The Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr was a big hit, but a joke from Wayne Brady rubbed some the wrong way.
The Huffington Post reports that Brady was taking a moment during the roast to insult fellow comedian Jeffrey Ross when he said “…a lot of people hate you, especially Sarah Palin because you remind her of what Trig is going to look like when he’s 40.”
The joke was so offensive because Palin’s youngest son Trig suffers from Down Syndrome , a chromosomal condition that among its cognitive and physical affects also includes a particular set of facial features.
For his part, Ross thought the joke was hilarious. During the roast he tweeted, “Holy mackeral @ waynebrady demolished me with that trigg joke. # RoseanneRoast . Great set, buddy.”
Politico and other outlets report Wayne Brady was booed at the time of the joke, but the Huffington Post called those reports overblown. But, after outrage from some and some internal reflection, Brady has chosen to apologize in a fairly lengthy letter posted on his facebook page.
“The Jeff joke was written for me and at the end of the day I take full responsibility for saying it,” Wayne Brady wrote. “It wasn’t meant as a slam to Trig and at the time I didn’t see it that way. I could defend it as a performer, but I would rather apologize from the bottom of my heart as a father. I understand how a parent, who loves their child, who tries to nurture and shield them when they cannot defend themselves, would take offense.”
The full text of Wayne Brady’s letter can be read here.
