Former SNL Comedian Says He’s Neither Racist Nor Homophobic, His Twitter Rant Says Otherwise

May 21st, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

It’s funny how people stand so strong in their racist and homophobic convictions but refuse to accept those labels when they’re put on them. Anytime someone prefaces a statement with, “I believe everyone should have equal rights, but” you pretty much know bigotry will follow and that’s exactly were we are with former SNL comedian Colin Quinn. Hopefully this man is comfortable being an unemployed stand-up comic because he’s pretty much angered the entire black and gay community over the course of a three-day Twitter rant on equality when it comes to race and sexual preference. Don’t worry, he’s not racist or homophobic though. Let’s look at the long line of inappropriate comments he made late last week:

Now if you don’t support same-sex marriage, you’re well within your rights to express that however somewhere in between protesting this effort, Colin attempts to out a bunch of stars like former SNL castmate Will Ferrell by saying he was one of the closet celebs on set but he doesn’t want to blow his cover because his wife is his “anchor” but he has an “elf” like quality that made him wonder. And that’s his business how? He also suggests John Travolta is homosexual among other male actors and points out all sorts of questionable behavior, playing into the whole feminine versus manly man gay argument.

Switching from an anti-homosexual stance to one of white power, a day or two after going in on gay celebrities, Colin expressed his terror at stats showing minority births are growing in the U.S.:

This foolishness on top of John Derbyshire’s comments last week about White Europeans running better society’s really has me baffled. I thought deep down white people knew their racism was pretty baseless but I’m realizing some people really believe they are superior—and that they own America. It’s easy to see how this country was founded like it was. When fear kicks in about other races overpowering them, white people tend to lash out. Luckily followers have been letting Colin have it all weekend for proudly proclaiming such ridiculous ideas—unfortunately, he thinks this is good news since TMZ reached out to him for more info about his statements. He tweeted “Finally a little publicity for standing up for what’s right! #backontop”

No, finally a little publicity for being viciously inappropriate. Good luck with that in “your” country.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • Pingback: 5 Questions: Colin Quinn Proposes an “Unconstitutional” Act | The Clyde Fitch Report

  • http://www.twitter.com/lhyzz Elhyzzabeth

    Colin Quinn has always repulsed me, but if you look at his WHOLE twitter feed (not just the tweets in question), you will see that every single thing he says is sarcastic. Like saying he would like to kill Zuckerberg because he totally could have thought of Facebook; or that he’s the new showrunner for Community, and he’s replacing the entire cast with all his friends; or that he wishes Jimmy Fallon well, but he hopes his show gets canceled. The biggest mistake he’s made here (other than thinking he’s funny) is that sarcasm doesn’t translate well on the internet, and that even in person, it goes over most people’s heads. But really, he doesn’t mean a single word of what he’s saying. He’s not a genius, but he’s not an idiot. Also, think: he’s an Irish-American, and his ancestors came here well after the country was founded and well after slavery was abolished. He is very aware of race politics in this country, as his ancestors were discriminated against when they came here in the late 19th/early 20th century.

    Can I address this statement of yours? “When fear kicks in about other races overpowering them, white people tend to lash out.” Really? Do you want to rethink making a broad generalization like that? I mean, racism is racism, even when it’s directed at white people. What do black people “tend to” do? I wouldn’t want to be the person who made a statement like that!

    • skylights

      Irish-Americans are VERY common in the white power counterculture. Also in the pro-Confederate South. I don’t think the history of discrimination against the Irish in America phases them one bit.

  • OliveOil

    True, a fish paste would have worked better.

  • therat

     100% sarcasm and look at the fools without a sense for it.

  • semantic blockage

    anyone remotely offended by colin’s twitter is a total moron, we shouldnt have to explain sarcasm to adults

  • theTsaritsa

    Wow, what an a**. I used to think he was funny on SNL, now I just think he’s a tool.

    Also, I kinda wish this were rephrased: “I thought deep down white people knew their racism was pretty baseless…” As if all white people think the same way? We’re not all racists, would appreciate that the sweeping generalizations stop. If you don’t generalize other groups, why is this one any different?

  • akha1784

    huh?

  • akha1784

    wow

  • http://mrda.wordpress.com MRDA

     ”I believe everyone should have equal rights, but not to where it changes the laws”

    Derp!

    Rights, in this context, *are* legalistic conventions; correcting legal inequalities involves–wait for it– CHANGING LAWS if said laws enforce such inequality!

    He’s effectively said: “I believe in equal rights, but….I don’t.”

    • Natalee

      I think that’s the point of his joke. I didn’t think it was funny, but it was clearly a joke.

  • Afro Cuban

    If anyone remembers him on snow and weekend update you would know every last statement we just read is him JOKING. Not one of those statements is to be taken literal. I too make jokes towards white people in the same vein. Ex. Do you smoke Newport’s? Why do you ask…is it because I’m black? That’s just too racist of you. Yes the words sting a bit when out of context but its clear if you’re familiar with who this is(a COMEDIAN not a POLITICIAN) then this doesn’t even merit a second glance …just in my opinion.

    • Afro Cuban

      Snow should say SNL damned auto correct

  • ottn

    I’ve seen this guy on SNL for years and he’s just being funny.  I know how this guy works and I’ve seen his stand up.  I’m pretty sure this guy’s just being funny.  I laughed a lil’ bit as I read this because i pictured him telling this in his stand up.  We are so sensitive sometimes.  I think a background check should be done before we jump to the conclusion of a person being racist.  I think it’s a shame that we can watch black comics say whatever we want about different races but, we hold other races feet to the fire as soon as they say something that we perceive as being racist.  I think that we forget that comedy is an art form and if an artist is not free to express him/herself then it becomes sorrupted.   

  • emily

    It is their country, not kind of.  rotfl

  • Jimmy Swaggerd

    Racism and homophobia isn’t his problem.  His problem is that he’s a sh***y comedian with bad jokes.

    Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrel, Steve Martin, Maya Rudolph, Chevy Chase, Tine Fey, Chris Kattan, Keenan Thompson, Mike Myers, etc…. SNL alums have been earning film careers since the ’70s. 

    Colin Quinn hasn’t done any of that because he sucks and he’s not funny.  Just read his tweets.

  • who am i? ask the white folk

    Not to sound counter racist BUT every nation, culture and tribe that white people have come into contact with has been either decimated, destroyed, wiped out, assimilated, separated, etc. Something has to be wrong with this picture. #virus. 

    • RandolphtheGray

      Isn’t stereotyping fun?

  • Guest

    Ummm…based strictly on what I’m seeing here, it sounds like he’s being sarcastic.  Colin Quinn is known for being sarcastic…doesn’t come across too well on the internet obviously.  Has he issued a comment about this or anything?  I haven’t seen this story on any other source.

    • guestdfw

       I really hope it is sarcasm at its worst. But he should know by now in twitterverse you actually have to indicate it is sarcasm. For now he looks white sheets and a** out.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PTN2ZM5AOFJ32IUPQLDX2FVODI NaomiS

      I kinda agree with you, especially the white power comment. 

    • Guest

      I agree..he’s comedian, That was clear sarcasm. 

  • KJ23

    Wow, this was all types of ridiculousness.

  • SickOfRidiculous

    Ummm… Last I checked, my ancestors did NOT ask to be enslaved in this country. I could be wrong (insert sarcastic side eye here), but I do believe that Africans were forcefully removed from their homelands and dispersed throughout the world by the ancestors of the “comedian” above. He should direct all his anger toward those ancestors, not toward minorities. 

  • Truth

    wow..he is high on Hallucinogen.  Our country?!?  Tell the native indians that….white folks is the cause of all the problems in the world…money….power…corruption!!

    • OptimusPrimeRib

      You had me until you said, “White folks .  . .”

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