My Tiger Beat (Down)

One of the best things about having your own website is you can issue statements or rebut claims that have been made about you that aren’t exactly true or that don’t tell the WHOLE story. This past week I was teamed up with a woman I worked with when I first moved to New York City. She was, and still is, a host on the popular television show “The View” and back then I was a production assistant. Fast forward 10 years to a successful comedy career- one that’s spanned national and international television and radio; we meet again. This time I was a guest commentator on her show—the Joy Behar Show.

Well, I said some stuff about Tiger and his liaisons that ruffled a few feathers. Read the actual transcript.

Something I’m finding VERY interesting is that so far a couple African-American bloggers and journalists who seem to be extremely offended by what I said regarding Tiger Woods are not including the full context of what I said regarding Mr. Woods’ flagrant behavior; nor are they really taking into context what I do for a living.

As a comedian it is my job to speak the truth- my personal truth. Which is something, fortunately, and yes, sometimes unfortunately, journalists do not get to do as there is supposed to be no bias in journalism. As a comedian it is my job to use sarcasm and humor expose irony and hypocrisy. I did that and more in my comments on the Joy Behar Show. I also had the cajones to say what a GREAT number of Americans are thinking regardless of their race or ethnicity. The line I didn’t get in that’s still bugging me is that: Maybe Tiger’s allergic to chocolate?!

I am no way taking back what I said nor apologizing for speaking my mind. I will state again that I find its unbelievably ironic that Tiger who seemed to be doing and saying everything he could in the beginning of his career to water down his “Blackness” is acting like the quintessential the stereo-type of a Black athlete. And let me reiterate what I said on the show—“He’s acting like an athlete period!”—regardless of ethnicity. By which, I mean he wants the Barbie doll trophy wife and a few, or in Tiger’s case, ALLEGEDLY a dozen or so on the side.

I did not say (nor to I believe) that ALL athletes are like that and certainly not all Black athletes are like that. My comment was based on my observations of popular sports figures Black and White.

For the record, (unfortunately, this part was cut out of the transcripts because we were talking all over each other- like they do on “The View”) I said, “Forget Black or White. Forget color. What he did was wrong!”

I really do feel terribly for his wife and my heart goes out to her. Part of me even feels sorry for him because he obviously has some serious issues if he has “everything” i.e. money, a great career, a gorgeous wife, two beautiful children and he’s still pursuing other women in what is likely risky sexual behavior.

So there! I’ve said my piece and my peace. You can hear and watch more when I return to the airwaves of my very own talk show- Karith Foster: America’s Girlfriend on www.Shovio.com. I will be back on the air LIVE Monday December 14th, 2009 at 2pm EST.

Remember to Love and Laugh y’all; not enough people do!

xo,
~Kyf