Jerry Lewis says "fag," minces, doesn't get laughs

Oh, that Jerry Lewis. The Tabloid Baby comedy hero who is exposed in a very wonderful way in the book of the same name, has caused a real kerfuffle in Sydney, Australia today, where he let loose with another anti-gay slur at a press conference.

Jerry, whose onscreen relationship with Dean Martin and many subsequent film roles cast him in gay-tinged or effeminate light, is 83, so... here's the story from a very helpful Australian gay website:

At a press conference in Sydney today 83 year old comedian Jerry Lewis decided to let fly with the word ‘fag’. And what’s even more shocking, a major Australian news outlet didn’t even feel the need to edit the word out before televising the interview.

While speaking with a journalist from Channel Ten News, Lewis was asked “What do you think of cricket?” His response was, “Oh cricket is a fag’s game!” Lewis then proceeded to flounce about, using camp, effeminate gestures, pretending to hold a bat with a limp wrist, squealing in a high pitched voice “Ah! The ball is coming towards me!”

He may have intended for it to be amusing, but not everyone is laughing.

It’s not the first time Jerry Lewis has publicly used the word ‘fag’. Last year he used it during his annual Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy on American television. He issued a written apology afterwards, but it would seem he hasn’t learned his lesson at all...