Essay 4903

Evading controversy with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Wesley Snipes’ tax-evasion trial will take place next month in Ocala, despite the actor’s attempts to evade the Florida city. Snipes and his lawyers argued racism would prevent a fair trial, while federal prosecutors previously stated the arguments had “no basis in reality.” You be the judge. (Thanks to Jetpacks for the Ocala story.)

• At least one Jewish group is backing off from criticizing Will Smith for his Hitler remark (see Essay 4892). The national director of the US Anti-Defamation League said, “We welcome and accept Will Smith’s statement that Hitler was a ‘vicious killer’ and that he did not mean for his remarks about the Nazi leader to be mistaken as praise.” It’s just as well, given that the boycott of Smith’s latest flick doesn’t appear to be working.