BE's Butch Graves: Griffin broke agreement

DALLAS - As I sped down I-35 to appear on CNN to discuss the Eddie Griffin drama at the Black Enterprise golf and tennis gathering last week, BE CEO Butch Graves returned my call and shed some light on what took place.


Unfortunately, I couldn't take notes since I was doing nearly 100 on the freeway (had a speaking engagement at the University of North Texas), but here is the gist of the conversation:


Graves said that Griffin, known for his raunchy stand up, sent BE a DVD showcasing his clean show before he was hired to perform at the event. He said that BE put language in the contract stipulating that Griffin was to perform a clean show.


Shortly before taking the stage, Graves said BE officials, the sponsors of the evening, as well as Griffin's manager reminded him to keep it clean. But when he took the stage, that all went out the window, Graves said.


Graves, the son of BE founder Earl Graves, said that Griffin went on stage and instead of using the N-word, he would use m----rf----r instead. That led to a torrent of MF's that Graves says was beyond comprehension. He said Griffin then went on to talk about "killing white b-----s" and other language that was offensive.


It was at that point that BE officials cut off his microphone and proceeded to end his show.


Graves did acknowledge that BE was "culpable" for hiring Griffin, knowing full well that what transpired could take place since comedians are unpredictable.


But he made it clear that the kind of language Griffin used will not be tolerated by Black Enterprise because they believe in the upliftment of African Americans.

Comments

[alicia l. blakely]

What the heck did black enterprise expect? That is the nature of comedians. They should have hired a singer or magician orsomeone who would not be socially offensive. I feel that Black Enterprise has washed hands with certain individuals of certain cultures and forgotten where they come from. Never forget the road you traveled because that is the same road you will have to return on someday!

[Rashun]

If a person sends a clean version of their material to the program committee and agrees to perform a clean version for a program they should honor that agreement. Everybody doesn't want to hear all that profane garbage.

[Reginald Hicks]

What an ignorant thing to say! Blacks do not come from a gutter culture. That may be your experience within your own family but by and large even in our most depraved state, Blacks have always carried themselves with class and decency--well until recently. For some reason we have allowed the most degenrate forms within our Diaspora to define who we are and how the world will view us. The ride is over and it's time that we (African Americans) who comprise of the majority of our kind stop allowing the negative images of our race to be portrayed as if that is the majority. Mr. Griffin's act is fine in other venues that you pay to attend. This however was not that venue and he breeched his contract. Even if he didn't breech the contract, I applaud Mr. Graves for standing up and saying ENOUGH is ENOUGH. We all should follow his lead.

>>What the heck did black enterprise expect? That is the nature of comedians. They should have hired a singer or magician orsomeone who would not be socially offensive. I feel that Black Enterprise has washed hands with certain individuals of certain cultures and forgotten where they come from. Never forget the road you traveled because that is the same road you will have to return on someday!<<

[Gina From What About Our Daughters]

OH what a bunch of foolishness. Eddie didn't break ANY agreement. Black Enterprise tried to juggle rattlesnakes while riding a unicycle and Eddie bit them again and again and again. If they are soooo about Black empowerment then why hire Griffin. I say good for Eddie basically making a fool out of them at their swanky affair. You knew what you were getting when you hired him!

What a WEAK response form Black Enterprise. Be man enough to say that you messed up, but to try to come back and say "BUt he promised!" give me a break. If you have to have a comedian promise to do a "clean " show then you shouldn't have hired him in the first place.

This was an opportunity for BE to showcase new talent that could give them a clean show, but they were lazy and went with a big name.

And Roland as a Texas I really resent you driving 100mph while talking on a cellphone. Take that bad driving back to Chicago, I ought to forward this to law enforcement in North Texas. I think this posts qualifies as an admission of guilt.

Bad driving kills! Just be glad none of my friends and family got in between you and your 100mph flying missile.

[Gina From What About Our Daughters]

OH what a bunch of foolishness. Eddie didn't break ANY agreement. Black Enterprise tried to juggle rattlesnakes while riding a unicycle and Eddie bit them again and again and again. If they are soooo about Black empowerment then why hire Griffin. I say good for Eddie basically making a fool out of them at their swanky affair. You knew what you were getting when you hired him!

What a WEAK response form Black Enterprise. Be man enough to say that you messed up, but to try to come back and say "BUt he promised!" give me a break. If you have to have a comedian promise to do a "clean " show then you shouldn't have hired him in the first place.

This was an opportunity for BE to showcase new talent that could give them a clean show, but they were lazy and went with a big name.

And Roland as a Texas I really resent you driving 100mph while talking on a cellphone. Take that bad driving back to Chicago, I ought to forward this to law enforcement in North Texas. I think this posts qualifies as an admission of guilt.

Bad driving kills! Just be glad none of my friends and family got in between you and your 100mph flying missile.

[Kris]

Here's what I don't understand. Why is it that blacks who are trying to do something are "forgetting where they came from", but blacks who glorify a trashy lifestyle are "keeping it real". If you believe this, you're mentality is messed up. Don't forget that the Africans who were first brought over were a dignified, proud people. We as a people started aiming lower when the slavemasters brainwashed some of us and deemed it so. And some of us have remained that way ever since. And this also shows that the people who gave of themselves during the Civil Rights movement, did so in vain for some of us...

If Eddie Griffin signed the contract, he should have honored it. Eddie CAN do clean and still be funny, I've seen him do it before. So what, its okay for him to honor the non-black executives at UPN, by doing what they wanted him to do on "Malcolm & Eddie", but when asked to do it for ONE NIGHT with his own people, he couldn't do it. Wow, now THAT's foolishness.

[GREAT SHOW!]

Praises to BET for finally making a stand against "garbage". There were teens in the audience and there is enough negative stereotypes perpetuated by blacks against blacks that affect our youth. Comedy can be funny and clean at the same time, think Bill Cosby. Also if one must use profanity at least have a political message behind it. But just to get on stage and curse and disgrace yourself and your people is just tiring. It is easy to curse on stage to make people laugh. But to get people thinking and laughing at the same time is TRULY GREAT TALENT.

Thanks again BET for getting this FOOL OFF THE STAGE!

[GREAT SHOW!]

Praises to BET for finally making a stand against "garbage". There were teens in the audience and there is enough negative stereotypes perpetuated by blacks against blacks that affect our youth. Comedy can be funny and clean at the same time, think Bill Cosby. Also if one must use profanity at least have a political message behind it. But just to get on stage and curse and disgrace yourself and your people is just tiring. It is easy to curse on stage to make people laugh. But to get people thinking and laughing at the same time is TRULY GREAT TALENT.

Thanks again BET for getting this FOOL OFF THE STAGE!