D.L. Hughley, Unapologetically Honest on Free Speech, Obama and Everything in Between

Aug 3, 2012


Earlier this week, D.L. Hughley was in the guest chair for  an episode of SiriusXM’s “Unmasked” with Ron Bennington.  During the hour-long interview he was brutally honest about what’s wrong with America, touching on politics, immigration, free speech, family, comedy, sex and doing the right thing, in general.  ”I love this country” he said. “I love the idea of it.  I like the brochure.”  But he has a few things to say about the reality.

Hughley talked candidly about the upcoming Presidential election.    He explained that he voted for Obama, but not because he’s black.  He voted for Obama because if the choice was between him and Sarah Palin and John McCain, that’s an easy choice.  But he’s not at all uncomfortable being critical of the President, calling Obama too passive.

“He doesn’t seem to get that you have to be willing at some point to fight fire with fire.”  He later added, ”he’s closer to being a white kid. Intellectually, like his experiences are so different from mine that responds like an intellect as opposed to a regular guy.”

Hughley also explained why he thinks the country isn’t interested in this election:

“[I]f you were with a man and that man never reacted, never got mad, is always even keel, at a certain point that woman will start to think that man didn’t care about her. That’s how this country is. Because he is so plain and so nonplussed, people see that as devoid of passion. And that is somehow what we’re missing. So I think they’re reacting like if a woman wants a reaction from you, she has to push your buttons. And I think that’s what the country’s doing.”

 

* * *

Hughley also addressed the ‘apologetic’ climate of the country, and particularly how it’s a mistake to apologize for comedy.  ”Comedy is the last unapologetic art form. The last one that’s suppose to be impervious to societal whims.”

“I think the mistake is actually apologizing. I really do. I remember once when Don Imus made the joke about the Rutgers girls. I was on Jay Leno and I said they weren’t hos, but they sure were nappy-headed. You can’t be a black woman and play basketball and not look like Van Wallace. And then people wanted me to apologize.  Hughley pointed out that he wasn’t defending Imus or what he said, but rather ”It was of the right of that man or any man to kind of say what they want.”  When people boycotted his shows after that and demanded that he apologize, his feelings were clear.  ”It’ll never f*cking happen.”

 

* * *

Hughley’s new book, “I Want You to Shut The F*ck Up: How the Audacity of Dopes is Ruining America” is available now.  The Unmasked episode will air in its entirety today, August 3rd at 2pm eastern time on Sirius 206, XM 105.  You can hear Unmasked with Host Ron Bennington every week on SiriusXM’s Opie and Anthony, Raw Dog and Stars Too Channels.

Throughout the weekend you can catch  the following re-airings:

  • Saturday at 5am on Sirius 205/XM 105
  • Saturday at 8pm on Sirius/XM 99
  • Sunday at 3pm and 9pm on Sirius/XM 99
  • Sunday at 10am and Midnight  on Sirius 206/XM 105, and at
  • Sunday at 11pm on SiriusXM 104.
18 comments
Johnny Dickshot
Johnny Dickshot

I've seen DL's static performance.  Brilliant insight into human behavior with years-old MJ and Tiger Woods jokes sprinkled in.  (The man charges $25 for a post-show autographed picture).  He is however, one of the smartest comedians I've ever seen.  I think he deeply cares about people and is the type of person you would want to have serious conversations with regarding not just race-relations in America but just human behavior in general. 

He made an interesting point that I've rarely heard.  Barack Obama was not raised African-American.  He was raised Barry Soetero, an international student, who grew up with a white mother and spent a lot of time with an Indonesian stepfather.  I don't and I'm sure DL doesn't understand why so many people think Barack Obama represents the interests of African-Americans.  It's too bad Ron had to solicit a response from DL on his perception of a growing number of "rednecks" in America.  I'm sure at this point DL is above being baited on race.

Anyone who was surprised that DL was a critical thinker would want to think twice and see if that applies to all comedians and not just being pleasantly surprised that a black comedian was a critical thinker. 

Binary Daoist
Binary Daoist

Its always such a pleasure to discover when a comedian turns out to be a critical thinker.... One of my most favorite Unmasked shows to date.  Definetely going to go out of my way at this point to catch his stuff.

MafiaLife Chris
MafiaLife Chris

@Binary Daoist me too. I never buy books, and Im making sure to get this one.

declinometer
declinometer

Didn't vote for Obuma because he was black. Yeah right!

TyWanon
TyWanon

D.L. Hughely makes me miss Patrice O'Neill even more

cal5000
cal5000

Great interview. Brilliant comic and a brilliant person period.

filler
filler

I just finished this Unmasked, what a cool honest guy. Great job Ronnie B.

SLEEPYDOG
SLEEPYDOG like.author.displayName 1 Like

 

Greatest line ever “It is better to be owned than rented”

TyWanon
TyWanon

@Phild2400 ...that was an amazing line

RFGvac
RFGvac like.author.displayName 1 Like

I feel so cheated that I wasn't very familiar with Mr. Hughley's work before hearing today's Unmasked episode.  D.L. is a lot more than a comic; he's an incredibly deep thinker and brilliant guy.  Reminds me of the late, great Patrice O'Neal in that respect.  I gotta read his book.

 

Thanks for an amazing interview and for letting me get to know D.L. Hughley better, Ronnie B.  

@Ezra_Desu
@Ezra_Desu like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

@RFGvac Brother G, know this; before that day, DL had never been "unmasked" like this. This was monumental in his career because this book, coupled with Ron's interview, 'exposed' his true brilliant mind. I've followed him for years; seen every show he's been on; saw all of his specials, many live; heard him on O&A everytime; however, this 'Unmasked' was the ONLY place, that gave him the room to reveal who he really was. Before that taping, only his friends and family knew what we learned today.

RFGvac
RFGvac

@Ezra_san I'm glad to hear that because I've felt like a monumental dunce for not knowing the real D.L. after all this time. I always felt Bernie Mac was the only King Of Comedy with any real substance, but after the Unmaskeds, I've even come to see Cedric in a whole new light. Hughley really blew me away today, though.

@Ezra_Desu
@Ezra_Desu

@RFGvac The truth is, what you felt was the truth. Bernie -always- closed; at that time, none of them could follow him. But today is a different story. Each of them have become something more, sadly Bernie couldn't be here to see them. He knew they were smart; now they are. What you saw & felt was absolutely on point.

cal5000
cal5000

He shouldve gotten the radio show that Steve Harvey (the weakest of the Kings of Comedy) got.

ShowerBench
ShowerBench like.author.displayName 1 Like

"I like the brochure".. It took Aaron Sorkn 9000 words to say the same thing on Newsroom

@Ezra_Desu
@Ezra_Desu like.author.displayName 1 Like

This Unmasked was easily one of my favorites. Its a shame this brother isn't on television or radio, on a regular basis.

Toin Coss
Toin Coss

@Ezra_san I was there for the taping and I agree he is one of the best interviews I've heard or seen.

@Ezra_Desu
@Ezra_Desu like.author.displayName 1 Like

@Toin Coss I envy you & I'm angry at myself. I chose not to attend that UM because I figured I'd heard everything from him, since I've seen him live for years. But I learned more about him & was inspired by him, more today in that one hour, than in all of those years.


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