Jay Leno Catches Heat from Indian Official, Catholic Group over Jokes
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Jay Leno (Credit Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
Jay Leno has managed to offend two religious groups in the span of one week. On last Thursday’s edition of “The Tonight Show,” Leno displayed a picture of the Golden Temple, a holy shrine of Sikhs in India, and joked that it was the summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Leno was making a reference to Romney’s wealth, but, according to reports in India, one official is upset with the late-night host.
Vayalar Ravi, the visiting affairs minister for non-resident Indians, was quoted as saying, “It is quite unfortunate and quite objectionable that such a comment has been made after showing the…Golden Temple.” The official continued, “The Golden Temple is the Sikh community’s most sacred place. Even our Prime Minister went there for praying in the New Year. I believe the person who has shown [it] is not that ignorant. The American government should also look at this kind of thing.”
The reports further state that many local Sikhs have expressed outrage. In addition, the joke has spawned a “Boycott Jay Leno” Facebook group.
According to the BBC, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the government has not been in contact with India over the matter and that Leno’s comments “appeared to be satirical in nature.”
A California man named Dr. Randeep Dhillon doesn’t see it that way. According to TMZ.com, Dhillon has filed a libel lawsuit against Leno over the joke, claiming it “falsely portrays the holiest place in the Sikh religion as a vacation resort owned by a non-Sikh.” He seeks general and punitive damages.
Leno has also irked a Catholic organization with a joke he made on Monday’s “Tonight Show” about a Los Angeles-area bishop who resigned after admitting he fathered two children. Referring to the bishop’s namesake in the game of chess, Leno said, “I thought bishops could only move diagonally. I didn’t know they could move up and down,” and made corresponding hand gestures. He then said, “Isn’t it amazing the bishop of L.A. confessed to fathering two children? But, hey, he didn’t use birth control, so at least he followed the church rules. You gotta give him credit for that.”
The president of the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, claims Leno “has a long track record of bashing Catholicism.” He further states, “The most serious cases of the sexual abuse of minors currently taking place are among Orthodox Jewish rabbis in Brooklyn, yet Leno would never tell a joke at their expense. The rate of HIV/AIDS among homosexuals is 50 times higher than in the rest of the population, yet Leno would never tell a joke at their expense. [Note: making such jokes would be equally offensive.] But if there is one wayward Catholic clergyman, it’s not only acceptable to ridicule him, it’s okay to mock the teachings of the Catholic Church.”
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The thing is, you simply cannot tell a joke without offending someone. That’s just the jokes work. So, screw ‘em if they can’t take a joke.
Posted by: Bruce | January 25, 2012, 10:42 am 10:42 am
There is not one wayward Catholic clergyman.
Posted by: marc bauder | January 25, 2012, 10:50 am 10:50 am
All religion is a joke. They just have not got it yet. 2 perfect examples of the repression of religion. Better not say anything bad about what I believe in. Guess what world. We have the RIGHT to make fun of you. That is what FREEDOM is all about.
Posted by: Absured | January 25, 2012, 10:55 am 10:55 am
Maybe if the catholic church would stay out of sexual politics and allow the use of condoms the rates of HIV might go down… But then again the abuse they allege t has been around for over ten years since the abuse scandle broke where catholic priests are using boys for their gratuitious pleasrue and the church has not done anything yet Nothing NADA, zilch . Oh excuse me,, they still are hiding the sick priests. and comering theri asses from lawsuites.. Let Leno make his comments, freedom of speech…etc… but if “rabbis’s” are doing the same thing,… then hang them too by the cohones …and anyone else abusing boys… The catholic league is out of touch with reality They remind me of the police blaming a rape victim for being raped since she probablly asked for it…. Catholizism is trully a sick religion…Ghosts and goblins etc.
Posted by: Umish Katani | January 25, 2012, 11:07 am 11:07 am
Please when are these religious nuts going to stop taking themselves so seriously? If they ever sat back and looked at their own facts they would have to cringe. How many people have the Cathoilics killed for saying the world is flat, not like they haven’t been worng before and the rape of little boys at the hands of Catholic preist is an epidemic and the church still trys to cover up verses fix, btw isn’t this the exact reason Luther left the Catholic religion oh so many years ago??
Second the Roman church came to Christ and asked him to work with them to get at the money his followers left at his feet. Money he left for the poor anyway. Of course Jesus refused. They pointed out martyr works just as well for them! So they killed him and used the very symbol of his death to form a new religion. 450 years later Rome adopted this new religion as their new religion and changed their name from the Church of Rome to the Roman Catholic Church, so who killed Christ there oh Mell Gibson? Not the Jews but the Catholics! Talk about needing a sense of humor! Wish all Christians would quit persecuting God’s children who do not want to violate common sense and dis God’s children who are not inclined to worship Christian values. Muslims, Gays, Jews, even Sikhs are Gods children. We all are and was not that Jesus Christ core message; Stop killing each other and hating other religions we all worship the same God with different names and we are all his children. So grow up and get along already! But no! We would rather fight, judge, and persecute how anti-Christ of us!!!
Posted by: Mick Patriot | January 25, 2012, 11:14 am 11:14 am
Ohh you can bet he would have never made the same mistake with the Jewish community …
Posted by: yeah.i.said.it | January 25, 2012, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Perhaps IF the Catholic Church (MOSTLY it’s Priests) could control their sexual deviances, they wouldn’t be the DESERVED butt of poor jokes. THEY ought to round up ALL their Cardinals, Bishops and Priests and give them a FIRST TIME Refresher course in SERVING GOD!!! What this church has ‘suffered’ over the past years is their own fault. Since they’ve done LITTLE to curb this type of scandalous behavior from those that they would have ‘serving’ the church, they should only look to themselves when they feel “MOCKED”!
Posted by: demNme5 | January 25, 2012, 11:20 am 11:20 am
Although these 2 jokes aren’t offensive, Jay Lamo is offensive in general by being unfunny and by ruining the Tonight Show by dumbing it down to L.A. levels and reneging on his promise to retire. His ratings are lower than Conan’s were. NBC blew it by catering to the geriatric and brain-dead demographic. Now they’re stuck with this lame fat egotist that nobody wants to watch.
Posted by: Fred | January 25, 2012, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Funny how the very people who killed Christ are the most vocal about his laws? Yea that is right the Romans not Jews (sorry MelGibson, though nobody said actors were intelligent) killed Christ. They came to him and demanded he share the money his followers left at his feet. He refused and they said OK martyr works just as well for us. They killed him on a cross and used that very icon for their new symbol for their new religion! Kind of sick if you ask me but an inside joke for sure. aabout 450 years later Rome adopted this new religion as its one and only. They renamed the Roman Church the Roman Catholic Church at this time. And proceeded to kill anything that did not protest to be Catholic. This practice continued here in the US when they burned Pagans and Puritans who actually founded the country for being witches. No I am sorry the Catholic religion does not have a good track record. Not to mention the thousands moer they klilled fro saying the world was round! Sorry religious nut cases need to put their superstitions down and leave the rest of us alone. If they want to believe, it is their freedom, but to inflict on others, NO!
Posted by: Mick Patriot | January 25, 2012, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Suck it up, people. That’s funny stuff. I’m Catholic and it made me giggle.
Posted by: calendargirl | January 25, 2012, 11:27 am 11:27 am
A libel suit?!?!?!? This Dhillon guy is and idiot.
Posted by: Jim | January 25, 2012, 11:34 am 11:34 am
SHAME ON YOU JAY LENO
Posted by: xyz | January 25, 2012, 11:37 am 11:37 am
I am offended that people are offended by a bad joke.
Posted by: Jim (not that Jim, the other Jim) | January 25, 2012, 11:41 am 11:41 am
Fact: More atheists in Heaven than Christians!
If you judge God’s children not going in!
If you persecute God’s children not getting in!
If you rape God’s little children not getting in!
If you kill God’s children not getting in!
Leaves most Religions and their followers out of the loop? So who is the anti-Christ? Religion? You bet!
Posted by: mick Patriot | January 25, 2012, 11:43 am 11:43 am
I get so tired of people all over the world being offended by us and maybe our comedians. People–whatever your problem is–be it race, religion, etc,—if you can’t take a joke or not be offended by whatever someone like Jay Leno says—then stop reproducing and the problem will go away. Leno will then officially have nothing to use for material to use on his late night program.
Posted by: John | January 25, 2012, 11:50 am 11:50 am
I don’t know about these complainers, but my God has a good sense of humor. And come on Catholics, the stuff that many priests and bishops have been found guilty of over the past few years has made the church good fodder for a ribbing.
Posted by: Zenguy1213 | January 25, 2012, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Posted by: Derek, a Catholic | January 25, 2012, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
Good grief people stop the nonsense of being politically correct. Cause if you keep it up eventually there won’t be anything to laugh
Posted by: K. McClure | January 25, 2012, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
Hey, Leno’s a sleaze. Get over it.
Posted by: phillip bunnell | January 25, 2012, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
I have never found Jay Leno funny in any sense.
Posted by: howdymo1 | January 25, 2012, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
So sick of political correctness. Grow a backbone, people. Our society is so screwed.
Posted by: Brian Levine | January 25, 2012, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
“…But if there is one wayward Catholic clergyman, it’s not only acceptable to ridicule him, it’s okay to mock the teachings of the Catholic Church.”
So what this guy is saying, the church taught the bishop to break the rules? What a contrasting view.
Posted by: Robert | January 25, 2012, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
leno is a cub scout compared to bill maher king heathen
Posted by: phoenix | January 25, 2012, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
I heard about this LA Bishop who fathered two children, too. Imagine that: he had sex with a female AND an adult!!! The other priests must think he’s, like, weird, you know?
Posted by: tom | January 25, 2012, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
about Mel Gibsons movie, I don’t believe the Jews killed Jesus I think it was the Romans portraying the Jews.Its like now days how people act like Republicans but they change to Democrats o democrats to republican its all about convenience .This country supposedly all about freedom of speech and not retaliating for someones views.
Posted by: i know the story | January 25, 2012, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Perhaps IF the Catholic Church (MOSTLY it’s Priests) could control their sexual deviances, they wouldn’t be the DESERVED butt of poor jokes Posted by: demNme5_____________Does this also apply to the gays?
Posted by: spike | January 25, 2012, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
All religion is a joke. They just have not got it yet. 2 perfect examples of the repression of religion. Better not say anything bad about what I believe in. Guess what world. We have the RIGHT to make fun of you. That is what FREEDOM is all about.
Posted by: Absured
___________________
ALL religion is a joke?
Since Atheism is also religion. Does this mean YOU are a joke?
Posted by: ivan | January 25, 2012, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
The Indian Sihk Indians want the American government to take a look at this???? Such idiots!
Posted by: flipper828 | January 25, 2012, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Yes, they appeared to be satirical in nature – score one for the state department! wooo!
satirical in nature – take that, Sihk-dude.
Posted by: RoboBobo | January 25, 2012, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
So what. You want offensive..watch Letterman, he is a joke.
Posted by: mojo | January 25, 2012, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
What a load… as a Catholic I would not be offended if Leno showed a picture of the Vatican and said Romney vacationed there… Its a joke, lighten up people. He was not insulting your religion.
Posted by: Bob Z | January 25, 2012, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
Jay Leno is still on television? Hmmm,
Posted by: Riley | January 25, 2012, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
As for the lawsuit, it will be interesting to see if one can legally commit libel against a building…
Posted by: Sheila | January 25, 2012, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
The only offensive joke in all of this is organized religion….
Posted by: Working_Class | January 25, 2012, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
love leno. these are jokes, for goodness’ sake. the indians must relax and the catholics must chill out.
Posted by: loveleno | January 25, 2012, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
I’m offended by Jay Leno , the Catholic church & any institution that places itself above being human. these people don’t like Leno’s jokes, don’t watch him….I don’t. The politics of the grand old institutions are being shown for the corruptness that has been around for a while. Same with GOP…old & outdated & caters to the ‘job creators’ LOL what a joke. They all try to retain all the power they can hold. Noone let’s things come & go , just like all good religions teach.
Posted by: MrE_mann | January 25, 2012, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
We have become entirely too thin skinned. If you don’t like Jay Leno then don’t watch his show. If you’re suing because he made a comment about a holy shrine, then you’re just looking to make money off someone. Ridiculous!
Posted by: carole | January 25, 2012, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
when are these people going to get a Life, Its a Joke, I just feel bad you don’t understand it, maybe if you went back to your home country,I.E. No Electricty, No TV, No Religous Crap, live in squaler, maybe it would make sense, I Bet He Got His Doctor’s Degree in America, Then Never Went Back, to help his own people – that is Unrehensible, talk about calling the kettle Black – Dr. Sikih, Go Back Home – do not collect $200 Dollars, this will end the problem. More Illieagal’s crying, I bet he’s not an Even American Citizen.
Posted by: tindoor tailgator | January 25, 2012, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
I’m offended by my chin.
Posted by: Lay Jeno | January 25, 2012, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
How ’bout a little chin music?
Posted by: Lay Jeno | January 25, 2012, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
To all the folks on this forum, “sikih” is spelled “Sikh”. Also, the Sikh (Indian) population in this country did not come here illegally. We had legal sponsorship from our relatives. Most of us were born here, pay our taxes along with giving back to the community.
Lets not forget that Native American Indians were living on this land before the Germans, Irish, Dutch, English, etc emigrated here. I suppose they should go back home too?
I do not take as much offense to Jay Leno’s comment as I do to the ignorant comments on this forum.
Posted by: Neeta | January 25, 2012, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
The religious nuts are really sensitive nowadays. *shakes head* On noes you showed our golden temple (intentionally spelled lower case). Sheesh people are sooooooo stupid nowadays. maybe they just wanna get money from Leno…….
Posted by: jim | January 25, 2012, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
Catholic organizations commit rampant child rape, and don’t get irked over that, but get irked over a joke.
Posted by: Neil Allen | January 26, 2012, 10:49 am 10:49 am
“It is quite unfortunate and quite objectionable that such a comment has been made after showing the…Golden Temple” — get a real life…and get over it…
Posted by: RalphF | January 26, 2012, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
I can’t imagine anyone’s faith being offended with such jokes.
God…..Mohammad…Allah
They’re larger than life itself….My thought…They will find it helpful
for the attention being given to this madness.
Michael
Posted by: michael | January 26, 2012, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
I keep hearing about those rapist priests, however did you know that 88% of the convicted ones are gay, therefore it is more of a reflection on gays, then the church.
Posted by: Gay Leno | January 26, 2012, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
I am Catholic and it is appalling that another priest/bishop has violated the clergy’s trust (if not a pedifile this time). I applaud Jay Leno for bringing attention to the hypocracy that appears to be rampant in the Catholic hierarchy. It is time for the church to allow priests to marry, to allow women to be priests and to immediately notify police of any crimes committed by priests/bishops/cardinals. It is only then that these hypocritical actions will cease and that the church will re-gain the trust of their congregations and the public. It is not Jay Leno that needs to be condemned or chastised — it is the clergy that is guilty of lying to their congregations, and it is instead far past the time that Catholics look internally at solutions to these critical issues.
Posted by: Julie | January 29, 2012, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm