Jerry Lewis' Telethon Slur Is Deemed "Unacceptable"

• Sep 4, 2007 05:05 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

The 42nd annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon not only raised a record amount of donations on Monday - $63,759,478 - it also raised eyebrows when Lewis at one point referred to a piece of stage equipment as a camera man's "illiterate f----t" offspring. ( See video at TMZ.com.) In response, GLAAD president Neil Giuliano issued a statement saying, "Jerry Lewis' on-air use of this kind of anti-gay slur is simply unacceptable.... Our nation's media have done an admirable job this year holding public figures accountable for their use of anti-gay slurs, and I hope they continue to do so with Mr. Lewis."

This perhaps explains the Isaiah Washington action figure they were giving out at the $1,000 level.