"This is not who I am"
October 7, 2015 3:49 PM Subscribe
Steve Rannazzisi discusses with Howard Stern how a lie told by a young comedian seeking acceptance snowballed into a career-threatening scandal.
Good to know that 37 is still considered young.
posted by fellorwaspushed at 4:06 PM on October 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by fellorwaspushed at 4:06 PM on October 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
a lie told by a young comedian seeking acceptance snowballed into a career-threatening scandal
Mostly because it wasn't just a lie told by a young comedian...it was a lie that a comedian told again and again throughout his career. He keeps trying to paint this as a youthful indiscretion, but he was telling the story on WTF as recently as 2009, and surely other times since then.
posted by Ian A.T. at 4:06 PM on October 7, 2015 [18 favorites]
Mostly because it wasn't just a lie told by a young comedian...it was a lie that a comedian told again and again throughout his career. He keeps trying to paint this as a youthful indiscretion, but he was telling the story on WTF as recently as 2009, and surely other times since then.
posted by Ian A.T. at 4:06 PM on October 7, 2015 [18 favorites]
into a career-threatening scandal.
I hope someday we can look back and realize that this was a career-ending scandal instead.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:29 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
I hope someday we can look back and realize that this was a career-ending scandal instead.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:29 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
Oh, but he felt like telling people before he got caught, so it's not so bad. And he decided to sidestep telling the story after 2009, so it's not so bad. And it got out of hand in a second, and he didn't directly make money from it, and 95% of people didn't associate him with 9-11, and he's just a guy who tells dick jokes, and and and...
posted by knuckle tattoos at 4:39 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by knuckle tattoos at 4:39 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
For whatever reason, I've watched a fair amount of The League, despite not really being into sports.
I can say with the utmost confidence that Steve Rannazzisi's career will probably survive this, precisely because it's exactly the kind of sitcom-ready cock-up that his character on the show would do. (Almost any of the characters, actually.)
posted by ProfLinusPauling at 4:39 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I can say with the utmost confidence that Steve Rannazzisi's career will probably survive this, precisely because it's exactly the kind of sitcom-ready cock-up that his character on the show would do. (Almost any of the characters, actually.)
posted by ProfLinusPauling at 4:39 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Same. I see no reason why this should be hung around his neck from the rest of his life and ending his career. It was an idiotic thing to do, he's acknowledging that now and apologizing. Nobody was physically hurt by his lies. I think people deserve a shot at redemption
posted by Karaage at 5:05 PM on October 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Karaage at 5:05 PM on October 7, 2015 [7 favorites]
"It was unclear how Mr. Rannazzisi’s admission might affect his standing with Buffalo Wild Wings..."
"I'm sorry Mr. Rannazzisi, you're a great customer and all, but I think your endless burgers just came to an end." - Some 19 year old BWW assistant manager
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:10 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
"I'm sorry Mr. Rannazzisi, you're a great customer and all, but I think your endless burgers just came to an end." - Some 19 year old BWW assistant manager
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:10 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I also watch The League (despite my total aversion to Fantasy Football), and I didn't even knew this was a thing until it blew up. That he's also the least interesting actor on the main cast (Kroll is awesome, Scheer is a CC staple, Duplass and Aselton have some decent indie film chops and LaJoie can do a shit-ton of stuff) kind of helped in that.
As for his career ending... some perspective is needed. All he did was lie, just on a topic that is a sensitive issue for a lot of people. If the absolute worst thing he did was lie on what happened to him on 9-11, he'll still rank in the "decent" spectrum on the entertainment business. Keep in mind Some people were still criticizing NBC for dumping Cosby after the whole date-rape thing blew up.
posted by lmfsilva at 5:20 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
As for his career ending... some perspective is needed. All he did was lie, just on a topic that is a sensitive issue for a lot of people. If the absolute worst thing he did was lie on what happened to him on 9-11, he'll still rank in the "decent" spectrum on the entertainment business. Keep in mind Some people were still criticizing NBC for dumping Cosby after the whole date-rape thing blew up.
posted by lmfsilva at 5:20 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd like to know how the NY Times even got the scent that his story didn't add up. My hunch is that other comics kept egging him on to tell the story and some of the details (ie - no Merrill Lynch office in the building he described) must have struck somebody as bullshit.
posted by dr_dank at 5:27 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by dr_dank at 5:27 PM on October 7, 2015
2009 was six years ago, and while I'm not a fan of his comedy, Mr. Rannazzisi is apologizing and doing what he can to fix a shitty mistake he made 14 years ago.
14 - 6 = 8 years he repeated this story, though, right? So it's not one mistake, it's eight years of deciding again and again and again not to come clean. I doubt he ever would have owned up to the lie had he not gotten caught, so it's hard to give him any credit now for saying he's sorry.
posted by knuckle tattoos at 5:34 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
14 - 6 = 8 years he repeated this story, though, right? So it's not one mistake, it's eight years of deciding again and again and again not to come clean. I doubt he ever would have owned up to the lie had he not gotten caught, so it's hard to give him any credit now for saying he's sorry.
posted by knuckle tattoos at 5:34 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Am I getting the sequence wrong? He backed off the story in 2009, right? But he didn't come clean and apologize until after he got found out in 2015... I don't give a shit whether it ends his career or not, and yeah there are lots worse people out there, but it seems like he apologized because he got caught. Not impressed.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 5:35 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 5:35 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
There are a lot of lies that I could accept as a youthful need for acceptance gone wrong. This is not one of them.
Also: it doesn't count as coming clean if someone had to expose your lie first.
posted by tocts at 5:42 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also: it doesn't count as coming clean if someone had to expose your lie first.
posted by tocts at 5:42 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
This has done irreparable damage to my trust in Buffalo Wild Wings.
posted by oliverburkeman at 5:45 PM on October 7, 2015 [13 favorites]
posted by oliverburkeman at 5:45 PM on October 7, 2015 [13 favorites]
OFF WITH HIS HEAD
posted by echocollate at 5:58 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by echocollate at 5:58 PM on October 7, 2015
My story: I was in New York1 on the morning of September 11th 2001. I had visited the World Trade Center2 and was on the observation deck when I felt uncomfortable.3 I decided to leave, but my friend stayed. I never saw him again.4
It's all true.
1 Brooklyn, NY.
2 Ten years earlier.
3 It was hot and windy.
4 Except that one time at a wedding.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:16 PM on October 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
It's all true.
1 Brooklyn, NY.
2 Ten years earlier.
3 It was hot and windy.
4 Except that one time at a wedding.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:16 PM on October 7, 2015 [15 favorites]
If you want to be outraged at someone who lied about September 11 and used it for personal gain, I'd suggest Dick Cheney and his crew of his sycophantic shitheels.
maybe this guy isn't a cheney but maybe we can still be critical of both people for telling atrocious lies
posted by a lungful of dragon at 6:16 PM on October 7, 2015 [10 favorites]
maybe this guy isn't a cheney but maybe we can still be critical of both people for telling atrocious lies
posted by a lungful of dragon at 6:16 PM on October 7, 2015 [10 favorites]
I don't think anyone's asking for him to get kudos or "credit" for coming clean. Certainly coming clean after being called out is less despicable than denying vociferously and going on the attack. Less despicable =/= a good person of course, but I'm just not sure what more he should do at this point to be forgiven and not have people declaring that he should never work again because of this lie.
posted by Karaage at 6:19 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by Karaage at 6:19 PM on October 7, 2015
I don't understand why this dude is getting a pass from many of you. He lied repeatedly and didn't fess up until he was exposed. Sounds like a real stand up guy.
pun intended.
posted by futz at 6:28 PM on October 7, 2015
pun intended.
posted by futz at 6:28 PM on October 7, 2015
And I can't believe he got away with it until now. Great job NSA.
posted by futz at 6:31 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by futz at 6:31 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
I'd suggest Dick Cheney and his crew of his sycophantic shitheels.
While I agree with the sentiment, this rational seems like a classic case of the "Fallacy of relative privation" or sometimes called the "not as bad as" argument.
posted by greenhornet at 6:41 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
While I agree with the sentiment, this rational seems like a classic case of the "Fallacy of relative privation" or sometimes called the "not as bad as" argument.
posted by greenhornet at 6:41 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
I'm not giving him a pass, I'm just willing to say that a certain point, someone can be contrite enough and deserve to put something behind them. I'm more willing in this case (than say, Cosby?) probably because my life is in no way shape or form harmed by him telling this particular lie, and I am having a hard time coming up with a reasonable, articulable harm in him telling the lie has had on anyone else.
A tenuous argument can maybe be made about the story dishonoring the real victims of 9/11 somehow, but even then I'm still not coming up with a strong way of how that somehow diminishes those stories. Certainly it makes him an asshole for lying, and I'm sure it feels like a bit of betrayal to those who gave him a spoonful of empathy (even admiration?) when they heard the story of his narrow escape, I just don't understand the YOU CAN'T EVER BE FORGIVEN FOR THIS attitude.
Dude should be contrite, do some honest work with 9/11 foundations and advocate for real victims (because lord knows our government isn't doing anything more to help those victims) , and go forth and sin no more.
posted by Karaage at 6:46 PM on October 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
A tenuous argument can maybe be made about the story dishonoring the real victims of 9/11 somehow, but even then I'm still not coming up with a strong way of how that somehow diminishes those stories. Certainly it makes him an asshole for lying, and I'm sure it feels like a bit of betrayal to those who gave him a spoonful of empathy (even admiration?) when they heard the story of his narrow escape, I just don't understand the YOU CAN'T EVER BE FORGIVEN FOR THIS attitude.
Dude should be contrite, do some honest work with 9/11 foundations and advocate for real victims (because lord knows our government isn't doing anything more to help those victims) , and go forth and sin no more.
posted by Karaage at 6:46 PM on October 7, 2015 [12 favorites]
I hope someday we can look back and realize that this was a career-ending scandal instead.
I mean maybe, but how would we be able to tell?
posted by aaronetc at 6:49 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I mean maybe, but how would we be able to tell?
posted by aaronetc at 6:49 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm not giving him a pass, I'm just willing to say that a certain point, someone can be contrite enough and deserve to put something behind them. I'm more willing in this case (than say, Cosby?) probably because my life is in no way shape or form harmed by him telling this particular lie, and I am having a hard time coming up with a reasonable, articulable harm in him telling the lie has had on anyone else.
Yeah, this, and it's not even Brian Williams level lying so I don't understand why this should end his career. Pete Davison, whose father died in 9/11, seems to have forgiven him so I don't know why anyone else would continue to care.
Also I really do believe in the idea that if you tell lies long enough you start to believe them. Memory is a really weird thing.
posted by zutalors! at 6:53 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I heard most of the interview and I honestly didn't get the impression that he was truly sorry that he did this. There seemed to be an utter lack of any real emotion from him that made me really uncomfortable.
posted by amro at 7:03 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by amro at 7:03 PM on October 7, 2015
I don't understand why this dude is getting a pass from many of you. He lied repeatedly and didn't fess up until he was exposed. Sounds like a real stand up guy.
I mean he lied to impress people. That's a recognisable human foible. It's bad but not "I hope his career is destroyed forever" bad. I don't know if that's giving him a pass.
posted by Greener Backyards at 7:27 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I mean he lied to impress people. That's a recognisable human foible. It's bad but not "I hope his career is destroyed forever" bad. I don't know if that's giving him a pass.
posted by Greener Backyards at 7:27 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
But...did the lie help his career?
posted by destro at 7:32 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by destro at 7:32 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also I really do believe in the idea that if you tell lies long enough you start to believe them. Memory is a really weird thing.
Steve Rannazzisi never believed his lie. He said that in the interview. But he is a known liar, so.
I mean he lied to impress people.
But that's how you get ahead in his business. He benefited from being the guy who was in the second tower, differentiating him in a crowd of similarly bland white dudes, and now he gets to be the guy who lied about that. If lying about it isn't that big a deal, then surely the stigma of it won't be that big a deal. I'm sure a comedian as exceptional as he is can overcome that perception.
("What, the non-union equivalent of Jason Sudeikis lied about 9/11? Never mind, get that guy from Whitney on the phone. Really, he has a network show? Again? Already? Jesus.")
posted by knuckle tattoos at 8:04 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Steve Rannazzisi never believed his lie. He said that in the interview. But he is a known liar, so.
I mean he lied to impress people.
But that's how you get ahead in his business. He benefited from being the guy who was in the second tower, differentiating him in a crowd of similarly bland white dudes, and now he gets to be the guy who lied about that. If lying about it isn't that big a deal, then surely the stigma of it won't be that big a deal. I'm sure a comedian as exceptional as he is can overcome that perception.
("What, the non-union equivalent of Jason Sudeikis lied about 9/11? Never mind, get that guy from Whitney on the phone. Really, he has a network show? Again? Already? Jesus.")
posted by knuckle tattoos at 8:04 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I don't understand why this dude is getting a pass from many of you.
I don't understand why you feel it's my or any else's prerogative to grant or deny passes to people we don't know who tell dumb but victimless lies about things that have no effect on us.
Maybe we have better things to do than shame strangers over trivial shit.
posted by echocollate at 8:13 PM on October 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
I don't understand why you feel it's my or any else's prerogative to grant or deny passes to people we don't know who tell dumb but victimless lies about things that have no effect on us.
Maybe we have better things to do than shame strangers over trivial shit.
posted by echocollate at 8:13 PM on October 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
I don't. 2009 was six years ago, and while I'm not a fan of his comedy, Mr. Rannazzisi is apologizing and doing what he can to fix a shitty mistake he made 14 years ago
Not 2009. According to the NYT linked in the fpp it was 2013. I am really confused at how long he got away with this. Did he immediately call his family and lie, pretending to have just barely escaped? What about his colleagues at his real work location? He lied about this for 13 years.
posted by futz at 8:15 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Not 2009. According to the NYT linked in the fpp it was 2013. I am really confused at how long he got away with this. Did he immediately call his family and lie, pretending to have just barely escaped? What about his colleagues at his real work location? He lied about this for 13 years.
posted by futz at 8:15 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also I really do believe in the idea that if you tell lies long enough you start to believe them. Memory is a really weird thing.
Steve Rannazzisi never believed his lie. He said that in the interview. But he is a known liar, so.
I think memory is a weird enough thing that you can go back and forth on how much you believe your own lies.
Also why is this such a terrible thing specifically? Because he's a public person talking about a public event? I've heard people lie about much more every day things that hurt more people -
"I never drink too much," "I love my wife," "There won't be more staff cuts this year."
posted by zutalors! at 8:15 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh come on, it's not like he's holding a smartphone over a toilet by two fingers or something.
posted by happyroach at 8:18 PM on October 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by happyroach at 8:18 PM on October 7, 2015 [5 favorites]
and the "this is not who I am" statement is farcical. He's been telling this lie for almost 1/3 of his life. He was 23 in 2001 and he is 37 now.
posted by futz at 8:25 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by futz at 8:25 PM on October 7, 2015
I don't understand why you feel it's my or any else's prerogative to grant or deny passes to people we don't know who tell dumb but victimless lies about things that have no effect on us.
Maybe we have better things to do than shame strangers over trivial shit.
In my experience (and i am not young) people who lie like this are shitbags in other parts of their life and have hurt others (if nothing else, lying to gain advantage over others). Social shaming is how we police this sort of behavior.
posted by D.C. at 8:26 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
Maybe we have better things to do than shame strangers over trivial shit.
In my experience (and i am not young) people who lie like this are shitbags in other parts of their life and have hurt others (if nothing else, lying to gain advantage over others). Social shaming is how we police this sort of behavior.
posted by D.C. at 8:26 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think dude messed up and kept messing up in a way that is boringly human. I also think he should pay some penance for that, and my best idea is that he pay a lavish amount of money to some charity that handles the work of dealing with some aftermath of 9/11. That'd be all right.
posted by lauranesson at 8:34 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by lauranesson at 8:34 PM on October 7, 2015 [6 favorites]
It's a stupid lie, but an irrelevant one. I just don't even care. He's a comic and he lied to impress people. Really what he told was a fish story. It happens. It's a venial sin at most. If it was, say, hurricane Katrina and not 9/11 he was lying about, nobody would have cared. But we're still so oddly obsessed with 9/11, fifteen years later, that this will probably ruin him.
A lot of people are saying that it's worse since he's only apologizing now that he's caught. Bullshit. Was he supposed to hold a self sacrificing press conference: "I lied about America's Holy Day September, 11th" while self flagellating? Nobody would do that. Only an alien would do that. You'd skate as long as you could and hope it would blow over. Honestly, the outrage over this annoys me as much as Chris Christie's 9/11 date-dropping. Let it be.
posted by dis_integration at 8:48 PM on October 7, 2015 [20 favorites]
A lot of people are saying that it's worse since he's only apologizing now that he's caught. Bullshit. Was he supposed to hold a self sacrificing press conference: "I lied about America's Holy Day September, 11th" while self flagellating? Nobody would do that. Only an alien would do that. You'd skate as long as you could and hope it would blow over. Honestly, the outrage over this annoys me as much as Chris Christie's 9/11 date-dropping. Let it be.
posted by dis_integration at 8:48 PM on October 7, 2015 [20 favorites]
Pete Davidson ✔ @petedavidson
It's ok @SteveRannazzisi people make mistakes ... Can't wait to meet my dad for lunch later
7:51 AM - 16 Sep 2015
I assume Steve is still on fire.
posted by Cosine at 9:00 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's ok @SteveRannazzisi people make mistakes ... Can't wait to meet my dad for lunch later
7:51 AM - 16 Sep 2015
I assume Steve is still on fire.
posted by Cosine at 9:00 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love Pete Davidson but he talks about his dad dying in 9/11 all the time as part of his show. It's definitely using the tragedy for comedy in the classic way people have been doing for millennia, but he's still using it.
posted by zutalors! at 9:09 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:09 PM on October 7, 2015
Falsely placing yourself at the center of an infamous tragedy? Self-aggrandizement/ narcissistic.
posted by NorthernLite at 9:11 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by NorthernLite at 9:11 PM on October 7, 2015
he's still using it
I think his dad is still dead.
posted by Cosine at 9:11 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think his dad is still dead.
posted by Cosine at 9:11 PM on October 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I didn't mean he's still using it like it's time to stop, I mean he's using it to further his career regardless of the fact that it's for legit understandable reasons. He uses it as a way to stand out.
posted by zutalors! at 9:20 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 9:20 PM on October 7, 2015
Comedians using life experiences as source material? Who has ever heard of such a thing?
posted by tonycpsu at 9:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 9:22 PM on October 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Again (for the last time), it's not a criticism, it's an observation.
posted by zutalors! at 9:24 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 9:24 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
He didn't just lie to the media. He must have dined out on this false narrative for years. Old friends and new acquaintances heard the tale and likely were moved by his story. He probably told it at dozens (x10) dinner parties. This is pathological liar territory. This isn't a little white lie. It is a major deception.
He decided shortly after the moment of the towers falling that he was going to lie. And he never stopped lying until he was caught. Poor guy.
posted by futz at 9:51 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
He decided shortly after the moment of the towers falling that he was going to lie. And he never stopped lying until he was caught. Poor guy.
posted by futz at 9:51 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
I assume Steve is still on fire.
From that burn, or did it spread from his pants?
posted by knuckle tattoos at 10:11 PM on October 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
From that burn, or did it spread from his pants?
posted by knuckle tattoos at 10:11 PM on October 7, 2015 [4 favorites]
I love Pete Davidson but he talks about his dad dying in 9/11 all the time as part of his show. It's definitely using the tragedy for comedy in the classic way people have been doing for millennia, but he's still using it.
Yes, and it's his right to use it. As much as it was a national tragedy, it was also his personal tragedy. He has every right to talk about his life. That's what comedians do.
That's a very different from just making shit up to reap some delicious pathos. The problem is not talking about 9/11, it's lying about 9/11.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:35 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yes, and it's his right to use it. As much as it was a national tragedy, it was also his personal tragedy. He has every right to talk about his life. That's what comedians do.
That's a very different from just making shit up to reap some delicious pathos. The problem is not talking about 9/11, it's lying about 9/11.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:35 PM on October 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
My point wasn't that Pete Davidson can't talk about 9/11, it's that it's not significant he weighed in here because "my dad died in 9/11" is part of his comedy brand, much like being a big awkward guy is and like being a comedy prodigy is. His stuff really transcends anything id expect from someone that age or any age.
posted by zutalors! at 10:50 PM on October 7, 2015
posted by zutalors! at 10:50 PM on October 7, 2015
If he weren't a dude, he'd have to go into hiding over this.
posted by JLovebomb at 10:58 PM on October 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by JLovebomb at 10:58 PM on October 7, 2015 [11 favorites]
When I first heard this I thought,
"That's despicable."
but I understood the compulsion to do it, in that I also understand most of the childish shit we do. Then I thought,
"Thank fucking god that's not my problem."
Because my problems, are fascinating.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:17 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
"That's despicable."
but I understood the compulsion to do it, in that I also understand most of the childish shit we do. Then I thought,
"Thank fucking god that's not my problem."
Because my problems, are fascinating.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:17 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Falsely placing yourself at the center of an infamous tragedy? Self-aggrandizement/ narcissistic.
That's my read too. Everyone's attention is on this thing that has nothing at all to do with me? Intolerable.
posted by thelonius at 3:27 AM on October 8, 2015
That's my read too. Everyone's attention is on this thing that has nothing at all to do with me? Intolerable.
posted by thelonius at 3:27 AM on October 8, 2015
Also why is this such a terrible thing specifically? Because he's a public person talking about a public event? I've heard people lie about much more every day things that hurt more people -
"I never drink too much," "I love my wife," "There won't be more staff cuts this year."
Because some of us are just way too fucking sick of people thinking it's perfectly okay to exploit the worst day of our fucking lives for their own gain.
Granted, I still hold the hypocrite politicians who crow about how we should "never forget" every September but then turn around and vote down health bills that would support first responders or stuff like that in much worse regard, but this was still a total dick move.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:42 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
"I never drink too much," "I love my wife," "There won't be more staff cuts this year."
Because some of us are just way too fucking sick of people thinking it's perfectly okay to exploit the worst day of our fucking lives for their own gain.
Granted, I still hold the hypocrite politicians who crow about how we should "never forget" every September but then turn around and vote down health bills that would support first responders or stuff like that in much worse regard, but this was still a total dick move.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:42 AM on October 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Say what you want about the guy, but at least he NEVER FORGOT™.
posted by dr_dank at 4:43 AM on October 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 4:43 AM on October 8, 2015 [7 favorites]
In my experience (and i am not young) people who lie like this are shitbags in other parts of their life and have hurt others (if nothing else, lying to gain advantage over others). Social shaming is how we police this sort of behavior.
Internet shaming for something like this is a response so out of proportion to the trespass that it boggles my mind anyone thinks it's OK. I don't want anything to do with it, and the whole but-it's-for-the-good-of-society excuse sounds like shitty rationalizing to my ears.
posted by echocollate at 5:39 AM on October 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
Internet shaming for something like this is a response so out of proportion to the trespass that it boggles my mind anyone thinks it's OK. I don't want anything to do with it, and the whole but-it's-for-the-good-of-society excuse sounds like shitty rationalizing to my ears.
posted by echocollate at 5:39 AM on October 8, 2015 [8 favorites]
thank god jeb's brother kept him safe that day.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:39 AM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:39 AM on October 8, 2015 [4 favorites]
it's not significant he weighed in here because "my dad died in 9/11" is part of his comedy brand
I'll ignore the level of cynicism in your comments and just ask, are you seriously saying that if someone has talked about something often then their opinion is no longer significant, I'm really struggling here.
I would tend to think that as Pete has established over the years how much this did affect him then he IS a significant person to weigh in on it.
posted by Cosine at 7:22 AM on October 8, 2015
I'll ignore the level of cynicism in your comments and just ask, are you seriously saying that if someone has talked about something often then their opinion is no longer significant, I'm really struggling here.
I would tend to think that as Pete has established over the years how much this did affect him then he IS a significant person to weigh in on it.
posted by Cosine at 7:22 AM on October 8, 2015
No, I'm not saying that at all. i've said a million times that I like Pete Davidson's comedy, but someone posted Pete Davidson's tweet response to this - and it's just that of course he would respond, because it's a big part of his comedy that his dad died on 9/11. That's all, it's just an observation. People would expect him to say something even if he hadn't planned to.
It's not at all cynicism to say something is part of someone's comedy brand. "i'm old and ugly" is part of Louis CK's brand and I like him as a comedian as well.
I don't know, I think you're struggling because you're trying hard to see some terrible flaw from my comments and it just isn't there. I think you're just not understanding my meaning, which is like five levels down in intensity from whatever you're thinking.
posted by zutalors! at 8:14 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's not at all cynicism to say something is part of someone's comedy brand. "i'm old and ugly" is part of Louis CK's brand and I like him as a comedian as well.
I don't know, I think you're struggling because you're trying hard to see some terrible flaw from my comments and it just isn't there. I think you're just not understanding my meaning, which is like five levels down in intensity from whatever you're thinking.
posted by zutalors! at 8:14 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Of all the people that have enriched themselves from post 9/11 lies, this doesn't make my top 1 million. He's getting all the shit that we want to give to the people who really deserve it, but of course they are untouchable. A fucking actor lies to get a job? Please.
posted by any major dude at 9:11 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by any major dude at 9:11 AM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you want to be outraged at someone who lied about September 11 and used it for personal gain, I'd suggest Dick Cheney and his crew of his sycophantic shitheels.
Done!
posted by prepmonkey at 11:26 AM on October 8, 2015
Done!
posted by prepmonkey at 11:26 AM on October 8, 2015
I mean, if I am being completely honest you could lie to me right now about being in 9/11 and I wouldn't give a shit. I would't give a shit if you were telling the truth. Having something as meaningless of an experience as "I almost died at X" has and ever will be interesting or notable to me in any significant way. I am almost dying right now, and now, and now, and in a few minutes. Always almost dying, like everyone else at all times, throughout all of history.
9/11 was a big event, blah blah, very important, take our rights, kill all of the middle east, etc, I get it , whatever. I'm over it. Those deaths weren't less meaningless than the billions of other deaths I've lived through. Why would a story like his really make anyone blink either way, true or not. I have more problems with people's hollow reverence for 9/11 than I do with some dipshit lying and taking advantage of that dumbass bullshit reverence.
posted by GoblinHoney at 11:55 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
9/11 was a big event, blah blah, very important, take our rights, kill all of the middle east, etc, I get it , whatever. I'm over it. Those deaths weren't less meaningless than the billions of other deaths I've lived through. Why would a story like his really make anyone blink either way, true or not. I have more problems with people's hollow reverence for 9/11 than I do with some dipshit lying and taking advantage of that dumbass bullshit reverence.
posted by GoblinHoney at 11:55 AM on October 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
Another version of the Wannabee syndrome. Some people really get upset by wannabees, and want to make it illegal to be a craven poser. I've seen many harsh words exchanged over this stuff. Well, in this case the wannabees wanted to be decorated veterans, usually of the Vietnam War. Some guys made a career out of being a phony veteran. Some of them even got to believing their story. So then some guys made a career out of exposing these wannabees. It gets really nuts in there sometimes. You have to ask your friends to take it on faith--when somebody steps on your pain--that it's not trivial. I got some badges and ribbons and I know what they cost, and that I didn't pay that bill all by myself. Wannabees don't seem to get a grip on that part; they just like to look at shiny things. That's irksome. Maybe more than irksome.
This guy made a clean breast of it. I would cut him some slack. Theoretical, or technical outrage is just more mud in the water, though, sort of in the same vein as his theoretical presence in the tower. There is a line in the sand, I guess, and this is one of those things where a person feels like it's proper to make a note of where he stands.
But I'm not as invested in the horror on 9/11 as many others are: who were in the street or in the towers or lost friends and loved ones, who were on the phone with dear ones when the plane hit the field that day. I can understand why some people would hold a grudge. It's a personal thing. They aren't required to let it slide, and I bet they'd give a lot to be able to just laugh it off, and have a bit of pity on Rennazzisi for having given in to his impulse. The problem is, his apology doesn't stuff the demons back under the rocks.
Best thing is to let it go, if you can.
By the way, fuck Cheney and the Bush he rode in on.
posted by mule98J at 6:27 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
This guy made a clean breast of it. I would cut him some slack. Theoretical, or technical outrage is just more mud in the water, though, sort of in the same vein as his theoretical presence in the tower. There is a line in the sand, I guess, and this is one of those things where a person feels like it's proper to make a note of where he stands.
But I'm not as invested in the horror on 9/11 as many others are: who were in the street or in the towers or lost friends and loved ones, who were on the phone with dear ones when the plane hit the field that day. I can understand why some people would hold a grudge. It's a personal thing. They aren't required to let it slide, and I bet they'd give a lot to be able to just laugh it off, and have a bit of pity on Rennazzisi for having given in to his impulse. The problem is, his apology doesn't stuff the demons back under the rocks.
Best thing is to let it go, if you can.
By the way, fuck Cheney and the Bush he rode in on.
posted by mule98J at 6:27 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I mean, losing his career because he told a shitty lie about something marginally related... I don't know. If he were leading an organization for 9/11 survivors (as another 9/11-liar appears to actually have done... in addition to then fleeing the country and pretending to have died after being exposed (!)), I'd support that: for one thing, I don't think there's a way you can continue to be in that role after being unmasked as a pretender, not without hurting the people whose interests you are supposed to be representing. But while the lie was certainly appropriative, gross, and beyond weird, it seems a little arbitrary to take away his job -- to me it seems to be punitive without really helping anyone else. His job isn't to be a moral exemplar, and he's not a lawyer or a journalist with a strict code of conduct. I'm much more in favor of leaning on him to make amends in some way that materially benefits others, like lauranesson suggested above.
posted by en forme de poire at 10:06 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by en forme de poire at 10:06 PM on October 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by TenaciousB at 3:52 PM on October 7, 2015 [8 favorites]