusting part of the animal!” He’s raising his voice now for the first time during our conversation. “Just because you’ve reappropriated it, that doesn’t detoxify it. That’s how I feel about the N-word.”
Just because you’ve reapproriated it, that doesn’t detoxify it
So true, and many Celebitchy commenters also agreed, so I wonder why they’re not here defending your comment and now you’re being accused of putting your head in the sand.
Well, I agree with you, I agree with David, I am black and I NEVER USE THAT WORD EVER, and never will. I do not use racial, ethnic, or religious slurs, period and if I am one with my head in the sand too, then so be it!
You know what though, guys, I’m still glad anybody can say whatever they want openly out here in the US. Coming from a country where you literally can’t do that, this means a lot. He is hurting no one but himself, but the freedom of speech is still alive.
I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic, but as a Russian immigrant, I always think this. Seriously. ZERO sarcasm. Michael Moore can say that no one should have to pay taxes ever and Bill O’Reilly can say that the Mexicans caused Ebola, and even though I’ll think “OMG, you blithering idiot,” I still have to grin at the loveliness of saying whatever the HECK you want with no penalty. It’s quite nice. Watch this: I am the Lord Jesus Christ, Obama is actually a space man sent here to brainwash us with subliminal messages in his speeches and this whole country was actually founded by Canadians in 1918.
*glances around* No cops! No penalties! It’s the bomb.com. 😉
I wasn’t being sarcastic.
That’s such an amazing POV. I mean that. It made me think of the guy who was jailed and is receiving 5000 lashes for running a blog in which he expressed himself (Iran, I think, but not sure). Or the guy in Russia who was jailed for trying to protect the environment and was made to wear the same outfit (shorts, tshirt) that he’d been brought in with throughout the winter, and has suffered beatings. #persepolis
Just like Geraldo Rivera has done more to destroy professional journalism than any other single “news” reporter I can think of…
Was he ever considered a real journalist, though? I see him as an entertainer, of the shockjock variety, not unlike Rush Limbaugh or Howard Stern. He is truly a professional troll. I think he only has a job because he has a gift for saying these things that are inflammatory and divisive. He’s a one trick pony (that someone should put out of his misery already).
I agree Geraldo sucks so glad he didn’t win CA I don’t like the way he played the game. He was a 2 faced throw u under the bus kinda player.
Biggest ego ever. I find him obnoxious and repulsive…that nasty mustache gags me. He always looks dirty. Wish he’d get a haircut and shave that idiotic mustache that curves up at the corners. Ugh on all counts.
Geraldo’s a twat, no questions asked. As for the issue of HIP HOP itself, I think that first and foremost, it’s unfair to group an entire genre of music under one stereotype of “right” or “wrong” or “good” or “bad.” That being said, listen to the hip hop songs of the late 80’s versus the mid ’00s and beyond. What began as an creative outlet for impoverished neighborhoods has now attracted some artists who spew misogynistic ideals and encourage drug dealing, etc. I’m not saying all artists are guilty of this, but there doesn’t seem to be much accountability for the people who release songs of that nature. The reality is these works ARE being listened to by young people and the odds are they ARE taking the values and messages to heart. Point blank, today’s hip hop has likely done some damage.
They pay these puppets to spew out all kinds of nonsense. Sadly, the American sheep don’t know any better.
HE has done more to hurt the Latin race than any hip hop song has done for the black race. Good Gawd PeePaw, take it home.
Just here to comment on the saggy pants craze. Someone has on fb a post about how it started in prisons. A guy would pull his pants down a little to let other inmates know he was available for sex! Don’t know why ANYONE would think it’s a good idea to do that! And Geraldo? A one-trick pony who has never been anything more than a “clown” reporter.