MADtv's Orlando Jones Apologizes for Palin Murder Tweet

Actor-comedian Orlando Jones is best known for being one of the original cast members of the television series MADtv and for his role as a 7Up spokesman.

Unfortunately, he is currently more famous for his recent tweet.

After reports of the death of Moammar Gadhafi, Jones posted the following on his Twitter page: “Libyan Rebels kill Gaddafi, if American liberals want respect they better stop listening to Aretha & kill Sarah Palin (:”

The social media world responded with condemnation of Jones' statement.

Attempting on Twitter to defend his action, he posted, “My tweet was farcical not funny or a call to action. 100 bucks 2 the 1st person who can count the # of Palin jokes about killing Democrats(:.”

Following scores of posts on his Twitter page, Jones slid over to his Facebook account to apparently try to provide a more expansive explanation.

“My job as an artist is to hold up a mirror to society. I do not decide how people feel or react to that. My tweet hit a nerve. That’s good. The fact that is has taken precedent over the serious issues that face us is not good. That’s media outlets vying for attention and ad dollars,” he wrote.

“Any anger directed at me and my right to free speech is an absolute waste of time. I am not a statesman. My comments reflect no political affiliation. It’s just me being me, in a world that will never comfortably mix political correctness with artistic expression. For that, I offer no apologies, excuses or wisdom,” Jones insisted.

However, on Thursday he sharply reversed his “no apologies” position with a post that read: “This has gotten way out of hand. The tweet I posted . . . has upset a lot of people. For this, I apologize. I pray that no harm comes to Governor Palin. I’m not a political pundit and I certainly don’t believe in murder. I think laughter is great medicine. I’d love to elevate the conversation but no one seems interested in that. So I’ll keep on going for the smiles even when I miss by a mile.”

- James Hirsen

Kanye West Visits Occupy Wall Street Protests

Kanye West paid a recent trip to the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City.

Just in case anyone might mistake him for being part of the non-wealthy "99 percent," when the rapper arrived he sported a designer shirt worth several hundred dollars, a pair of $1,000 jeans, and lots of bling to complement his gold and diamond crowned teeth.

West is one of numerous celebrities to have turned up at the anti-capitalist protests. Other famed figures who have appeared alongside the disgruntled group include Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore, Russell Simmons, Penn Badgley, and Talib Kweli.

As Kanye approached the scene, activists were transformed into a kind of fan convention and proceeded to mob the star.

West was accompanied by hip-hop mogul and frequent protest visitor Simmons.

“This morning I applaud @kanyewest for using his celebrity to help others. His appearance yesterday mattered #occupywallstreet,” Simmons tweeted about the trip.

But Simmons also revealed that the two had to make a hasty exit due to the protestors having gotten a bit out of hand over Kanye's presence.

"It's tough being @kanyewest people were climbing on him. It was a huge security risk but he just kept shaking hands #occupywallstreet," Simmons wrote.

Adding some additional thoughts about the adventure on his own blog, Global Grind, Simmons wrote, “It was amazing to see how people loved seeing Kanye West at Occupy Wall Street. His music and his art has always been about the voice and the power of the people.”

“Kanye just wanted to come down and experience the growing movement that has opened the eyes of many around this country and around the world of the struggles of poor people. The energy at Liberty Plaza was electrifying and the momentum to get the money out of politics is growing quickly,” Simmons shared.

-James Hirsen 

Herman Cain Fights Celebrity Attacks

Herman Cain’s rise to the top tier level of GOP candidates in the presidential race is fueling apprehension on the left.

Cain's surge in national polls has catapulted him to the slot just behind frontrunner Mitt Romney as Republican presidential aspirants head into tonight's debate.

There have been numerous attempts from the opposing side to smear the tea party and countless efforts on the part of various liberal factions to sully the GOP with charges of racism. Apparently, the idea of an African-American conservative runs counter to the template that the far-left has worked hard to create.

One explanation for Cain's political ascendancy was floated by actress-comedienne Janeane Garofalo, who recently suggested that Cain was merely a decoy on the right to deflect racist charges that had been flung the GOP's way. Her explanation went viral and was subsequently picked up by the left-of-center blogosphere.

In an appearance on Current TV’s “Countdown,” Garofalo told Keith Olbermann, “Herman Cain is probably well liked by some of the Republicans because it hides the racist elements of the Republican Party. Conservative movement and tea party movement, one in the same.”

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell tried to characterize Cain as being less than an authentic African-American by making the accusation that he had sat “on the sidelines” during the civil rights movement.

In an interview with Joy Behar on HLN, singer Harry Belafonte called Cain a “bad apple” who has no authority to talk about “the pride of people of color.” Belafonte was commenting on Cain having said that he doesn’t see racism “holding anybody back in a big way today.”

Princeton professor Cornel West told CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux that the Godfather’s Pizza CEO should “get off the symbolic crack pipe and acknowledge the evidence is overwhelming.”

Cain quickly demonstrated that he intends to respond aggressively to such attacks. He dealt with Belafonte’s comment in an interview with Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel.

“I left the Democrat plantation a long time ago,” Cain said. “The only tactic that they have to try and intimidate me and shut me up is to call me names.”

Further chastising West, Cain said, “That's the difference between someone who has spent their life in academia and someone who has spent their life in the real world. I've been in the real world. He's been in academia. So he's back on this symbolic stuff.” 

-James Hirsen

Michael Jackson's Legacy May Be Harmed by Murray Trial Revelations

Michael Jackson's legacy could be impacted by revelations that are emanating from the manslaughter trial of Jackson's physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.

Evidence presented at trial indicates that during the last few weeks of his life the pop icon was at times so drug laden he was unable to communicate, would sometimes miss scheduled rehearsals, and may have shared his bed with a toy doll.

In one of the trial’s dramatic moments, an audio recording was played for jurors of Jackson slurring his words so severely as to be incomprehensible. According to the prosecution, Murray had recorded the singer after he had been given a drug to induce sleep.

An image was shown to the jury that depicted a doll lying on the same bed in which Jackson’s body was found, the story subsequently being spread throughout various media outlets. Jackson had evidently collected dolls over a period of time, which he kept at his Neverland Ranch.

The King of Pop also purportedly had pictures of babies on display in his bedroom, as depicted in photos that were used in the trial.

Prior to his death Jackson had been preparing for an extensive comeback tour, which was supposed to begin in London, England. However, he had been uncharacteristically absent from a number of his own Los Angeles run-throughs. Tour director Kenny Ortega told the jury that in one instance the singer was too weak to rehearse and that he believed that Jackson was in need of psychological help.

In an indication that trial revelations may be taking their toll on Jackson’s image, a recent tribute concert in Cardiff, Wales suffered from unexpectedly slow ticket sales, although the "Michael Forever" concert still ended up selling out.

It is accurate that at the time of his death Jackson was heavily in debt, but since his passing the Jackson estate has reportedly brought in $310 million.

No doubt public perception of the pop singer will continue to have great significance for the Jackson family.

-James Hirsen 

Celebrities and Unions Join 'Occupy Wall Street' Movement

Celebrities who had already jumped onboard the "Occupy Wall Street' bandwagon include the names of actress Susan Sarandon, actor Mark Ruffalo, filmmaker Michael Moore, and rapper Lupe Fiasco.

"Gossip Girl"'s Penn Badgley has now participated in at least two protest gatherings. In one instance, he carried a sign that read: "Bring Back The Glass Steagall Act!! No To Corporate Greed!"

Tim Robbins, Sarandon’s longtime former companion, appeared at a demonstration outside the Federal Courthouse in lower Manhattan's Foley Square.

“This is what an actual grassroots movement looks like,” Robbins told the Financial Times.

But is the movement really as authentic as Robbins described?

"Occupy Wall Street" may have started as a grassroots effort, but the labor unions appear to be in the process of taking over the anti-capitalist movement. Transit workers united with protestors at Zuccotti Park earlier in the week, with the blessings of Transit Workers Union President John Samuelsen.

Samuelsen expressed the desire that the protests would “bring change to the state capitals, and in particular, change to Washington.” He decried the “unfair burden” on working families and hung the blame for it on the backs of the “wealthiest folks in the country, who are getting off scot-free.”

Labor groups made their protest participation manifest in other parts of the country as well, including Boston, Massachusetts and Seattle, Washington.

-James Hirsen