Twitter users went nuclear on Chris Rock this weekend for encouraging Louis C.K. to use the N-word in an old video that resurfaced online.
The clip from the 2011 HBO special Talking Funny made Rock a top trending topic Saturday night after it was shared across social media.
In the video, Rock and C.K. are joined by fellow comedians Ricky Gervais and Jerry Seinfeld. At one point, the group discusses using the “N-word” in their stand-up routines.
Rock tells the comics that C.K. –- who wrote and directed his 2001 comedy Pootie Tang — is “the blackest white guy I f—ing know.”
The Top Five star continues: “And all the negative things we think about black people, this f—er…” C.K. interrupts by asking, “You’re saying I’m a n—-r?”
“Yes,” Rock replies. “You are the n—r-est f—ing white man I have ever [met].”
The group cracks up over Rock’s comments.
C.K. goes on to explain that he uses the N-word onstage, but Gervais and Seinfeld do not. Gervais then says the word and can’t stop laughing about it.
Seinfeld appears uncomfortable and says he’s never used the word. He turns to C.K. and says, “You’ve found the humor of it. I haven’t found it, nor do I seek it.”
After the video spread around social media, Twitter users unloaded on Rock and disgraced comedian C.K., who was accused of sexual misconduct last year and later admitted to repeatedly masturbating in front of women.
The Atlantic staff writer Jemele Hill tweeted about the video: “I know black folks who are completely comfortable with white people saying the n-word in their presence. Have had to tell a few white folks that I’m not that black person. Still it says something the only person who was uncomfortable was Seinfeld.”
I know black folks who are completely comfortable with white people saying the n-word in their presence. Have had to tell a few white folks that I’m not that black person. Still it says something the only person who was uncomfortable was Seinfeld https://t.co/8wrGGufBUS
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) December 23, 2018
Another person added: “This literally made my skin crawl. The fact a white man has to be the voice of reason on racial sensitivity, in the same room Chris Rock is in…. Speaks volumes.”
This literally made my skin crawl. The fact a white man has to be the voice of reason on racial sensitivity, in the same room Chris Rock is in…. Speaks volumes https://t.co/uVgB7Loeq1
— The Podfather (@TheTrillAC) December 22, 2018
Someone else tweeted: “On behalf of the black community: We would like to trade Chris Rock in exchange for Jerry Seinfeld.”
https://twitter.com/4ngelNichole/status/1076650159105339393
Another person chimed in: “You mean to tell me Chris Rock is just letting Louis C.K and Ricky Gervais say the N-Word and Jerry Seinfeld is the voice of reason?!? I’ve got a headache.”
You mean to tell me Chris Rock is just letting Louis C.K and Ricky Gervais say the N-Word and Jerry Seinfeld is the voice of reason?!? I’ve got a headache pic.twitter.com/U2RZoHqijw
— Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) December 23, 2018
As of Sunday night, Rock hadn’t responded on social media to the backlash but he did mention on Instagram that he thought Ellen DeGeneres’ Netflix special was “fun and funny.”
