Is It Too Late To Apologize? Eddie Griffin Facing A Lawsuit After Insulting Lesbian Couple At Comedy Club

July 25th, 2012 - By Alissa Henry
"Eddie Griffin and Fiona Walshe"

Source: Starpulse.com and AfterEllen.com

Not sure if Eddie Griffin has any money to give, but if he doesn’t apologize to the woman he insulted recently at a comedy club, she’s says she’ll sue him.

According to the Huffington Post, Fiona Walshe is asking for an apology and compensation from the comedian and the club.

Fiona Walshe and her partner, Leslie Champlin, say they were singled out by the comedian for being lesbians, and were humiliated and frightened by the events of the evening.

Once the incident hit the media, Griffin blasted TMZ on his Facebook page and referred to Walshe as “that dyke Beyotch.” Walsh then retained a lawyer and the lawyer gave her version of the events:

At the start of the show, Griffin told the large crowd that he was drunk and had been so for a week. He also drank a bottle of champagne and a shot of hard liquor while on stage.

After the show started, Griffin began singling out Walshe. Griffin initially taunted her for looking like a “librarian” and looking “rigid.” However, when Griffin saw that Walshe was with her partner, and wasn’t laughing, Griffin called her out as a “Lesbian” to the crowd. He publically humiliated Walshe and Champlin saying, “Oh, l see what’s going on here. You’re a LESBIAN. All you need is a GOOD-MAN!! I’ll volunteer my services to get in between the two of you to show you a good time you won’t be needing any strap-on’s or vibrators with me.” As Griffin spoke he looked Walshe in the eye and began pumping his hips at her face in a violent sexual manner. Threatened, Walshe threw a drink at Griffin.

The Huffington Post says that after the initial altercation with Griffin, Walshe and Champlin immediately attempted to flee the club as Griffin jumped off stage and onto their table. As he approached them, he hurled patrons’ drinks, water and a bottle at Walshe. As the couple stood to leave, angry crowd members followed Griffin’s actions and also pelted them with drinks. Club security offered the couple no protection as they fled outside and ran to their vehicle.

Ann Flagella, president of Eddie Griffin’s production company, tells Huffington Post that Griffin stands by the statement she made on his behalf last week:

Eddie was doing his job and making the audience laugh and doing a great job at it. Eddie has never and will never sensor his act. ALL races, religions, genders and stereotypes are considered equal on stage and are all open for material. If you sit front row at a comedy show, it is widely known that chances are, you might become part of the act.

Walshe’s lawyer says that the couple is considering legal action if Griffin does not make an apology and offer some kind of compensation:

Walshe is seeking medical counseling for her injuries. Since the ordeal she has suffered from extreme feelings of anxiety and lack of sleep. Walshe and Champlin have retained the Law Offices of Ruben P. Ruiz. The couple seeks an apology and compensation from Griffin’s and Tommy T’s Comedy Club. A lawsuit has not been filed to date because the couple want to first allow Griffin and Tommy T’s Comedy Club the opportunity to make amends without litigation.

Eddie Griffin may have went too far in this incident but that’s expected of comedians. It’s not personal and it certainly doesn’t make him “homophobic”. Comedians talk about everything and everybody, and unless it was a kids show, they can be downright R-rated in their comedy. The couple should have known better than to sit in the front row of a comedy show if they’re that sensitive.

Everyone knows that comedians notoriously cross the line but unfortunately for Eddie, the joke is on him.

What do you think about this incident?

Follow Alissa on Twitter @AlissaInPink

More on Madame Noire!

Tags:

, ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

MadameNoire Video

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

  • imademyhubbymadlol

    Umm thats why you don’t sit first row at a comedy show who does that! I willsit or 7 rows back who wants to be all up in a comedian face anyways. Everyone knows its all fun and games.

  • FromUR2UB

    “Eddie Griffin may have GONE too far…”, journalist.

    If they were offended, they should have simply walked out. Anyone who has ever seen an Eddie Griffin routine, knows it’s going to be riskier than risqué. He drinks the whole time he’s on stage, so he’s liable to say anything, and no, you don’t want to sit front and center at a comedy club because comedians will definitely zero in on you. It’s what they do. How did she feel threatened enough while he was on stage, that she had to throw a drink at him? I could understand it if he came off the stage and got in her face, pumping. I don’t think she’ll have much of a case If he countersues.

  • http://twitter.com/TheOnlyWillona Willona Woods

    The real crime is his “comedy!”

  • Likklebit

    All they needed to do was to get up and either go to the back of the club or leave, not throw.their drink at him.

  • Chanda

    I think it was just a joke that went too far (considering he was drinking too). They’re not offended by him calling them out as lesbians but him “volunteering his services” and pumping his hips in their direction that got them. I’m assuming they actually felt threatened by the crazy black man even if he was just playing with them. They didn’t have to throw their drinks at him but some people interpret jokes differently from others. They obviously didn’t want that much attention and moving toward the back of the audience isn’t gonna really help because comedians pick on the people in the back, too. Griffin had to learn the hard way that white lesbians don’t play and definately didn’t want his azz. Oh well.

    • Chanda

      “Walshe is seeking medical counseling for her injuries. Since the ordeal she has suffered from extreme feelings of anxiety and lack of sleep.”
      I don’t beleive in all that BS (she acted like he tried to rape her) but like I mentioned he messed with the wrong ones. Just apologize and keep it movin’.

      • FromUR2UB

        They want an apology AND compensation. I’m sure they’re going to pressure him for an out-of-court settlement so that they won’t have to go through the hassle of a lawsuit.

  • Prissy

    STOP messing with folk! I keep telling people. These white people are NOT playing with Black men. STOP trying to be around them an appease them. Let it go!

    • get real

      What do you mean black men? These woman were at his show so what are you talking about.

  • Sheenab

    Oh please! Seriously?! Didn’t she throw a drink at him first at this event? Her lawyer makes it sound like they sat there quietly and a verbal beatdown. They were probably laughing hysterically at jokes made at people’s expense but when the spotlight was on them it wasn’t funny anymore. If this goes anywhere in court, then black people, Asians, Jews, Mexicans, etc. need to be in line at the same court house for their apologies and compensation for being butthurt over silly comedic references.

  • lalatarea

    This was out of line on his part and clearly he was drunk but i think she escalated the event when she threw a drink at him. she was threatened by his hip movements so she hit assaulted him? she might of had a case if she wasn’t the one who instigated the violence.

    • SMHgurl24

      I think it depends on the state where this happened to be considered an assault on their part. He assaulted them since he not only jumped onto their table (which can be a threatening gesture since he was also drunk) but he threw stuff back at them and initiated a bad reaction from the crowd towards them, so they might have a strong case (but i’m no lawer). Personally I don’t believe this anxiety bs; extreme embarassment probably but thats what happens when you sit in the front row of a comedy club!

      • Lola

        Good point; however it was said that he jumped not he table AFTER she threw the drink, thusly she initiated with her assault. Not picking, just clarifying.

      • Biatchplease

        I know people who were there – he never jumped on any table. Its being totally inflated because someone wants to capitalize on being gay ~ as a gay person myself I don’t support her actions. I think shes using it to try to cash in.

  • sammi_lu

    Come on man!! Comedians have long singled out whites when they are the minority in the audience at shows..everyone laughs and keep it moving. Same thing with heavy set people, bad weaves, big breasts, when you go to a show you know you can potentially become a punchline or butt of a joke. She hurled the first drink! If she is suing Eddie Griffin then the rest of the patrons at the show should be named in that suit for engaging in the same behavior. Crazy!

    • Courtney

      exactly! If you throw a drink at someone, do you expect that they won’t retaliate?? If that’s the case, he should counter-sue since she threw the drink first. People kill me with this nonsense. I’m sure he’s not the first person to comment about them being lesbians, and he won’t be the last….so I highly doubt they were “traumatized” by his jokes. If he were telling jokes about Black people (as he has in the past), they’d have been cracking up. But since the jokes were aimed at them, now they want an apology? And if you throw a drink at someone, expect them to come back at you.

Get the MadameNoire
Newsletter The best stories sent right to your inbox!
close [x]