Jamie Foxx Says Spike Lee Is "Irresponsible" To Judge 'Django Unchained' Without Seeing It

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by Kevin Jagernauth
January 19, 2013 1:57 PM
27 Comments

You might remember that just before the film opened nationwide, the always opinionated Spike Lee weighed in on Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained." "...it's disrespectful to my ancestors, to see that film," he said in an interview, while he also hit Twitter to proclaim, "American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It Was A Holocaust. My Ancestors Are Slaves. Stolen From Africa. I Will Honor Them." Since then, there hasn't been much reaction from camp 'Django,' but now Jamie Foxx has broken the silence.

Catching up with the Guardian recently, helping to promote the film as it opens in the U.K. this weekend, he was asked about Lee's comments and Foxx was quite candid. "The question for me is: where's Spike Lee coming from? He didn't like Whoopi Goldberg, he doesn't like Tyler Perry, he doesn't like anybody, I think he's sort of run his course," he said. Indeed, Lee has made his feelings known about the 'Madea' writer/director/producer/star and earned Perry's ire in the process. But really, Foxx just thinks Lee should see the movie first.

"I mean, I respect Spike, he's a fantastic director. But he gets a little shady when he's taking shots at his colleagues without looking at the work. To me, that's irresponsible," Foxx said.

And even though discussion around the film will likely continue (the movie prompted us to write three different reviews), the bottom line is audiences have been embracing it. "Django Unchained" has become the best box office film domestically in Tarantino's career, and with five Oscar nominations, even more honors could be coming its way very soon. The film is in theaters now.

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More: Django Unchained, Jamie Foxx, Spike Lee

27 Comments

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Javi | January 20, 2013 1:46 PMReply

Guys, see the Jamie Foxx interview in Fotogramas, the most famous magazine from Spain. You cand find on the web. It's amazing. "Hollywood is racist" and more about Di Caprio vs Tarantino...
Danoo | January 20, 2013 5:14 AMReply

I am not black neither white.,the world when slaves and stuff used to happen its past we can't change past bt this is today lets forgot all this,.!y can't we live in peace,.!i respect all kind of people,.there is only 2 kind of people in this world good and bad..!black doesn't mean they r bad and white doesn't mean they r good,it's all attitude..,! I don't know wt is wrong wid lee.! Bt let's not taught our children about color and all kind of nonsence stuff.!let them taught wt is right and wt is wrong...if somebody hurt. I apologize,it's just my thought
Zack | January 20, 2013 12:25 PM

If you're not black, maybe you shouldn't presume to tell black people what they should "forget".
RE | January 20, 2013 2:07 AMReply

This race stuff never fails. Humans have never developed an intelligent or rational way to discuss it, so I STFU on the subject. That is so recommended for all humans. This is about Spike Lee, the first black filmmaker to keep a long career going, doing such a horrible job of mattering at all.
Alex | January 20, 2013 1:08 AMReply

Is that like not judging a guy who killed some Koreans and founded the Cryps? Because Tookie Williams did that and Jamie Foxx was a big fan of him.
Zack | January 20, 2013 12:24 PM

Is that like making a comment that has fuck-all to do with the post?
Jerry | January 19, 2013 6:48 PMReply

First and foremost HIS PEOPLE weren't stolen from Africa they were SOLD to the white man by their own PEOPLE!! Martin Luther King should have lived and this Nigger should be shot(Spike Lee) and I do not use that word but he is the most racist black man I have ever heard speak!! I can't stand him and just wish he would go the hell away!! If you don't like my comment then you can kiss my rebel a$$!!
P-DUB | January 19, 2013 8:33 PM

Yeah calling Spike Lee a nigger who should be shot and sent to hell on a movie news website is so rebellious. Everyone is impressed with your bravery.
Zack | January 19, 2013 8:09 PM

So you call a black guy a "nigger [who] should be shot", but HE'S the racist. Got it.
RW108 | January 19, 2013 6:46 PMReply

Congratulations, Spike Lee!! You got people to pay attention to you again! Good for you.

I didn't see the movie, so I don't know how offensive it is. Neither does he.

Maybe it's a really elaborate way to avoid ever getting picked for jury duty.
spooie | January 19, 2013 5:29 PMReply

I'm not black, and I'm not claiming to be the voice of all black people around the world... but maybe Mr. Lee needs to realize he isn't that voice either.

Certainly, if he has seen the movie and has criticisms about it, I can understand that... but if he hasn't, why is he commenting on it at all?

When you don't know your facts, you end up doing things like giving out the home address of a poor old couple to a lynch mob.
jason | January 19, 2013 3:09 PMReply

Every race has been a slave at one pointe in history so black people get over it
Janet | January 19, 2013 4:13 PM

We will... when people don't try to stop us from voting in Florida. And when ignorant people TELL us to get over a plight they obviously have zero sympathy or empathy for.
Zack | January 19, 2013 3:45 PM

^Everyone here send me $1000 or I'll ask this idiot his opinion on Black History Month. I'm not bluffing.
mike | January 19, 2013 3:04 PMReply

spike is trying to maintain some moral high ground, perhaps because he's lost so much directorial ground....still losing
jules | January 19, 2013 4:11 PM

quentin wants to be a hip black dude. spike is no longer a hip black dude. that's the cause of the friction
lisa | January 19, 2013 3:19 PM

maybe, but quentin t. has also lost some footing - going for the grandiose moralistic themes instead of sticking with the hip - bit&&es fighting in kill bill, the original screenplay arrangement in pulp fiction, etc
Superzoom | January 19, 2013 2:57 PMReply

Spike Lee's skills as a media whore have long surpassed his skill as a filmmaker. He is a master of the provocative, controversial cheap shot. That's nothing to be proud of. He's not good enough for his films to speak for themselves, I suppose.
Lars | January 19, 2013 2:43 PMReply

Foxx is right, but that doesn't mean Lee is wrong.
Lars | January 19, 2013 2:41 PMReply

Foxx is right, but that doesn't mean Lee is wrong.
Daniel Delago | January 19, 2013 2:35 PMReply

"American slavery was not a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western." - Spike Lee One of the best quotes I've heard in a long time. Kudos Spike!
RW108 | January 19, 2013 6:50 PM

Except that since he hasn't seen it, no one takes him seriously - well, no one capable of thinking for themselves, at least. So, his wonderful quote becomes nothing more than an attention grabbing soundbite.
Zack | January 19, 2013 3:48 PM

I have to say, I do think that "Django Unchained" probably has the most visceral, difficult-to-watch, deliberately repulsive portrayal of slavery I've ever seen on film; there are valid criticisms of it to be made from both an artistic and a moral standpoint, but it didn't come off as trivializing slavery to me at all
tristan eldritch | January 19, 2013 3:17 PM

Yeah, except he has no way of possibly knowing that Django reduces slavery to just a "Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western" - unless he sees the damn thing!
Chris | January 19, 2013 2:19 PMReply

Two racists trying to out-racist one another.
Zack | January 19, 2013 3:06 PM

Lolwut?
KT | January 19, 2013 2:39 PM

Try again.