Tim Allen, star of Last Man Standing and the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the upcoming Toy Story 4, is the latest victim of the speech police. But the details are fuzzy as to what exactly Allen is being accused of saying that’s given him the “racist” label.
It all started on Twitter – because that’s where these things seem to start these days. Allen was interviewed alongside Tom Hanks, the voice of Woody, and they started talking about playing Spades.
Tom Hanks is so cool I tested his knowledge of black culture. pic.twitter.com/aGrJdD1Qjh
— The All-Mighty Xilla Valentine (@BlogXilla) June 11, 2019
“Tim Allen is openly racist now and I love seeing him squirm here,” wrote Twitter user Jeremy Bearimy. In a second tweet, he added “Tim allen at the thought of having a black card.”
tim allen at the thought of having a black card. pic.twitter.com/dLKbPguuIc
— jeremy bearimy (@crissles) June 11, 2019
Huh?
Apparently lots of other people didn’t get it either, because Bearimy clarified, “Normally I try not to call y’all stupid but the number of people here who think I’m calling Allen racist because of *this* video is truly alarming. America really gotta work on teaching reading comprehension.”
So what’s he talking about? The Daily Wire thinks the blue check marked Twitter user might be referring to some comments made six years ago when Allen was talking about his stand up routine. They dug up an old interview from The Guardian, which states:
Comedian and actor Tim Allen is in a spot of bother this week. Specifically for telling the Tampa Bay Times that he should be able to say the n-word as much as he likes. “If I have no intent, if I show no intent, if I clearly am not a racist, then how can ‘n****r’ be bad coming out of my mouth?” asked Allen. The comic, who claimed to use the word regularly in his standup, added that “[the phrase] ‘the n-word’ is worse to me than n****r.” African-American commentators politely but firmly disagreed. “Here’s a general rule of thumb to follow when using the n-word for white people,” said sociologist, author and radio host Michael Eric Dyson on MSNBC: “Never.”
Other Twitter users were quick to point out that Allen’s show is on a racist network (Fox) and that obviously he definitely must be because he’s a white man.
i didn't even know he's on tv right now 😤 white men just be failing up up up and away
— tracy the emotional support penguin (@brokeymcpoverty) June 11, 2019
Tim Allen is racist because he believes it’s his right to say nigger u dumb bitch https://t.co/s4V7BgUzUV
— Jahkara J Smith✨ (@SlaylerJ) June 12, 2019
What a country, Tim Allen got caught with several kilos of cocaine at the airport and only got 2 years in prison. Upon release, Allen became known as a wholesome tv dad, Santa-fucking-Claus and Trump supporter. My friends got caught with pebbles of crack and might as well be dead
— The New FERRARI SHEPPARD (@stopbeingfamous) June 12, 2019
While Tom Hanks talks Spades, Bid Whist, & Oakland, Tim Allen basically goes the route of "The only thing I like black is my coffee." 🤣🤣🤣@Denzealots alum @BlogXilla is undefeated! https://t.co/mJNPfNHF31
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) June 12, 2019
Last year, I wrote a piece on Tim Allen for a major publication (after being pitched by then to write said piece) that was rejected for being “too mean” because I talked about his racism and general toolbaggery.
Sipping coffee this evening.
— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) June 12, 2019
I love that Disney gave James Gunn shit for some gross jokes when they keep backing the money truck up to racist bigot coke mule Tim Allen's house.
— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) June 12, 2019