David Byrne joins the long list of celebrities apologising for donning blackface and brownface in the past, after being called out by a journalist in a recent interview.
Byrne took to Twitter to address the incident, which occured in a promo for his 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense.
“Recently a journalist pointed out something I did in a promo video skit in 1984 for the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense,” he tweeted.
“In the piece I appear as a number of different characters interviewing myself, and some of the characters portrayed are people of color.”
“I’d just about forgotten about this skit and I’m grateful that it has been brought to my attention,” he continued.
“To watch myself in the various characters, including black and brown face, I acknowledge it was a major mistake in judgment that showed a lack of real understanding. It’s like looking in a mirror and seeing someone else – you’re not, or were not, the person you thought you were.”
He also references his Broadway show American Utopia, saying “Like I say at the end of our Broadway show American Utopia “I need to change too”..and I believe I have changed since then.
“One hopes that folks have the grace and understanding to allow that someone like me, anyone really, can grow and change, and that the past can be examined with honesty and accountability.”
The TV adaptation of the show, which gets its title from Byrne’s 2018 album of the same name, is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival later this month.
Check out Byrne’s tweets below.
Recently a journalist pointed out something I did in a promo video skit in 1984 for the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense. In the piece I appear as a number of different characters interviewing myself, and some of the characters portrayed are people of color.
— David Byrne (@DBtodomundo) September 1, 2020
I’d just about forgotten about this skit and I’m grateful that it has been brought to my attention.
— David Byrne (@DBtodomundo) September 1, 2020
To watch myself in the various characters, including black and brown face, I acknowledge it was a major mistake in judgement that showed a lack of real understanding. It’s like looking in a mirror and seeing someone else- you’re not, or were not, the person you thought you were.
— David Byrne (@DBtodomundo) September 1, 2020
We have huge blind spots about ourselves- well, I certainly do. I’d like to think I am beyond making mistakes like this, but clearly at the time I was not. Like I say at the end of our Broadway show American Utopia "I need to change too"..and I believe I have changed since then.
— David Byrne (@DBtodomundo) September 1, 2020
One hopes that folks have the grace and understanding to allow that someone like me, anyone really, can grow and change, and that the past can be examined with honesty and accountability.
— David Byrne (@DBtodomundo) September 1, 2020
