John Mayer has been under attack from the media over his comments in a recent interview for Playboy and another in Rolling Stone. He has been called racist for discussing the way he feels about black women sexually, and it has gotten so bad that almost no one remembers the doe-eyed boy who told them all to run down the halls of their high school that they once knew.
His exact comment regarding sex and race, and specifically his sexual attraction (or lack thereof) to black women was as follows, “I don’t think I open myself to it,” Mayer said of dating black women. “My d— is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a f—–’ David Duke c—. I’m going to start dating separately from my d—.”
That is an interesting and not at all racist commentary on his frustration at the disconnect between his intellect and his sexuality, told from a humorous point of view. The ignorance and PC nonsense that it takes to break down the comment and call it racist is simply staggering. The guy was, very overtly, making fun of his own sexuality for not being more open minded. The idea that he should apologize for having an honest, thoughtful, engaged dialogue about his own personal issues with race and gender because it might “offend” some sensibilities is weak minded and symptomatic of the knee-jerk politically correct idiocracy that keeps real debate about race, sexuality, foreign policy, and gender from taking place.
The fact that public figures like actress Holly Robinson Peete felt the need to say they were “disgusted and offended” by Mayer’s interview, despite the fact that he called her “gorgeous,” only highlights her ignorance and unwillingness to have an honest dialogue with the surprisingly adroit and intelligent Mayer.
He didn’t make fun of black women, he called his penis David Duke and then said he planned to detach himself from it because he hates the way it feels. Open your ears, media, before you have a knee jerk reaction to a public figure saying something interesting as opposed to something mundane and political.
I stand side by side with John Mayer (something I never thought I’d say) approving of him and approving of his disapproval of his own genitals.
Comments
laromana
February 18th, 2010 - 12:35:27 PM
To the DISMISSERS/MINIMIZERS, had JM simply stated his preference in women, NO ONE would have cared. The fact that he felt he had a RIGHT to make DISRESPECTFUL, RACIST, ANTI-BW comments to highlight his preference is a PROBLEM (NOTHING to do with being PC) and for THAT he deserves to be CONDEMNED.
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Zoz
February 18th, 2010 - 1:26:13 PM
The fact is he called his penis David Duke cause he was saying he's never had sex with a black woman.He called his heart Benetton cause he believes in union among races.He said he's going to start dating opposite of his penis,meaning he's going to get involved in an interracial relationship.He's letting everyone know he's about to get a chocolate drop.Folks need to stop allowing the media to spin things the way they see fit.I believe it misinterpreted to make us feel bad.Even though a black family is in the white house ....this white man doesn't want you.What he used were metaphors.I have taken plenty of literature classes and studied African-American history to know that.Not to mention the guy that did the interview explained what Mayer meant in the LATIMES and the dailybeast.The media spun it and folks believe what they say instead of reading what he said.God knows any white man saying he's not attracted to black women is a liar.That is definite throughout history.
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Zoz
February 18th, 2010 - 1:46:08 PM
Go to thedailybeast.com & latimes.com.Type in john mayer.Scroll down to the bold black letters that say the writer behind the controversial playboy interview after typing in john mayer in the search tool on the latimes site.
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seriously?
February 18th, 2010 - 3:20:04 PM
Its funny how this article just so happens to leave out the fact that in that same interview John Mayer refers to his "hood pass" (aka his being socially accepted in the urban community) as a "nigger pass". THATS why he's a racist. And to say that his penis is closed minded is far different than saying his penis believes white vagina is supreme as "White supremecist" denotes.
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Nicolee
February 18th, 2010 - 6:24:52 PM
Finally!! Someone else know what john was actually saying. When i heard the news on the radio, i knew it was bites and pieces of what the truth was. I read the article online and exactly knew what he was saying. As being a black woman i do not think he is a racist. When the "n-word" he was saying that he does not know how it is to be a black person. The media did not say this at all "Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’" this was from the article.
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katie
February 18th, 2010 - 7:15:30 PM
I didn't feel his comments were racist. Just in very poor taste. White supremacy isn't totally hilarious to a lot of people, especially when you add sex and interracial dating to the mix. His comments were just insensitive and not that funny...but you could tell he was trying really hard... and he still came across as a tool. Which fits. Is "Your Body Is A Wonderland" sexist? Nah.. it's just awful. John Tantillo did a post on his marketing blog which doesn't defend Mayer...but says that brandwise... this isn't really a negative for him. http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2010/02/16/john-tantillos-brand-winner-and-loser-john-mayer-and-dick-cheney.aspx
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Marco
February 19th, 2010 - 12:08:35 AM
I wonder how you'd feel if a black person were interviewed and asked "do white women hit on you?" And the black man responded "You know what, I'm not attracted to white people. In fact, they turn me off so much so you could group me up with anti-white hate groups and famous anti-white public figures that famously oppressed, lynched, and killed off whites back in the day during the 5 century long era of anti-white atrocities we experienced in this country." HE SIDESTEPPED A QUESTION ON WHETHER OR NOT BLACK WOMEN HIT ON HIM TO TELL THE INTERVIEWER THAT HE WASN'T ATTRACTED TO THEM WITH A IMAGERY ABOUT ANTI-BLACK HATE GROUPS. Given the track record of the white race and their treatment of the black race in this country and how much of today's black community is ghettoized and impoverished because of what was going on 35 years ago, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO USE THE 'N' WORD AND MAKE FLIPPANT JOKES RELATING TO WHITE SUPREMACY/DAVID DUKE TO EXPRESS HIS NOT BEING ATTRACTED TO BLACK WOMEN. SOME FREAKING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. This is exactly why the white community gets so much accusation for racism. It's not bad enough that every other white male in the media gets to use their white privilege free pass card like David Letterman and Joe Wilson for doing practically the same things as Kanye West and Tiger Woods and not getting even half as bad of a backlash but white males can even get away with racist remarks now and have deep south redneck pigs defending them everywhere you turn around. You are not doing the white race any favors by sitting around surgarcoating and extenuating John Mayer's racially offensive interview. Get a life! Btw, I say the white privilege is for str8 white males only because white females get hounded and harassed if they do something wrong in the media: Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Rosie O'Donnell. The fact that now white males can even get away with racially offensive remarks is an outrage. YOU AND THE REST OF THESE OTHER REDNECKS PIGS (WHO I DOUBT ARE BLACK WOMEN AS THEY ALL SO CONVENIENTLY ADD TO ALL THEIR POSTS BEFORE GIVING MAYER EVERY EXCUSE IN THE BOOK) AND YOUR SURGARCOATING AND DEFENDING RACIALLY OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR IN YOUR WHITE COMMUNITY REPULSE ME ON SO MANY LEVELS. THIS IS PROOF THAT WE ARE NOT LIVING IN A POST RACIAL ERA.
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Nicolee
February 19th, 2010 - 2:56:56 PM
Well marco, everyone has their own opinions and it depends on how the public takes the opinion. The fact is everyone is thinking on the same level. If a little comment from one man we know talks a LOT and is on everyones hate list, they'll use that media blow up to say he's a racist! He said the N-word! But did he actually say he really does not like black women? No all he said only dated white women and he will like to start dating his usual way. MAYER: I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.
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Zoz
February 19th, 2010 - 4:54:40 PM
you mean the opposite way.he's only dated white women he said and he's going to start dating opposite of that.that's black women.
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Babydoll
February 19th, 2010 - 5:05:41 PM
These folks who are so emotional about words.How old are you .Have you taken a poetry class before.Weren't you told to use strong verbiage.So damn emotional about words you're not listening to what he's saying.The whole thing of it was freaking ridiculous.He said he's only been with white women and he's going to start dating outside his race.Take a chill pill.Maybe if folks read more than gossip they'd be able to comprehend metaphors.
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