Samuel L. Jackson On Joe Rogan Using The N-Word: “He Shouldn’t of Said It”
Samuel L. Jackson is not here for Joe Rogan’s use of the N-Word and tells The Times that it doesn’t matter about the context — Rogan shouldn’t have said it in the first place.
“He is saying nobody understood the context when he said it,” said Jackson, who apparently rolled his eyes after the statement, according to the publication.
“But he shouldn’t have said it. It’s not the context, dude — it’s that he was comfortable doing it. Say that you’re sorry because you want to keep your money, but you were having fun and you say you did it because it was entertaining.”
The 73-year-old actor continued, expressing if he said the word explaining a story with context, that’s one thing — but for a laugh, that didn’t sit well with the Marvel superstar.
“It needs to be an element of what the story is about,” he said.
“A story is context — but just to elicit a laugh? That’s wrong. While we were rehearsing [the slave movie] Django Unchained, Leo [DiCaprio] said, ‘I don’t know if I can say ‘n*****’ this many times.’ Me and Quentin said that you have to. Every time someone wants an example of overuse of the n-word, they go to Quentin — it’s unfair. He’s just telling the story and the characters do talk like that. When Steve McQueen does it, it’s art. He’s an artist. Quentin’s just a popcorn filmmaker.”
In the interview, he also shared why his new role The Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey is a personal role as dementia is significant within his family.
“I remember the last time my mother called my name,” the Blazing Samurai leading man began.
“She was Elizabeth, a factory worker and single mother, who died in 2012. She was watching TV and a film of mine was coming out,” he says. “I popped up on the screen and she looked at me and said, ‘Oh, Sam.’ That was it.” After that, he would look at her trying to figure out who he was. She would get angry. “I don’t know if she was running through faces in her mind or seeing me from when I was a little person. Or as this big person.”
This would be worrisome for folks, however, the acclaimed performer shared he thinks he’s fine for the moment.
“I have times when I can’t remember a name that I know, I know. Or walk in a room to get something and go, ‘Why am I in here?’” he shared.
“But I also still remember pages of dialogue a day. So, do I think about it? Yes. Am I worried? I’m 73 … 74? 73 …” He laughs. “See, like that! But it had happened to my mum and my grandfather by now. So I think I’m OK. For the moment.”
