Jerry Lewis Never Again on Telethon

Jerry Lewis has always been controversial. Why take him off now? That's the disgrace. After all these years. In the old days staying up all night and day. The telethon worked because of Jerry Lewis' reactions to things. Particularly the crying. Whoever they get to "man" the show could never live up to Jerry's work. He's not Jerry Lewis. I'm afraid the 6-1/2 hours will not produce much money. He's 85 years old and people want to see him. I will turn the telethon on, and if I don't see Jerry Lewis I will shut it off.

Below is what I read about this falling out. I know Jerry is going to call a press conference about this on Sept.5.

Ability Magazine said:

Lewis has made such derogatory comments during the telethons. During the 1991 MDA Telethon, Lewis said in regards to a person who has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, (ALS), "You might as well put a gun to your head." During the 1992 telethon, Lewis said: "My kids cannot go into the workplace. There's nothing they can do. They've been attacked by a vicious killer. I'm begging for their survival."

"But the May 20 CBS Sunday interview sparked a public apology, by both the MDA and Jerry Lewis himself, after more than 100 people with disabilities wrote in outrage. In its statement, the MDA said,"...the Board of Directors and all of us at the Association are deeply disturbed by a comment made by our national chairman. His comment does not reflect the views MDA or its leadership, and our displeasure has been communicated directly to Mr. Lewis. [So they fired him.]

"Jerry Lewis himself later apologized publicly, "The statement I made on the May 20 CBS Morning Show was made in error. It is certainly not how I feel. Many of the people that I work closely with are in wheelchairs and I have never seen any of them as inferior to anyone else. They are my friends and my co-workers. I would never intentionally harm or demean anyone with a disability. I believe in my heart that I have done good work." But some disability rights activists have argued that these statements have come too little too late, noting also that the public apologies have been the first of its kind."