Comedian Katt Williams on Saturday partly walked back an apology for making insensitive remarks to a Mexican member of his audience, telling CNN that he is not sorry for what he said, but apologizes to anyone who thought he was being hateful.Here's the performance that got Williams in trouble. Brace yourself for an onslaught of F-bombs.
"I meant what I said and I said what I meant," Williams said, referring to his back-and-forth with a heckler during a performance a week ago.
A written statement apologizing for the remarks had been released by his publicist on his behalf this week, but the comedian said that it didn't come from him.
Video of the exchange, delivered during a performance at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, was posted online. Williams singled out a man seated near the stage and asked him if he was Mexican.
"Do you remember when white people used to say 'Go back to Africa,' and we'd have to tell them we don't want to? So if you love Mexico, (expletive), get the (expletive) over there!" Williams said to the man.
It turned into a back-and-forth profanity-laced argument with the man, Williams exclaimed, "We were slaves, (expletive). You just work like that as landscapers."
But Williams told CNN that as a comic, he cannot apologize for his uncensored thoughts during a show.
"That's for the Tracy Morgans of the world," he said.
Katt Williams stopped being funny a few years ago when he got into that pointless comic-battle with the equally unfunny Steve Harvey. Then dude went through a series of very public battles with drugs and Johnny Law. A few weeks back there was a video (same club/night?) circulating of him getting into a fight at Young Jeezy concert. I didn't know people still paid to see Katt Williams in concert, but I suspect this incident isn't gonna help his "comeback". His reign on the top was short like leprechauns. Or short like Katt Williams. Take your pick.
Williams rant was indeed racist, indeed ignorant, and indeed, unfunny. I cringed as I watched the audience chanting "USA! USA! USA!" but given how unfunny he is, maybe they just partook in some libations to soothe the pain of the money they'd blown. I'm not sure what Williams' excuse is, nor do I wish to hear it. Either way, I could only imagine this incident is gonna hurt his pockets, and the weedman doesn't take IOU's[1], so he is doubly screwed.
If there's any takeway for all of this from this harrowing incident, it's Comedy Club Rule #4,080: Never heckle the comedian!!! It's almost like effin' with animals at the zoo. You're not gonna win, under any circumstances. He with the mic wins be default.
Question: Should Katt Williams have to issue a genuine apology for this? What's your take on his routine?
[1] Not that I know personally.
