Here’s a photo of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson with their son, Chester, at a 2011 film premiere. Nowadays, Chester calls himself “Chet Haze” and believes that he’s a frat-boy rapper. You can hear one of Chet’s songs here, but you might laugh. A lot.
We usually ignore Chet’s antics (there was a weird fight with Howard Stern not too long ago). But Chet has gotten into some trouble for dropping the n-word on his Instagram page. (Unfortunately, he deleted his account as I was typing this story, so there will be minimal photos to illustrate.) Chet’s pretty upset that people are calling him out for using the word, which he believes is “a beautiful thing.” Here’s his defense:
“If I say the word n**** I say it amongst people I love and who love me. If I say “f*** yall hatin a** n*****” it’s because that’s really how I felt at the time. And I don’t accept society getting to decide what ANYBODY can or can’t say. That’s something we call FREE SPEECH. Now I understand the older generation who grew up in the Jim Crowe era might have strong feelings against this. And that’s understandable.
“But what I’m saying is this is 2015 … We have reached a point where the word can no longer have a negative connotation if we so choose. And who is to say only black people can use it? The way I see it, it’s a word that unifies the culture of HIP-HOP across ALL RACES, which is actually kind of a beautiful thing. It’s a word that can be used out of camaraderie and love, not just exclusively for black people. What’s the point in putting all these built up ‘rules’ about it. It’s time to let go. You can hate me or love me for it, but can’t nobody tell me what I can or can’t say. It’s got nothing to do with trying to be a thug. It’s about the culture of the music … Some people will get it, some people won’t. Either way, Ima keep living my life however the f*** I want. ALL LOVE.
“Look, I know the majority of y’all are not gonna get this because the history is still so fresh in our country. But hip hop isn’t about race. It’s about the culture you identify with. And can’t no one tell me what I can’t say.”
[From Chet Haze on Instagram (dead link)]
Ahem. Well, I’m pretty sure Chet has no idea what he’s talking about. He grew up wealthy and privileged beyond belief. Yet Chet feels like he identifies enough with rap culture that he should be able to drop the n-word without being called out. He thinks everyone should “let go” of the n-word’s connotations because he really wants to say it. He’s so bothered by these “built-up rules” about the n-word. Won’t you let Chet Haze be great?
I didn’t even want to draw attention to Chet Haze, but he’s pulling an Iggy Azalea. Since she got called out big time for her appropriation, Chet also shouldn’t get away with claiming a deep devotion to hip-hop culture without some understanding. He’s acting dismissive like Iggy and needs to take a few lessons from Q-Tip the Abstract. Chet should also realize that his free speech claim runs both ways. People are free to criticize Chet for the stupid stuff that comes out of his mouth.
Photos courtesy of Chet Haze on Instagram & Getty
And he’s free to criticize them for criticizing him and they’re free to criticize him for criticizing them for criticizing him. Everyone’s a critic.
Hollywood white privilege is the new black or didn’t you know?
LOL!!!
oh this is a WIN.
It’s the new ‘New Black’.
White privilege has always been the new black.
to be honest THAT guy being Hanks son makes it really funny to me.
+1 Hanks seems like such a cool, funny guy (I miss his comedic work), hard to believe he produced this.
He looks nothing like his Dad, maybe Chester ( so funny) is the Wilson side of the family coming out. Still his parents have both let him turn out like this so this time its equal blame from me.
“Still his parents have both let him turn out like this so this time its equal blame from me.”
As a parent, I have to take issue with your assumption that the parents are to blame for his behavior. Kids are separate individuals with their own unique personalities and temperaments and they can simply disregard all the good teaching you give them and go their own way. Apart from putting them in a cage or beating them severely, a parent really can’t control their behavior, especially when they are of the age to make their own life choices. Some kids are simply obstinate and refuse to listen to sound advice.
Parenting is the most difficult job in the world and no one gets it right every day. Good parents love their kids no matter what, set boundaries (which vary on the parent’s sensitivities), enforce consequences and cross their fingers in the hope that their kids will turn out ok.
It’s probably a painful thing for Tom and Rita to witness their son being such a douchebag. I have a lot of sympathy for them.
I don’t know, nutballs, I think how these kids were raised does affect the outcome. Do you think if Chet had to actually work to support himself, he’d have the luxury of this kind of behavior?
I love your thoughtful comment NUTBALLS. Suprisingly, lots of great families will end up with a young adult child making really curious choices. Unfortunately Tom and Rita’s son is somewhat famous and chooses to put it all out there. It is totally cringe-worthy, but let’s hope his frontal lobe catches up soon, and if not, maybe we can hold HIM responsible for what he says.
@Nuballs, agree with everything you said. Parenting is a huge challenge, and there are never any guarantees that all your hard work as a parent has made a difference. You hope and pray it will and that you’ve given them the best learning tools for a good life.
@NUTBALLS-I agree 100%. I feel like parents frequently get too much blame for their children’s actions. I’m not a parent, but I’ve seen many situations where good parents raised children with lots of problems (and vice versa).
tracking, certainly the way a child is parented affects their behavior. My point is that unless you know what kind of a home environment they were raised in, it’s not fair to point the finger at bad parenting. When the parents act as awful as the kid, it’s easy to see the cause and effect. But I’ve seen it over and over again where loving parents had their hearts broken by kids who made terrible choices that impacted them for life, despite being taught better. Since I’m a parent of kids who often refuse to follow the guidance I have given them, I don’t instantly blame parents, especially people who have a good rep like Tom and Rita. I give them the benefit of the doubt that they did their best to raise their son right and he rebelled against it.
The other Hanks son is doing well. He just made a documentary on Tower Records. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3272570/
I just wonder what went so very, very wrong…
I just don’t understand why some white people are so hell bent on using the N word. Their argument of “but why, free speech, this is America” just sounds childish and annoying. I’m white and don’t have any desire to ever say or use that word.
Yes! It’s like the n-word is important to them, while completely overlooking the fact that it’s exclusive use by Blacks is important to us. I, personally, do not use that word and have been raised by a family (immediate and extended) that doesn’t use the word. That being said, I wholly believe the n-word issue is an entitlement issue for some White people. The idea that Blacks have something that they can’t have. And that’s why such a big fuss is being made (disguised under the blanket of “fairness”).
HH, this is spot on. For some white people it’s important to be able to use, under some guise of “fairness” or “but, but you guys do it”, but for many/most black people it’s important, regardless of internal use, to NOT hear white people use this word. I certainly don’t. Never have, never will. So that whole “but you do it” goes right out the window. I don’t want to be called it, and I don’t want to hear it directed at someone else.
I will never understand the desire to take control of something that is so wholly offensive and try to defuse it from the privileged end, the very same end from which it started.
Nice try, Chet, oh arbiter of blackness and hip-hop culture. Please keep trying to educate a different culture, about which you have no first-hand experience, about how crucial it is to your well-being to be able to co-opt a word that has never been used as a pejorative against your own people.
“That being said, I wholly believe the n-word issue is an entitlement issue for some White people.”
This. He even says, “We have reached a point where the word can no longer have a negative connotation if WE so choose.” So if privileged white men declare so, then it must be true. Ugh.
To paraphrase Paul Mooney: ‘Everybody wants to be an N-word, but…nobody wants to be an N-word.’
Not interested in using the word but, I dont think all that insist on using it are doing it to claim what black people have out of jealousy or antagonism or whatever.
I think it has more to do with the not so obvious to them mine field of inpropriety that a lot of white people try to wade through when attempting to bridge the racial divide. It’s exhausting and discouraging to wonder how what is being said will be received, even if the intent is just communication and a human connection.
I think some use the n word in defiance of that exasperating and constant experience in hopes that at some point people will let the negative connotations of that word and any other die so that real peace can be born from the ashes.
Some people are also hell bent on using f*g.
It’s ignorance and arrogance – the choice cocktail of douchery
My stance has always been: It’s not my word to say. If black people want to use it, that is up to them, but it’s not my word to say. I can’t imagine my black friends uttering that word, so I don’t know what I’d do if they all started saying it. Probably be uncomfortable. But still, it’s not my word to do what I want with. The “free speech” argument with respect to the N-word is absolute garbage and ignores the power and history behind words. He’s ultimately a spoiled little brat who wants to do what he wants to do.
+1
Honest to pete, I do not get why white people (usually men, in my experience and what I’ve noticed) insist on using this word. I have also noticed that in online threads, they tend to be the same people who think that racism, discrimination, basically anything damaging to African Americans or AA culture, no longer exist. They refuse to study the history. It’s like the c-word: I use it with some of my friends, but if any guy used it? Holy Hannah. No.
me tooooo. Exactly my feelings. Not my word (as a white person). And when I was teaching To Kill a Mockingbird to students far, far, far away from the United States–the only time I ever almost lost my ish with them was when one of them casually tossed around the n-word. I told him that isn’t your word to say, and you have no idea what it means.
Beautifully put.
If this brat could only comprehend that acknowledging it’s not his word to say is the believable sign of respect and responsible freedom on his part.
As most of you know, I’m a white person. But I notice how a lot of white people get bent out of shape when we’re told something (words, clothing, cultures, whatever) is “off-limits”. It’s so bizarre and kind of juvenile, like a little kid who doesn’t want anyone taking his toy.
I feel gross even reading that word and have ZERO desire to say it.
That being said, I’m 100% with kgg on whether black people want to say it or not. Not my business.
Completely agree. I don’t understand why someone like him doesn’t understand that it’s different. And I just cringe inside to hear his explanation, knowing where he came from and who his parents are. He is probably greeted with obsequious smiles when he enters a liquor store, not with the back stiffening, eyeball rolling suspicion the black kid who came in my neighborhood liquor store last week received. He’s so full of it.
I agree with the first part of your statement, but I do have to disagree with your second part. I don’t think anyone should be using that word, and I don’t think black rappers and artists (who in my experiences are the ones who use the n word the most) have successfully “reclaimed” the word as they say. It still means what it always meant, and many rappers still use it in a derogatory way. When they use it that way, they haven’t reclaimed the word, and they are still perpetuating the idea that it is okay to say that word, and for others to continue to use it too. For instance, what if women started to use the c word as a way to take back our power? Can we ever actually use that disgusting word in a tasteful, meaningful way? Where we own it and men can’t use it? I don’t think so, and I don’t see the n word ever being tastefully used either.
I didn’t want to get into a discussion on this topic because again, it’s not my place. But just a few thoughts on how I understand things:
“It still means what it always meant, and many rappers still use it in a derogatory way”
That is simply not true. I don’t know if you listen to rap, but that word is most commonly used as a term of endearment, much like saying “my brother.”
“For instance, what if women started to use the c word as a way to take back our power?”
A better example would be “b*tch”.
I think it was Nicole Ritchie who started the “what’s up, bitch?” tagline and the word was used affectionately in that context, much like we’re commenting on a site called “Celebitchy” and often refer to each other as “celebitches”.
Now don’t you think it’s a bit different if a man calls a woman a b*tch? I sure as hell do and I react differently when I hear that word coming out of a man’s mouth. Additionally, how would you like it if a dude lectured you about why women shouldn’t call each other “b*tches” because “if men can’t call women that word then women shouldn’t be able to call each other that word.” I don’t know about you but I’d be a bit pissed to have “b*tch” mansplained to me.
Anyway, I don’t throw that word around and I never use the c-word, s-word, h-word, w-word, etc to refer to women. But I would be lying if I said that a woman saying “what’s up, b*tch?” to her female friend offended me as much as a man saying “that woman is a stupid b*tch”.
“But I notice how a lot of white people get bent out of shape when we’re told something (words, clothing, cultures, whatever) is “off-limits”. It’s so bizarre and kind of juvenile, like a little kid who doesn’t want anyone taking his toy.”
This is SOOOO true. Especially (but not exclusively) white men. They often get really pissy when told something is off-limits. I wonder if it’s an American phenomenon. Maybe it’s a perverse entitled off-shoot of individualism? What I mean is, I think the US culture (to the degree we have one) focuses on the individual more than the collective (whether the collective is state, church, etc). We really really HATE to be told we, as individuals can’t say X,Y, Z in this country. In some ways that’s great but in other ways it’s terribly obnoxious and tone deaf.
The “n” word is not a term of endearment but a horrible word used by ignorant people. There’s no such thing as taking back a racial slur. It is what it is. White people use it because they think it earns them street cred and makes them down with us. I bet Chet has never used the word in a room full of black people – his use of the word would be most unwelcome.
I get the argument. What better way to take power away from a word than to create a new meaning. Make it something better. To restrict its usage because of your race does seem pretty racist.
On the other side…
He wants to use it because of that negative meaning. Or rather what it is because of what it once was. Which is still really bad. His points can be illustrated without it.
IMO anyways.
Chet reminds me of Jamie Kennedy’s character in Malibu’s Most Wanted. Chet IS B-Rad!
But it’s not his decision to make. He doesn’t get to decide what should and should not be offensive. Free speech means he can say it, but it doesn’t mean that he isn’t also subject to the consequences.
I get his argument and agree. It just can’t actually be applied here and to this specific word.
Still, even in non-offensive context sounds like reverse racism not being able to say it because of your skin color.. Though, why anyone would want to say it at all is using it because of what it once meant and how it has evolved to modern culture. IMO
It’s racist to restrict control of a slanderous word? To expect that a white person *wouldn’t* use the word?
FLORC, black people are not a monolith who have decided en masse that we can/should use a word but continue to be offended if someone white does the same. You are assuming that ALL black people say it, and that we ALL want to continue to say it but restrict its use among white people. Never mind the question – WHY DO WHITE PEOPLE WANT TO USE THIS WORD TO BEGIN WITH? Who are white people to tell US that we can’t use a word that has ONLY EVER BEEN USED AS AN INSULT AGAINST *US*, because white people feel left out that they can’t do the same without extreme backlash? In no way, shape, or form is this a debate or decision for a white person to make, to tell someone black “that word has no negative connotation anymore.” WTF? The power of the word has been taken away from it, but only in its usage among black people; the moment someone white spits it out, that power is right back in his/her control as an oppressive force. Chet may think it’s cute to use n*gga, to take his toys back on the playground but he’s still ignorant and offensive. To me, there is no difference between him using -ga versus -ger; this is an oppressive word and an oppressive thing to do.
You are really speaking out of turn on this one. And you really need to pick up a dictionary if you think that something like black people being offended at hearing a white person use this word is “racist”. Thanks for telling me how I, and my culture, should feel about something directed at us from the culture that has historically been the only force defining right and wrong for centuries. Gee, thanks, white people, for telling me that I’m racist for not wanting to hear a white person call me “n*gga” but then not minding if I hear it from my own kind. And thanks, white people, for telling me that you’ve singlehandedly taken away power from a word that’s been oppressing us for centuries. Just like that, it’s a sunshiny day.
FLORC … “reverse racism”?
Seriously?
There is no such thing.
I honestly can’t tell if you’re trolling at this point.
FLORC: Reverse Racism isn’t a thing, because we’re already working within a system where white skin already has a massive privilege. By trying to look at it through that lens, you’re trying to look at it in terms of a fairness and level playing field that is simply not present. We live in a society where almost all of our governmental representation is white, the best schools are in neighborhoods that are primarily white, an incredibly disproportionate number of black families live at or below the poverty line, a disproportionately large percentage of the prison population is black… I could go on. I think we can at least acknowledge that the system is biased towards those of a fairer skin tone.
One of the challenges with this discussion is that there simply is no other term that has the similar connotations of the N word. I can’t say that it doesn’t bother me to be called “cracker” and therefore it shouldn’t bother someone to be called the N word, because “cracker” isn’t a word that has 200 years of discrimination and dehumanization behind it. Simply put, I don’t get to decide whether or not it’s fair that I can’t use that word, because coming out of my mouth it will ALWAYS have a negative connotation. It doesn’t take the power out of the word, it keeps a terrible word alive.
I’ll also add, this is absurd coming out of the mouth of Chester Hanks. He has had every privilege in life, and he’s complaining because he’s been told he can’t say one word. He’s behaving as though he’s never been told ‘no’.
For the love of god, explain reverse racism to us, TAKING into consideration the socio-economic structures and strictures that have been in place for decades and centuries to ensure the rise of one race over another.
If you can make an actual argument with that in mind, THEN I might consider reverse racism a thing.
I don’t get it either. They act like they weren’t allowed to say the word before. They were the ones saying it for decades. Give it up.
Just. Shut. Up. Already.
Hip Hop has nothing to do with race…???? You can have several seats, Chet.
Chet Haze went to Northwestern University in Evanston and some of my friends who teach there and have had him in their class, say he is a real tool. But really enjoyed seeing Tom Hanks walking around.
Oh no, until now I’ve held NU In the highest esteem. Knowing he’s an alum really makes me feel like the bar has been lowered. Boo.
Bad choice, right? But in it’s defense, NU has a great training program for actors, so when the son of one of the greatest actors of his generation applies for admission, maybe you take a chance that he inherited some talent. Sometimes you get the cherries, sometimes you get the pits.
Which makes his statement all the worse. I find it so offensive when a person (white or black) who has had every privilege in life tries to put on that “ghetto”/inner city persona to sell records or get attention. There is more than a musical genre at play in the hip hop movement; it is a culture, it is a reflection of where a group of people have been. That is the difference between Eminem (who is accepted in Hip Hop) and Iggy and Chet Haze (who will never be).
Is he mentally ill? Not trying to be snarky or unfair; this is just so bizarre.
He has admitted serious substance abuse issues and seems to have relapsed after briefly being sober.
Ah, another under educated over privileged child of liberals in Hollywood. What else would anyone expect?
Totally. I’ll take Squint Eastwood over this kid any day.
/s
*eyeroll* Yes, because we know conservatives are SO ABOVE using the N-word.
Your seat. Take it.
Yet, BritaBae, the fact remains that this story is about the product of an ultra liberal upbringing, not conservative. So there’s that.
Yet, BritaBae, the fact remains that this story is about the product of an ultra liberal upbringing, not conservative. So there’s that.
Yeah because Chet Haze is the unofficial leader of all left-wing Liberals.
*eye roll*
Sami must be hanging around after reading the Fox News/Duggar piece.
Why would I read about the Duggars? Are you trying to make some sort of point?
Why is it that you have to be ultra conservative to be an a-hole? I’ve seen a lot of liberals that act as though they’re minorities’ saviors, and lecture people on behavior, but make sure they live far away from urban areas, where their kids won’t interact with anyone not white. They are the ones to say grandly, “My black friends” or “My gay friends” as though they had pet ocelots. It reminds me of this rich lady married to billionaire Scott Jones, who rants on about white privilege, while having African-American servants dress up as turkeys to serve her guests on Thanksgiving and POSTS it without understanding what’s wrong with it. This rich white kid named CHESTER is trying to adopt what he thinks is urban slang: why? What’s the goal? And I would love to see the N word banished from existence. What a douche canoe.
No one said that liberals can’t be racist a**holes, but to espouse this idea that racism is commonly linked to the liberal ethos is rather silly IMO.
I can’t speak for the original poster, but personally, I don’t think anyone should stereotype. Conservatives can be jerks, and so can liberals. The go-to line is that conservatives are racist and/or homophobic. It is not always true. I don’t fit into either category (story of my life). What I have found is that some liberals lecture everyone else, while condescending to others. They think they are so amazing because they deign to be friends with someone who is a minority or gay, but they sure as hell don’t live anywhere near them or let their kids go to those “unsafe” areas for playdates. They just make grand pronouncements about what is fair. My example was that woman, Vee Jones, who is married to the ChaCha guy, and she posts statements about police brutality and white privilege, and then turns around and posts pictures of her African-American servants (her word) in demeaning costumes, serving her on holidays (dressed as turkeys on Thanksgiving) and talking about what a giving, open person she is.
The only person to ever call me the n-word was not a liberal. Please have a seat.
Just once? Tell me where you live so I’ll know where to move. No winners in this one, though.
He has his college degree. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson seem like very down-to-earth people, just living a respectable life. But go ahead with your nonsense and blame it on “liberal.”
So by that logic, should we expect all under-educated religious fundamentals to be child molesters like Josh Duggar?
You’re not using any logic, so I don’t get what point you are trying to make. I don’t think they are liberal or conservative. They are just nuts.
The Duggars aren’t conservative??? ummm…
I think the Duggars are crazy. I don’t think anyone can/should take a crazy persons’ political viewpoints very seriously. Bringing them up in this thread doesn’t make any sense to me, as the two aren’t comparable.
@Samihami: you’re judging on political affiliation. Just because you don’t like the comparison doesn’t mean that my argument is flawed.
Just saying- a lot of people on here will rip apart someone they deem conservative, and it’s the same thing. Judging on political affiliation is judging on political affiliation. The first thing someone threw out there in terms of conservatives were the Duggars. They are so insane that there is no affiliation for them. Not all conservatives are racist or homophobic, and not all liberals are open and wonderful. I don’t know what this tool’s parents are except rich, and he’s a privileged moron trying to co-opt a culture he doesn’t understand, and insulting an entire race in the process.
How do you know he’s liberal? Lots of Hollywood actors are closeted conservatives.
Ok buddy, whatever. Say that to the wrong person and it’s lights out for you lmao. I don’t see this ending well for him
***BREAKING NEWS: CHET HAZE, RAPPER SON OF BELOVED ACTOR TOM HANKS, CRITICALLY HOSPITALIZED WITH MAJOR FACIAL CONTUSIONS AND CRANIAL DAMAGE***
#WELP
I guess someone responded to him using the n word …
I think this was just a comment. I can;t find news of this.
FLORC – You’re right, I responded too quickly in anticipation of him being actually knocked out. LOL
Can’t comment. Must go to the plastic surgeon. My face is permanently scrunched up into my “what in the actual ever loving ignorant man child F*CK” expression and I must get it fixed.
Take a picture before you get it fixed Shambles. So I can compare it with the ‘he needs to f*ck off the planet STANK face’ I’m making now.
That was so soooo racist…
Dave Chapelle once said, “Ever experienced so much racism that you have to step back and breathe a little bit?”
well, shambles…. we should have taken several breaths in between each sentence, because this is level 8…
DAAMMMNNN!!!
I’m wanting to call him a typical obnoxious rich douchebag and ain’t none of y’all can’t tell me I ain’t gonna say that. Free speech, and what not
Ain’t nobody can’t tell me no nothin. America.
‘Murica!
Lol! Double negatives… who thinks that sounds right anymore?
@ Jem & Shambles
Lol, perfect.
I started to get a bit confused about who ain’t gonna and can’t do what in his comments y’all… there are only so many double and triple negatives a person can take.
I don’t disagree.
wow. this reminds of the time that Meghan McCain went on Bill Maher and said that she wasn’t responsible for knowing some things because they happened before she was born.
O_o
But they’ll still bitch about State’s Rights and fly that dumb-ass (yes, dumb-ass) Rebel Flag, going on about how much they love their country, especially during the four treasonous years when it wasn’t their country. Stop stroking your Confederacy while telling other people to ‘get over’ something, you missed opportunity of a lobotomy. I’d say stop telling people to ‘get over’ anything (pull that shit in Germany at a memorial and see what that (so, SO deservedly) gets you, but we’re supposed to ignore the almost daily murders going on right now), but you know, if it should happen that white people aren’t front and centre, telling everyone what to do and how to feel, that’s what qualifies as racism, now. So, you know, it’s exactly the same thing as it has always been. Gag me.
Do we have to call out every idiotic individual? Because if that’s the case, that’s all we’ll be doing. The difference between Chet Haze and Iggy Azalea is pretty distinct: success. She was (briefly) being referred to as thw Queen of Rap, while he’s … Chet Haze.
I see your point, but I kind of appreciated the way BedHead called Chet out in a direct comparison to Iggy Azalea. To me, BH’s commentary read like, “this privileged white male won’t get a pass for being just as ignorant as this privileged white female, simply because be happens to be male instead.”
All I’m saying is, no one is taking Chet Haze particularly serious to begin with.
I understood “free speech” to mean that the people have the innate right to question the action of the government without fear of incarceration or persecution.
That the press can report what the government is doing, that the people have the right to know what is happening.
Does “free speech” really cover every person’s opinion? Can a person just invoke the right to “free speech” as justification for spouting off their opinions? They seem to think it means without consequences.
Chet lost me at “hip hop is not about race”. Clearly he knows NOTHING about the culture of hip hop because it’s tied directly to race and the struggle of black Americans. I’m black and I don’t use the word ever but even if I did that would give people like Chet a “pass”
What is it with whites people not understand why block people use the word? *sigh* another trust fund baby using a culture to be cool while still getting to keep his privledge. One thing I always liked about Macklemore is he ALWAYS acknowledged hip hop roots and culture. Smh
Like Iggy Azelea please use your privledge, take daddy’s credit card and buy several seats.
Chet is just another trustfundafarian who has had a little too much weed and slept through history class. Pay no attention, there’s nothing to see here.
How about let’s all not say the n word? It’s a vile disgusting disturbing word and I don’t care if people still say that to their peers or not. It’s not culturally appropriate anymore. Problem solved. Next!
No. This is like saying “how about let’s treat EVERYONE equal now, so we can all stop talking about inequality.”
No, it doesn’t work that way. When you treat everyone equal now, you ignore the fact that they had very different experiences leading up to the point where you started treating them equally. You’re not even acknowledging those differences. You’re just glossing over them and saying, welp, we’re all in the same boat now.
Here’s another example: everyone says how post-racial Americans are because Obama’s in the White House. Meanwhile, Obama’s being criticized for being “too black” by inviting Common to dinner. In other words, you’re only acceptable if you’re not “too black.” That’s NOT acceptance of black culture. That’s just acceptance of a black man acting like he’s white. Same thing for Hillary facing criticism for being too emotional. “Black” and “female” characteristics are only acceptable when they approximate “white” and “male” ones.
No, white people saying the n-word and black people saying the n-word=TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. Telling EVERYONE not to say it is ONCE AGAIN disempowering black people.
@greenieweenie ““Black” and “female” characteristics are only acceptable when they approximate “white” and “male” ones.” Amen to that.
Honestly as an African American person I hate it when AA people use the n-word and while I think CH and his ilk are idiots I do think the rap community is partly blame for white stars thinking it’s OK to use the word. It’s become normalized and just like so much of black culture appropriated and will be mainstream in a few years sadly.
Who else remembers Goop tweeting N**s in Paris because she was hanging out with a bunch of AA rappers who told her it was ok? And Iggy Azaelea has a bunch of AA artists defending her too.
Call me old fashioned but I agree with the old school AA argument that lost about a decade ago if you don’t want white people to say a word don’t use it.
I think there’s a big difference between saying ‘I don’t think there’s any acceptable use of the N word’ and “lets treat everyone equal now, yay!”. Because Lbliss is right – it’s a vile word.
I swear Tom and Rita must shake their heads and wonder how they made Chester. I would really be embarrassed if my kid was this dumb. All the money and opportunity and still walking around looking like a dumbass.
I know, I actually feel for them. It would be one thing if all the kids were like this so you could wonder about their upbringing; but they have another son (plus Tom has two from his first marriage) who seemed to turn out just fine.
It happens (thinking of a certain uncle of mine, LOL!)
If his trust fund was taken away — he wouldn’t last a day. Sit down, young man, and do something productive with your life. My God, his parents must be horrified. But I have to think they created this monster.
Yeah, I was just thinking “If this guy had a job that he could actually lose, he wouldn’t be talking like that!”
If this person didn’t have a nice cushy plump trust fund to fall back on he’d be singing a very different tune.
yeah, I posted the same above. This reeks of rich spoiled brat.
What an unbelievably stupid ‘man’. I think it does reflect on the parents values, they brought him up with a ridiculous sense of entitlement and obviously never instilled respect in him. I’m not even American but if I had ever used that or any other racially offensive word my parents would have been very upset and gone berserk. His behaviour suggests they’re the simper admiringly at their little darling no matter what types. I hope not but that’s the impression I get.
I always heard good things about Tom Hanks being a super nice guy so it’s sad he didn’t pass it along to this son. His elder son Colin appears very normal, respectful, nice and he’s very talented so at least there’s one he can be proud of.
I’d be so embarrassed to be related to this idiot, more so if one of my kids turned out like that. The shame…. I cringe for him and his family.
Dear Chet: You may want to check your invisible backpack at the door before you try making such ridiculous statements. You will never, EVER, actually understand hip-hop culture.
He is utterly ridiculous and beneath contempt. His family needs to rein him in and get him into some kind of therapy because he clearly isn’t firing on all pistons.
I listened to a couple of clips back months ago of his interviews on radio shows. He is just a moron that it’s a joke. I was mortified for him. Rita and Tom are such normal, nice people. This guy went to college, received his Bachelor’s degree.
I thought he was much younger and tried to cut him some slack for his idiocy, but he is turning 25 in August.
They must be so embarrassed.
I’m not gonna feel ANY type of way when Someone rearranges this idiot’s face from here to Kingdom Come behind this trash
Chet believes that hip hop culture is about saying the n-word all the time. That’s very telling.
Exactly! This is just like Igloo Australia – all she knows of hip-hop is the most stereotypical, shallow end of things (the bling, the booty, the accent, poppin’ Cris, gettin’ money, ballin’ outta control…). To actually say that hip-hop has nothing to do with race is so ridiculously stupid I can’t even imagine where this dumbass has been in life.
Rebel without a cause or a brain.
Someone hold my purse, cause this fool has found my last nerve, jumped on it, and now I’m DONE. WTF?! What is that thing?! Tom and Rita, come fetch your spawn because he needs extensive therapy NOW. How was he allowed to happen? He is going to the Isalnd Of Dr. Moreau that floats in my imagination, but instead of animal/human hybrids it contains the K family, Twihards, Marchesa gowns and celery. All things that freak/gross me out. “Chet Haze”? He named himself “Chet Haze and thinks saying the N word is a beautiful thing. My brain is asking when it can pack it’s suitcase because it needs a vacation after reading this turd’s utterings.
So much stupid jampacked into such a punchable face.
Northwestern University: where all one-oared douchecanoes find their inner thug.
Sit down, rich boy.
First of all, I dont blame him for wanting to be called Chet. Chester is one of those names that should be reserved for like cats.
Secondly, I dont care if it doesn’t have a negative connotation to him. It still does to many black people. How about be respectful to them?
If the world were fair and everyone was equal, white people would definitely be able to say the n-word. But since we’re in the real world where blacks are still treated as second-class citizens…no, white people. You don’t get to have that.
I don’t GET it though. I’m white and never had a desire to use it. These idiots that demand they be able to say it without criticism remind me of Christians that have a fit about saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Petty, entitled BS.
This:
“If I say “f*** yall hatin a** n*****” it’s because that’s really how I felt at the time”
Is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read in my life, particularly coming from this privileged douche. Seriously… he can’t say “I’m upset with you jerks that are hating on me”. “I take offense to what you said, why so much hate?” He has to put f***, a**, and n***** is the same sentence because…why? It’s how he REALLY FEELS at the time and there’s no other way to express that except using the N word which is not even a part of his culture and is deeply offensive to many people? But he raps so it’s ok?
SMH.
I’m an English nerd and majored in it in college. I took a class that focused on African American writers and we’d read passages out loud that had that word in them. It was the first time I ever said it (I’m white) and it made me so uncomfortable even though it was in the context of the class/literature that I could hardly get it out. And yes, I listened to rap and hip hop and had heard it many times but never actually used it myself. Now this guy is just throwing it around because he listens to rap and thinks he has a right to it. Have some respect!
Side note, I actually knew a guy kinda like Chet. He was as white as they come and listened to Wu Tang Clan constantly and would throw out the N word all the time for no reason, just in regular conversation, trying to sound cool I suppose. He said it was ok because his ‘boys back home call me that all the time’. It got so annoying my friend kicked him out of his house. Last I heard he finally wised up and stopped using the word, and I really hope he realized how offensive he was being.
Well, I’m neither American nor ‘grew up in the Jim Crowe era’, yet I hate, hate HATE the “n” word. Black people may choose to ‘reclaim’ it and that’s their prerogative, but it is not his to use OR reclaim.
Asswipe.
I don’t understand why Black people call each other this racist word, it’s ok. But not ok for anyone else?
Wow Chet, your commentary was so spot-on and illuminating. You and Iggy should start touring together.
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