Last week, Britney Spears made an appearance on Univision’s morning show, Despierta America!. And by that I mean I think the interview was pretaped, because they edited out parts of the translation from Spanish to English, so it looks like Britney is listening to questions in Spanish and answering in English. Anyway, this interview has gotten a lot of coverage because… Britney might be kind of racist? But it’s Britney, and it might be a combination of mis-translation and just Brit-Brit being Brit-Brit? No. I just watched the video. She’s actually pretty inappropriate.
The first “that’s kind of racist!” moment comes when Britney is asked about living in LA and her comfort with Latin culture in LA and she’s asked to name her favorite part of Latin culture. Britney says: “I think it’s very sexy. I’ve always loved Latinos. They make me think of a bad-boy type that your father wouldn’t let you go out with.” Inappropriate race-based stereotype or “that’s so racist”?
Then the dude asks Britney who is her perfect man and Britney adopts a fast Italian-sounding accent to say “Just talk like you!” Does she think this dude is Italian? Why is she talking like Chef Boyardee? WHAT IS HAPPENING?! But the worst part – seriously, this is the worst part – comes at the 1:57 mark when Britney is asked if she speaks Spanish and she does a quick moment of absolute gibberish and then laughs. Oh, Brit-Brit. NO.
So, is Britney racist or is she just… not quite prepared to do Spanish-language interviews? While I think Britney could use some racial sensitivity lessons (and then some), I’m also sort of worried that Britney’s management is going to use this interview disaster as an excuse to withhold her from other media outlets. When Britney goes off-message, it’s usually cause for consternation, but Jamie Spears and Britney’s manager are really going to have to put out some fires with this one.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I think it’s sort of like the Julianne Hough mess at Hallowe’en…Britney doesn’t even know she’s being inappropriate / racist. I don’t sense any kind of malicious intent in the interview but yeah, it’s not good.
I agree. I think she lives such a shelted life that she wouldn’t know if she was offensive. And I don’t see the people around her educating her anytime soon. They just keep her in that money making bubble.
Agree, 100%. I feel so sorry for her on so many levels. After this, just let this chick retire to Louisiana and hang out with her kids, for chrissakes!
agree +100 poor queen B. i love her to bits but she is the queen of the “oh honey!” comments. god love, poor sheltered, exploited B
Agreed. She’s not doing it on purpose, but she IS incredibly uneducated. She comes across as also very dumb, but I think that’s just on the surface: she lacks common sense and education to simply know better. It’s painful to watch.
“They will always be offended by something?”
Really?
You might need to have a few seats.
Let’s not throw women under the bus here. Do a YouTube search for Quentin Tarantino’s BET interview during the “Django Unchained” promotions.
@katija: Calling someone’s problematic behavior out is not throwing them under the bus. If i recall properly, many commenters were just as quick to condemn Tarantino’s Django press trot as they did Britney.
Let’s not make this an issue about feminism, okay? That’s reaching for something else that’s clearly not the point. As much as I admire Quentin as a writer, he is prejudiced and should not have his remarks tossed aside because he makes gritty, over-the-top but brilliant movies. He and Britney have more than enough resources to be educated and not entrapped in a bubble where this type of thing is okay. Sure, she’s mentally ill, but I am as well. People aren’t going to give me a pass if I say “I love black chicks, they’re so sexy when they twerk and have a bad girl vibe to them!”. Its no excuse. I don’t have a tenth of Britney’s money or the opportunities, and I lived in a pretty mexican community where other racist things were often spewed. But I’m not a product of that environment, and if I can’t get a pass as a mentally ill guy at 22 she should not either.
Well, she is on heavy psychotropic drugs which make her addled at best. She’s also an uneducated woman from the South, which explains a lot more. Add the two together and you have yet another trainwreck for Britney!
She obviously also has the worst publicist alive. Who on earth would allow her to do ANY interview without thoroughly vetted, pre-rehearsed questions and answers? Does her publicist think that Hispanic TV “doesn’t count” and any faux-pas she makes about race won’t end up all over celebrity gossip sites and social media? What the hell is WRONG with handlers these days?
I think “from a small town” is more accurate than “from the South.”
Oh wow. Did you really just say that? I could think of lots of rude comebacks but that would really do nothing but perpetuate negative regional stereotyping. So, you can look like an idiot on your own accord.
#irony
Triple Irony Axle for the Win!
I carelessly listed “(and in this case southern)” as one of several crazily arbitrary standards patriarchy holds women up to and was misconstrued as stereotyping Southerners.
I just think this poor woman really needs to take a break for a really long time – I think she’s genuinely just clueless about how what she did might offend some people.
I think she should simply quit. Her new album Britney Jean doesn’t sound that great. No. Correction. It sounds crap. Like Will.i.am is all over it. And I have been trying hard to like his sound for a long time now but in vain.
She should sit home and take care of her kids and herself. And try being a little more aware by reading some newspapers, you know, getting to know the outside world a little.
I don’t think what she said was racist.
Geez……why is everyone so hyper-sensitive these days.
Everyone just needs to chill the “f” out!
Given the number of Latin musicians and actors who are happy to embrace the “charismatic bad-boy” stereotype I hardly think we can accuse Britters of “racism” here. If she said she liked British men because they’re all so deliciously, aristocratically evil in them there movies, no-one here would care.
Maybe it was a comment unsuited to our politically-correct times, but the key here is the “I’ve always loved Latinos”. Hardly an incitement to racial hatred…
“Given the number of Latin musicians and actors who are happy to embrace the “charismatic bad-boy” stereotype I hardly think we can accuse Britters of “racism” here.”
What the hell??? Take out the “Latin” part and insert “Black” with any of that’s culture’s stereotype and let me know if you think that works & if it does, kindly visit the Brandi posts and go defend her, too.
Just because some people are ok with the stereotype doesn’t make it appropriate and/or not racist.
The gibberish made me cringe. A lot. I don’t find the interview an outrage, but it’s certainly the equivalent of somebody going “ching chong ching chong” about Asian languages–as in, it’s an utter embarrassment to them because it reflects their own incredible ignorance.
(Which reminds me, didn’t Rosie O’Donnell get in a lot of trouble for doing that years ago?)
What kind of a world do we live in where a totally cute white girl can’t spout a string of fake Spanish gibberish? When is everybody going to quit falling for such a fake hot button issue because you know it’s just to get more comments? First everyone piled up on Julianne Hough and now poor Britney. C’mon! Britney didn’t mean anything by it.
When nothing’s noticed or minimized and swept under the rug because it’s some little ‘harmless’ joke, when racist remarks are coming from someone we like, coming from someone who’s mentally challenged, and from someone who’s uneducated, in many ways that’s even worse because it’s so insidiously commonplace. We give Brittney a pass because she’s ‘like us’ and not some unfeminine loud lesbian ‘other’ like Rosie O’ Donnell who doesn’t fit the sweetly daffy, none too bright, (and in this case southern), white girl box real women are supposed to stay in.
Sadly, Kaiser doesn’t have to go out of her way at all to “question racism with everything lately”. Offhand, I can’t think of a better example of privilege than to say you’re tired of racism being brought to your attention. When you’re a POC and have to hear this crap pretty much every single day of your life, you don’t get fed up with hearing people are finally speaking up and not letting it go. You take heart from that and want to believe our world is getting better. This is the reason we speak up when we see in racism.
In the meantime, while we’re waiting on the world to change, let not ignore the cold hard truth – racism does permeate all aspects of our life. Ptitesirna, thank you.
Sadly, she does, and she can always count on you to fall for it every single time lol.
Your whole post was so well written, but this part was especially powerful for me to read:
“I can’t think of a better example of privilege than to say you’re tired of racism being brought to your attention. When you’re a POC and have to hear this crap pretty much every single day of your life, you don’t get fed up with hearing people are finally speaking up and not letting it go. You take heart from that and want to believe our world is getting better. This is the reason we speak up when we see in racism.
In the meantime, while we’re waiting on the world to change, let not ignore the cold hard truth – racism does permeate all aspects of our life.”
I’m glad you are enjoying yourself, SnarkeySnarkers. That’s what really counts here.
BTW, I’m not the only one ‘falling for it’; a LOT of other posters don’t condone racist apologists either. Not only do they agree that these kinds of ‘jokes’ fall flat, but when you err on the side of excusing the racist and/or bigoted Brandis, Britneys, Juliannes, and Carrie Prejeans of this world you are reflecting your attitudes and actively contributing to our world’s racism.
Ok, seriously – if we’re going to snark on her ignorant comments, let’s leave the whole “Southern” thing out, shall we? Defeats the whole purpose of what you’re trying to say and really just pisses me off. Not all Southerners are racist. Nor are we stupid. Further, one might argue Britney hasn’t really lived in the South since she was a kid and has been more influenced by Orlando and Los Angeles. Finally, there are racists EVERYWHERE, in absolutely every inch of the United States, in every culture, not to mention the entire world. I’ve lived in the North East, I’ve lived in the Southwest, I’ve lived in the Midwest — and I grew up in the South. Racism is everywhere. It’s not just a “Southern” thing. What’s sad is that otherwise yours was a well spoken argument I completely agreed with. Don’t fight stereotypes with stereotypes.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to clear up a misunderstanding and to clarify my exact sentiments. I’m glad you wrote, Just Me!
I meant to point out how offensive I find the patriarchal privileged pigeonholing of the ‘ideal’ woman is. I too am disgusted with the sweet & innocent, yet dimly sexy, stereotype of a ‘southern’ girl being the pinnacle of womanhood. I listed “(and in this case southern)” as another crazy example of the arbitrary standards too many men hold women up to, but I was NOT perpetuating the stereotype that southerners are racist. I’m from Texas, been around a little, and know racism rears it’s ugly head indiscriminately all over the world.
@Cari I agree with you; people are hyper-sensitive. I also think it depends on the person the public is calling a racist. It’s Brit, so most people like her and she won’t get much shit about it. If it had been someone else they favor less (we know who I speak of) they would be ripping her a new one right now. Some folks such as Brit can get away with saying something considered stereotypical why others cannot.
Brit was not being racist. Some people just love to stir the pot.
I wasnt offended at all and Im latino…who cares everyone knows she is neither a genius nor mentally sane…
Cant hate about the sexiness comment, latinos are born sexy, its in our dna lol
The person sitting across from her didn’t seem offended. An actual real life latino. Let’s move on.
Agreed. I was wondering when the racist part was going to happen. At least we know if this is considered racism, we’ve come a long way. That’s good.
No, we haven’t. Denying racist ridicule and cultural stereotyping is the same old same old.
well, her daddy dearest the conservator probably thinks everyone is ‘the bad-boy type that your father wouldn’t let you go out with’, so her perception is uhhh, rather distored shall we say.
but the rest is sketchy.
I give her a pass because I believe her mental illness and life situation really does keep her her tethered to her ignorant hick roots. With all she’s been through I don’t think she’s had the chance to develop cultural sensitivity.
This is racist. Racism isn’t just burning crosses on peoples lawns. It can be more subtle and on the surface seem harmless, but it isn’t. It’s very destructive. If she too mentally ill, has been to sheltered, or whatever excuse anyone wants to come up with to not say racist, insulting things than maybe they need to keep her out of the spotlight. She, like Hough, is old enough to know better.
I agree but the story is her dad has legal control over her and basically forces her to work. She legally speaking is a child and has no rights over her kids or career etc. So while what she said is appalling given the situation I can’t blame her but the team that drugs her up and sends her out when she belongs out of the spotlight.
Well reading all of that I do feel sorry for her. Hopefully the media comes for her dad and other handlers hard because she doesn’t need to be out in the spotlight.
I am a conservator to my 18-yr-old son. Being under a conservatorship does NOT mean the conservatee is “legally speaking as a child.” A conservatorship does not return one to child status. It means that the conservatee, adult or child, still remains an adult or child, but is incapable of caring for all or some of their own needs, to varying degrees (everyone is different). This “legally a child” shit has got to stop. My son has severe bipolar. I manage his money, but he does get a say and some part in decisions and money management. I do not treat him like a child and he is not a child. I oversee other aspects of his life, such as handling (with him) college admissions, huge life decisions such as moving out, etc. When the judge stamped the papers I didn’t come home with “It’s a new baby boy! …again…” balloons or anything.
Considering she has never spoken about the conservatorship and considering every conservatorship is different, the presumptuousness on what it means for her and how it works for her and her conservator is just ignorant.
That said, clearly she does have some issues or there would not be a conservatorship. Also, people are way, way, way over the top PC…and this is coming from a tree-hugging, mega liberal, PC person myself.
jinni, even though I’ve felt sorry for Britney in the past, mental illness does not get a racist pass. In today’s world, you have to willfully put on your own blinders to be blithely unaware of the racism in her ridiculing speaking spanish and in her saying she loves Latinos because they’re sexy. This is the same racist stereotype as slave holders praising their ‘Black Bucks’.
It’s a LIE that this is small stuff, crazy ‘PC’, or way over the top, and ‘not really racist’. If you’re not white, you’ve had to learn what it’s like to endure pervasive racist ridicule, whether it’s for how you talk, your language, and/or what you look like. You’re expected to laugh off ‘humorous’ stereotypes of all stripes. You even get the bonus of having other POC minimizing your feelings ‘because it doesn’t bother them’! Afterall, “it means nothing” and you don’t want to be labeled “oversensitive”.
When your feelings and sense of worth are invalidated every day like this, it causes you to have trouble feeling comfortable or safe or connected. White privilege is the opposite; you get to go through life never dealing with that extra layer of being made to feel you’re worth less than other people just because of the color of your skin. By denying racism when it’s right in front of them, even educated tree hugging liberals who pride themselves on their lack of bigotry get to hold their class and educational privilege quite casually and take it for granted most of the time.
I believe that oppression is bad, and more specifically, I believe racism is bad. Racism doesn’t exist in a vacuum because when one group is oppressed, another benefits. That’s why when I talk about racism, I talk about white privilege. It’s up to ALL OF US to say “No, this is not OK.” That’s how we weaken this ancient evil; this is how we work to end oppression. Otherwise, racism’s the same as it ever was, but it’s hiding in plain sight alive and well.
Sloane Wyatt, YAAAAAAS! All of what you’ve said. I don’t come from a Latin@ community or background even, but i am Asian and Muslim and have had to endure people asking me things like, “Do you still live in trees?” or “Do you understand this; ching-chong-ching-chong *laughter” or “How many camels do you have?” or “Does your dad have more than one wife?” and i could go on and on and on….
The sad truth is, the only people finding these stereotypes humorous are white people. People of color who have had to endure being mocked and teased for what we look like, for our beliefs, for how we speak rarely laugh along with them. And to those who find this funny, good for you. I truly am happy that you are able to laugh these micro aggressions off and even defend Britney. But don’t sit there and tell everyone else to “take it easy” or “you’re so damn sensitive lighten up!” because no. This isn’t a case of people being hypersensitive. It’s a case of people being offended by offensive remarks.
And just to clarify, my usage of ‘white people’ does not refer to ANY SPECIFIC white person nor is it a blanket statement of ALL white people EVER. It is merely in relation to my experiences as a non-White woman in places where whites are the majority used to simplify this comment and prevent it from getting unnecessarily long -winded (which it is now because i know some of you are bound to get upset and tell me that you’ve never mocked anyone ever!! but yeah please understand this before you come for me thanks).
I agree with you. It kind of saddens me that so many on this site don’t understand this, judging from the comments.
Being latina, I’m not offended (very little racially offends me… I get more offended with misogynist comments, but of course that is a personal feeling) but it is racist. I think a lot of people on this site make excuses for her behavior because: 1) people are rooting for Britney; and 2) everyone loves a real comeback and wants her to do well.
Racism would imply that she hates or looks down on the ethnic group she’s talking about. She clearly does not. In her own kinda dumb way she believes she is paying a big compliment to the Latin community by saying their men are sexy and some of them have a “bad boy” air that she finds compelling and a little risqué. It’s inappropriate and shallow, and if she were more intelligent and had more well-rounded cultural experiences she would have found something more concrete and less stereotyped to compliment Latin culture for. Like their amazing food and music, or their extraordinary zest for life. But she’s just very limited in her understanding and exposure of people and cultures. However, not racist.
!!!! yes
At the same time, that “bad boy air” give Latinos in America greater rates of being arrested, longer sentences when they are incarcerated, etc.
Just because she put “sexy” in there doesn’t mean that “the bad boy” is not a harmful stereotype.
Why wasn’t it considered a racist question in the first place? He was basically asking her to stereotype “Latino culture”.
How do you know she doesn’t look down on us Latinos? Because she hasn’t outright said so? Not saying she does or does not. We simply don’t know.
Really, Kelly?! The answer is “No, nope, not even close!” (That’s ‘nada’ for all you fake Spanish speaking wannabes to entertain your friends with at your next get together).
Britney appeared on a ‘Spanish’ morning-television show, broadcasted from a Spanish studio, located in a predominantly Latin area of Miami, and ‘talked’ with a Spanish interviewer. There’s nothing whatsoever racist about being literally asked “You live in L.A. and are comfortable with the Latin culture, no? What is the thing you like the most about us?” When you are a guest in that person’s country or culture, “What’s your favorite part about our country/culture?” is THE go to question EVERY CELEBRITY EVER is asked when they are being interviewed by a foreign TV personality!
You’re drinking a particularly classic vintage white whine, (“Hey, blacks (or POC) can be racist too ya know!”), so I’m wondering if you’ve been quite as eager to chime in on this site’s previous deploration of other white celebrities’ racism. At first blush, it sure looks like you’re hauling out that old canard “reverse racism” that comes out of the woodwork around here every time whites are confronted with racism. Thankfully, attempting to blame POC instead by inserting the red herring “black racism” fails to deflect our disgust with Britney’s racist remarks.
She wasn’t racist. She stereotyped Latin men based on the ones he met, I guess.
And Latin men aren’t a different race. Or a race at all.
“Brandi Glanville wasn’t racist, she sterotyped Black women based on the ones she met, I guess”
See how that doesn’t work? There is way too many double standards here that its astonishing.
I can’t watch the video b/c I live overseas and I can’t access the website, but from the text, the first answer sounds fun and like she’s complementing hot Latin men. It’s showbiz, it’s not like her man is running for office and she said something horrible. The second could also be fun if the interviewer is sexy/lighthearted or otherwise playing along. As for the crazy talk, yeah, she shouldn’t have done that.
I really wish that she was taken away from all of her business people and her family and put under the guidance of some third party who is genuinely interested in her mental and emotional health and well-being…. and that she was no longer permitted to be working!
We Are All Made of Stars,
With that universally atomically connected username, I’m pretty sure if you could see and hear it, you’d see and hear the racism. I’d suggest you read the transcript of this offensive video because it’s bound to hit the internet, unless Britney’s handlers (or her lawyers) kill it. The blurbs don’t do it ‘justice’.
Apropos of this topic and your name, I give you The Symphony of Science – ‘We Are All Connected’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGK84Poeynk.
As a Latin woman, I didn’t find her racist. But She used an “Inappropriate race-based stereotype “.
I was going to start my comment the same way. 😛 I am Latin American and I think people were making out too much of her comments. I wasn’t offended at all and still love her!
Also using my new but still limited knowledge in interview videos and editing I bet that he asked her the questions in English but then he was filmed separately saying them in Spanish and that was put together.
Yes, that’s what I think it happened. Otherwise, she would have the earpiece to hear translation and she didn’t and I noticed there was not a delay in her response. I believe they went through the questions in English before filming.
I’m a Latin, I don’t find her interview racist. Maybe if it would come from someone else or would be phrased in a different way…I don’t know, but I don’t see the big fuss. I think she has a lot of stereotypes but they are mainly unoffensive. I can imagine a thousand other usual stereotypes she could have used that are actually offensive and disturbing. Meh, it’s a funny interview.
Can we please stop speculating that everything said is racist or has “racist undertones”? Its not helping the cause. There are honest to god, actual racists out there and this is starting to look like the boy who cried racism. Stereotypes don’t always equal racism. Most are inappropriate but unless they are meant to demean and set apart the users own race as superior its not racism. I don’t think Brittney was doing that here. Dumb and slightly inappropriate? Yes. Racist? No.
I love you Kaiser but I’m starting to feel like you question racism with everything lately because its such a hot button issue and you know it gets more comments.
Bingo!!! YOU GOT IT.
I don’t think she means bad.. she’s just dumb. She was never the brightest bulb.. to me she always comes out as ignorant, she uses always the same choice of words and she says the same things in every inteview. She is harmless really, but very very dumb.
+1
Agreed. This isn’t exactly a ‘hate crime’ being committed here. She’s just not particularly bright and in all likelihood doesn’t have the capacity and sensitivity to understand why some might find her remarks/actions hurtful.
Perhaps it would be more reasonable to be posing a question regarding why we make celebrities out of those that hardly represent the best and brightest our culture has to offer? That’s really what the problem is with this — we take people with marginal skills and minimal talent that look nice, prop them up and make them rich and famous, and then we act distressed when they show themselves to be less than we would like them to be. It’s a puzzling dynamic we watch over and over again in our society. That would be a more interesting problem to tackle than pondering whether Ms. Spears is a racist.
Why is Britney getting a pass in most of these comments because of her “ignorance?” Seems like she’s the only celeb who could get away with this on here.
However, I do agree she’s not being hateful.
Kanye also gets a pass on here for whatever reason. Everyone, including me, was ready to crucify Tom Cruise for comparing himself to the guys fighting in a war but Kanye says the same thing basically and most on here, including the writer, just laugh at him.
I’m with you on the Kanye part. He says a lot of ignorant hateful things and it’s just passed off as him being “funny” here, like we should just laugh at the obvious mental issues he’s suffering from.
As for Britney, I think she is just clueless and obviously not bright. I don’t think she was trying to be hurtful (like Brandi was to Joyce), but she still needs to be clued in to what is appropriate or not!
Britney says lots of terrible stuff about Gay men and never gets ripped for it either. I think people feel sorry her (which I can understand) but I always see the same excuses she’s dumb & sheltered (which just isn’t true).
Kanye West probably has his defenders who use the same excuses about him he’s a genius or trolling blah blah blah. I agree with TG and if anyone else said some of the things Kanye said or even Britney they would be called out for it.
Actually, she IS pretty sheltered, and I think a lot of people would agree she is kind of dumb.
@Anna she may be sheltered more now but she has traveled far and wide. It’s a stretch to act like the girls never left her hometown. And being dumb isn’t an excuse for the countless things she has said. Personally I wish she would just retire.
Being dumb is no excuse. She has enough money to buy herself a Tolerance coach/classes and a decent community college education!
I think Anna is right. I don’t think touring is the same as travelling. Whether it is due to her fame, a rigorous schedule, or some other reason, I have a feeling Brit is one of those travellers who stays stays in a ubiquitous luxury hotel and eats her same American food and never really experiences what is out there. I could be wrong, but that is definitely the impression I get.
You said neither excuse is “true” and I was pointing out that they actually are. I wasn’t saying she isn’t constantly using them as excuses.
What has she said about gay men? This is the first time I’ve ever heard anything about that.
Your last sentence answers your question.
I don’t really believe it was racist because I don’t think there was any malice it behind it. It was definitely inappropriate stereotyping, but Britney is not even close to being the sharpest tool in the shed.
@blue marie
Even it were somehow proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Britney’s remarks were made completely out of ignorance, her lack of experience and knowledge about racial issues still doesn’t give her license to act in a way that is racist. Just because you don’t know why something is wrong doesn’t mean you can do the wrong thing anyway. In the same vein, lacking malice doesn’t mean you’re not being racist.
It’s not racist. Equality is important thing but ppl are going a bit nuts with this whole racism thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if ppl soon started saying it’s racist to have white background on web pages…. *eye roll*
“I’m not racist, but…” is a classic line racists use to excuse racism.
I remember seeing Britney on Xfactor and getting some vibes that she was very stereotypical and a bit racist. So this video doesn’t surprise me
Are you psychic?
Anna, I’d like to see those clips of Britney’s stereotyping and what set off your “that’s racist” vibes. After thinking about this story some more tonight, now I’m wondering if the true reason her handlers don’t allow her to do real interviews anymore, (only allowing her to answer scripted questions in writing ahead of time), is because she’s an irrepressible racist. It’s been established Brit’s not overly bright, and she could very well hold racist opinions & stereotypes a lot of groups.
Britney Spears, about to go out in front of her largest ever concert audience in Rio de Janeiro in 2001, complained about the organiszation of her entourage, saying “Don’t tell me that they’re just letting the audience just fucking stand out there like that. Oh my God! This is retarded.” Who knows, if her handlers let Britny have more free reign, we may see a total racist.
Can’t be racist if she never mentioned race or called Hispanics brown, cholos or something along those lines. We are an ethnic group that incorporates all races.
I just think she’s under educated.
I agree Britney has always been ignorant. This is nothing new. She may be the sweetest thing on the planet but intelligence & sophistication are not and never will be her strong suits.
I doubt her racism is the hate-filled variety. It’s probably just ignorance and stupidity. Girl is not bright.
I don’t think she means any harm. I think she believes she’s actually complimenting Latin culture in a big way. But her comments show her for who she is: a girl from a small town with a small town mentality who dropped out of high school essentially at 16 and that is where her education came to a full stop. A girl who, despite wealth and years of travel, has a huge disconnect from the people and cultures she’s had the opportunities to be exposed to. I guess what I really mean is: Britney’s kinda dumb.
its not racist because she has mental issues and has lived in a bubble for most of her life.
its like a child, they just don’t know any better…its unfortunate that her “people” did not prepare her or ask for the questions ahead of time.
all of the folks that she is feeding and no one could prepare her, sad.
WOW! to this video though, just wow!
I am Latina and I agree Latinos really are “bad boys”. Everybody needs to be so f*cking sensitive about everything. I was not offended. I think she was cute. About the accent, Latinos mock Americans and Canadians when they speak Spanish or try to do so. It is done in a playful way like she was doing it… Relax!
Umm, another Latina here and I don’t know what kind of men you roll with but all Latino men are not “bad boys”. In fact, my father, brothers, nephew, uncles, etc… are wonderful men who have never cheat, beat or mistreated their families or any female in their life or behaved like a “bad boy” at all. So please stop feeding the stereotype…your experiences are simply that: your own.
For the record, Britney’s comments were inappropriate but she’s too dumb to know that they are (and probably didn’t intend to offend) & therefore I’ll just shake my head and ignore her.
Thank you, DTX! Can’t believe we’re feeding into that stereotype ourselves! Not all of our Latino men are bad boys.
Look, you don’t have to be offended by Britney’s stereotypical view and fetishization of Latino men. But you don’t get to tell people to “stop being so f*cking offended about everything” because let’s face it, the “sexy bad boy” stereotype is harmful. In real life, these “sexy bad boy” looking Latino men are subjected to higher incarceration rates, longer incarceration periods, Stop & Frisk policies, etc. And blabbering gibberish and equating that to Spanish IS racist. Brit has led a sheltered life and i know she’s not the brightest crayon in the box, but it doesn’t matter whether she intended her comments to be humorous or not. It was offensive and that’s that.
And thank you, tifzlan! I am not offended by a lot of racist comments but that doesn’t mean I have the right to tell someone else they shouldn’t be offended.
It is not harmful. I come from a family with very strong values and my father, as far as I know, is respectable, an amazing man, an excellent provider and I admire him very much. “Tomen los comentarios de quien vienen”, don’t overthink her comments. She’s a woman who has no education, she has traveled a lot but she hasn’t learned anything. I have the right to tell people that they shouldn’t be offended because it is MY opinion and I have as much right to express it as all of you. About the stereotype… It is true, Latinos have that reputation and just because my father and yours are good, honest men, doesn’t mean that the great majority is too. Don’t be offended over some broad’s comments and also, don’t try to bully me for having my own opinion. Thank you and good night.
@kiki, the irony here is that you are telling me not to “bully” you out of your opinion when you are essentially doing the same to everyone on this site who is offended by her comments by discrediting OUR opinions as hypersensitivity and being too “PC.”
How is the stereotype not harmful even though it adversely affects how law enforcement officials, policymakers and the public view Latino men? I am not Latina in the slightest but i am dating a Latino and although this stereotype is not true for him or any other man in his family, he has experienced racism because of it. So yes, it is indeed a harmful stereotype despite you and i knowing better than that. Unfortunately, when a particular race or group of people are viewed as a monolith, it translates into problems in real life. Britney perpetuating a harmful stereotype has REAL LIFE consequences for the thousands of Latino men being arrested and incarcerated for non-violent crimes, stopped and frisked, unfairly targeted by immigration, etc.
Call me ignorant if that makes you feel better. I don’t know where you are from but Latinos who live abroad are much, much more different than Latinos living in their own countries. I think you are being extremely sensitive about it and you say that Britney perpetuates negativeness about us? Guess what? Latinos ALSO stereotype Americans, Germans, Italians, etc… As they do with us! It is a non ever ending cycle. If you think I am ignorant because I choose to ignore those comments, about me, about my Austrian boyfriend, about my Spanish grandfather, about everyone, then it is my problem. Why live in a world where everyone offends you? Why? Worry when someone important, someone intelligent, says these things. I don’t worry about Britney because… Listen to her! She’s been through so much! She’s not ok! But I choose to ignore her. She’s “cute”. Again, my comment was general, you chose to attack me. I hope you can understand what I am saying as much as I understand you.
In today’s environment, if you look hard enough, you can find racism in a ham sandwich. I am tired of the over-sensitivity and I happen to be Black.
Excellent comment Miss Nostalgia. Political correctness has run amok,
OMG Thank you! Its gone too far and this calling out of every single perceived injustice is doing a lot more to separate races than it is to unite them. It almost seems like thats the point though. Its mind boggling.
While I don’t listen to her music, I do not think Britney is a hateful person. I do not think her comment is racist. What I do find offensive is the questions being asked. “What do you think of Latin men? “what do you think of gay people? what do you think of black people? What kind of questions are these?
I am also tired of seeing ignorant people calling her dumb because of her mental illness. If you think she say’s dumb things, fine. However, don’t go around saying, oh well, you know she has mental illness so she must be dumb.
Lastly, I hope Kaiser gets all the clicks she hoped for because that is the only reason this was posted.
I love this comment!! Yes–why is she blasted for simply answering a question (and on the spot, no less, and without a script which seems to be very new for her) whose answer would almost necessarily have to be racist given the content and phrasing of the original question. What kind of question is “What do you think of Latino men?”? What answer could she have given that would not have drawn a hundred responses of “Oh, so she lumps all of them into one group? They’re all the same?” No, the interviewer did that for asking in the question he did and HOW he did (“What do you think of [all] Latino men?”). It invited an “I think [insert opinion] of ALL Latino men.” Plus, Britney is sweet and also a little slow.
Yes- these commenters certainly are taking mental illness back to the dark ages. That’s the real crime here. People should be ashamed.
She’s bipolar, not mentally challenged. It’s not like being mentally ill makes you incredibly incompetent and absolves you from everything bad you do.
Ricky Martin is the PERFECT man to take home. Just saying.
Every time one of these pop stars or tv personalities open their mouths, it shows how low brow and uneducated they are. I’m Latina, and my Dad is not a “bad boy”. He worked hard for his family and led a very normal life.
Just read some of the comments above and really, I can’t believe people are even giving her a pass. She just called an ENTIRE CULTURE of men the “bad boy” type. That is so freaking racist and rude I almost can’t comprehend.
I guess this chick is entitled to her cliche opinion. Though it seems to me she went after a REAL bad boy in Kevin Federline, and he looks white so….
If I were to say “Yeah, I hate being friends with white women, they all have Daddy issues”- it would bring an onslaught of hate.
True, but if you were mentally ill to the point where you aren’t allowed to make ANY decisions in your life, go anywhere by yourself, drive, have friends who are unapproved, buy your own groceries, etc., I doubt it would bring that onslaught of hate. Especially if you were as sheltered, uneducated, ignorant, fragile, and unaware as she is. She doesn’t mean any harm. She honestly doesn’t know better. Not an excuse, per se, but it is a damn good explanation/reason for her comment.
I agree, Zbornak.
As I wrote above, the “bad boy” stereotype can have very serious consequences on innocent people’s lives. That stereotype gives Latinos in America greater rates of being arrested, longer sentences when they are incarcerated, etc.
Just because she put “sexy” in there doesn’t mean that “the bad boy” is not a harmful stereotype with huge consequences.
Agreed, Zbornak!
My dad’s no bad boy!
Not intentionally racist, just freaking stupid.The woman is ignorant and uneducated.
This is Britney we’re talking about. Everyone knows she’s not all that bright and not too sane.
The way this was written was annoying. I just read??? everything??? with an upward inflection???????? like those posts on tumblr?????/////
Speaking as a latina – nah!
She’s not racist. She’s mentally “off” and fairly uneducated and, well, just ignorant. But she is actually trying to pay a compliment to Latinos, I believe…however misguided the comment was. I don’t think that, generally speaking, you can be racist if you are truly and utterly unaware that what you are saying is/could be racist, especially since we have never once seen her be anything but loving and supportive toward gays, Latinos, and other groups of people. I think it someone told her what she said was racist she’d be very upset over it. She’s a sweet woman…just a little vapid, very sheltered, and dealing with what, as far as we know, is severe mental illness. Give her a break.
I am Latina. My dad was never a bad boy. My mom liked him because he was college educated and never drank alcohol. He was almost boring by some people’s standards. My husband is Latino, a teacher who dresses very preppy and likes to go sailing. He always gets told he doesn’t act or look very “Mexican” which is infuriating. Most of my Latino male relatives are self professed geeks who wear Doctor Who tshirts or video game tees. Who decided every Latino had to be like Wilmer Valderrama? Gross. If thats the only Latino Britney has conversed with in Hollywood, I pity her.
+1000
Most of the Latino men I know are worth their weight in gold. Especially in my family…so I don’t know about this “Latino bad boy” crap. Sh*tty men come in a variety of colors! Yay! (not really)
Yes! I am not Latina in the slightest but my boyfriend is Mexican and he is the kindest, most caring person i know. Everyone in his family is. His younger brother served in the Army and is now studying to become a high school history teacher. His father is the most hard-working and dedicated person I know. I can’t speak for the entire Latin@ community because i’ve never been a part of one until very recently but this “sexy bad boy” stereotype is, like most stereotypes, inaccurate and harmful to the person being stereotyped. I know that Britney’s had a very long and arduous journey in overcoming mental illness, but that doesn’t excuse her from being racist.
Go LadyFauxReal!
Em, thank goodness there are other sensible people here who can see her comments for what they are – irreverent and a bit of fun!!
She’s not racist, she’s just not too bright. Read her comments and watch her interviews. Not the sharpest tool in the shed.
So it’s ok for the ” non racist ” commenters to call her out as ” just another southern white girl.” Extraordinarily idiotic and hypocritical as usual
Lol seriously.
THIS!
THANK.YOU.
Of course not, Annie2!
That’s why a few moments ago I wrote @Just Me (in response to her #3 comment) to clarify:
“how offensive I find the patriarchal privileged pigeonholing of the ‘ideal’ woman is. I too am disgusted with the sweet & innocent, yet dimly sexy, stereotype of a ‘southern’ girl being the pinnacle of womanhood. I listed “(and in this case southern)” as another crazy example of the arbitrary standards too many men hold women up to, but I was NOT perpetuating the stereotype that southerners are racist.”
If you gave a cursory read to my comment, I suppose I can see how you’d misinterpret the sentence snippet “(in her case southern)” to mean stereotyping southerners as racist. This is a fun tactic often used by folks who are looking to deny random racist incidents – taking something out of context and shooting the messenger. Although, in the interest of fairness, I must point out another PP truly did take it wrong too (@Just Me #3 comment).
However, Annie2 and Katie, I’m not giving you the benefit of the doubt because the tenor of your remarks throughout this post show your true colors.
I wouldn’t say racist… if only because Latin American people/Spanish speakers (which isn’t the same) are not a race. However, that stereotype IS stupid. Not every man in L. America is a “bad-boy type that your father wouldn’t let you go out with” WTF It’s more or less like saying every woman here is curvy and tanned.
She didn’t offend me though… I guess it’s because I’m not a man lol Doesn’t mean other people don’t find her comment offensive anyway.
Basically I think she’s uneducated, and limited to those she interacts with in her (very) tiny bubble world. I don’t think she intended to insult people, even though she did. It’s clear she’s trying to be charming and flirty.
She’s not that Aaryan chick from Big Brother: Klan Edition. I think there needs to be a distinction drawn between deliberate, hardcore race baiting and numbskullery, such as this instance.
I see what you’re saying, d b.
I see her flirting too, but that doesn’t make her comments not be racist. Coupled with Britney’s string of spanish gibberish, this is the same racism as shown in Rosie O’Donnells ‘ching chong ching ching’ racist ass video. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbwPu_LuTZs
There are differences between smugly unapologetic racists, deliberately obtuse racists, racists who deny racism, racists making racist jokes, and racists who don’t bother to educate themselves. http://yoisthisracist.com/
However, they ALL cause untold harm. With each and every incident, every type of racist sets back the clock on a racism free world that I’d like to think most of us are working toward.
I’d like that world to come about too
If it is racist, it’s not intentional. It’s not that we expect anything slightly inteligent from Britney Spears.
I’m NOT offended and I’m a Mexican. She was being playful. And she called us sexy. It’s funny that the ones offended are you white people, look at the comments we Latinos aren’t
I don’t think she is all there mentally, it’s so awkward and painful to watch her in interviews. She really needs a break..poor girl
OK, Caroline, here’s a tin foil hat conspirancy theory! Maybe Britney’s made these racist remarks on purpose so she can retire right out underneath her moneygrubbing conservators.