What I Meant Was …

“Are there any niggers here? … Seven niggers, six spics, five Micks, four kikes, three guineas and one Wop.” LENNY BRUCE, as part of his routine in the ’60s AFTERMATH: Bruce was considered avant-garde rather than hateful. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 3

“The black is a better athlete to begin with because he’s been bred to be that way.” JIMMY (THE GREEK) SNYDER, sports commentator, in a 1988 television interview AFTERMATH: Snyder, who was well liked, apologized but was later fired by CBS. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 7

“She gave me some of that monkey love she’s so famous for.” TED DANSON, in blackface, describing then girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg in a 1993 Friars Club routine laced with racial humor AFTERMATH: Opinion was divided, with some viewing the comment as appropriate for a roast and many more condemning it. Goldberg was said to have co-written the gags. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 5

“Lesbians in the sport hurt women’s golf.” BEN WRIGHT, CBS golf commentator, who added that women’s swings were hampered by their “boobs” AFTERMATH: He was suspended indefinitely. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 7

“It turns out you have to go to rehab if you use the word faggot.” ANN COULTER, explaining why she didn’t have anything to say about Senator John Edwards in March this year AFTERMATH: Politicians from both parties condemned her. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 4.5

“F___ing Jews … the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?” MEL GIBSON, to a police officer in Malibu, Calif., as he was being arrested for drunken driving AFTERMATH: Huge. Gibson apologized, offered to meet with Jewish leaders and checked into alcohol rehab. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 9

“This fellow here … macaca, or whatever his name is, he’s with my opponent.” GEORGE ALLEN, about S.R. Sidarth, who was following him with a camera for Democratic candidate Jim Webb AFTERMATH: The clip was posted on YouTube, and Allen apologized. But he lost the election. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 8

“So move bitch, get out the way ho/ All you faggot mother-f___ers make way …” LUDACRIS, rapper, in his 2001 song Move Bitch AFTERMATH: Oprah and others have criticized him, but his albums continue to sell well. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 3

“In China it’s like, ‘Ching chong. Danny DeVito, ching chong, chong, chong, chong.'” ROSIE O’DONNELL, on The View AFTERMATH: After viewer protests, she apologized on the show. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 4

“You can talk … You’re brave now, motherf___er. Throw his ass out. He’s a nigger.” MICHAEL RICHARDS, comedian, to a heckler AFTERMATH: Cell-phone video of the tirade was posted on TMZ.com and Richards apologized but became the object of many protests and jokes. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 8.5

“I love chinks. And who doesn’t?” SARAH SILVERMAN, explaining to Conan O’Brien why she didn’t write “I hate chinks” on a form to avoid jury duty AFTERMATH: NBC and O’Brien issued an apology, but Silverman did not. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 3

“You know the worst thing about niggas? Niggas always want credit for some s__ they supposed to do. A nigga’ll brag about some s___a normal man just does.” CHRIS ROCK, in his HBO special Bring the Pain AFTERMATH: None. OUTRAGE FACTOR: 0