Family Guy Actress Has Down Syndrome, Has Some Choice Words For Sarah Palin!!
If anyone is still concerned about the Sarah Palin/Family Guy war of words, then this should certainly settle the matter!!
The FOX comedy has always been known to push the boundaries of taste, but received serious concerns when a recent episode poked fun at Down Syndrome and Sarah Palin - whose son Trig has the disability.
Palin and her daughter Bristol have lashed out at creator Seth McFarlane, calling him and his staff "heartless jerks."
However, in an unexpected twist, the actress who voiced the controversial character, Andrea Fay Friedman, actually HAS Down Syndrome and is responding to the Alaskan moron politician.
And she burns her. HARD.
In an e-mail message, Friedman writes:
My name is Andrea Fay Friedman. I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the "Extra Large Medium" episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine's day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in "Smudge" but I was a blonde in "Life Goes On". I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line "I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska" was very funny. I think the word is "sarcasm".
In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.
OUCH! HIGHlarious! You go, girl!
She then continued the LOLZ during an interview:
Q.
How were you hired to do this episode of “Family Guy”?
A.
“Family Guy” talked to my dad first, before I knew about “Family Guy,” because I never watched it. But since I’m watching it, it’s really funny. They told me I was going to be animated, they were going to draw me, and I did not have to know the lines by memory. I just had to read it. It was really funny. I enjoyed it. I had a nice time doing it.Q.
Did they specifically tell you that the character you were going to play also had Down syndrome?
A.
Yeah, they told me I was playing Ellen, who was Miss Bossy. I didn’t want to be bossy, but since they want me to be bossy, I just had to be as the character. I had to be bossy, as part of my process. That’s the only way to transform the real me to an animated person. So I had to do what an actor does. I just wing it and have fun with it.Q.
When you get asked to play characters who have Down syndrome, does that make you at all uncomfortable?
A.
No, I’m proud of it. I’m not embarrassed. But mostly, it doesn’t matter if you have Down syndrome. Really, it just matters to have a different challenge.Q.
When did you find out about the reaction that the episode elicited from Sarah Palin and her family?
A.
[laughs] That I did not even know about until my mom told me, “You’re on Channel 4!” And when I watched on Channel 4, on “Extra,” and I saw Sarah Palin with her son Trig. I’m like, “I’m not Trig. This is my life.” I was making fun of Sarah Palin, but not her son.Q.
Do you agree with what she and her daughter Bristol were saying, that the character and the jokes were insulting to people with Down syndrome?
A.
It’s not really an insult. I was doing my role, I’m an actor. I’m entitled to say something. It was really funny. I was laughing at it. I had a nice time doing voiceover. It was my first time doing a voiceover, and I had fun.
Well said!!
People with Down Syndrome can be completely functioning, capable people, and although Family Guy didn't approach the subject in a completely PC manner, it makes a strong point!!
Why should anyone make those with Down Syndrome feel anymore different than the rest of us, even if it's by shielding them from jokes? All it does is isolate people even further - and nobody should feel that way.
We hope you take notice, Sarah! You could learn something from Andrea Fay Friedman!!
[Image via Getty Images.]
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saw this episode and there was nothing offensive said or done to people living with down syndrome. if anything, it showed them as the normal functioning people they are.
i am so very, very glad that this woman came out and publicly discussed her role on the show. i think it's great. she's a smart girl with a good sense of humour and a great head on her shoulders. palin wants to wrap every retard in bubblewrap, treat them all like helpless children and drain the sense of humour out of everybody. palin would like to see this woman kept from doing her job as an actress. if this woman doesn't see a problem with the episode then nobody else should. palin and her greedy bitch daughter need to just stfu about it. it's not for them to decide for the rest of us what is on tv.
LOL!! Palin LOVES to play the victim card, so she slams that actress without finding out ANYTHING about her….and now it turns out that Palin just went out and attacked a person with Downs Syndrome. What a callus bitch.
Andrea is amazing!
Asshole Caribou Barbie really needs to suck it up and apologize. If she has a brain in her head (oops!) she'll take note and maybe her son will grow up to be half the human being Andrea Fay Friedman is. Love her!
HAHAHAHAHA BURN!
How does that settle the matter? They were still making fun of Palin's kid regardless of who was doing the voiceover.
Sick…I'm so sick over this crap. Now they have the DS girl involved! Sick.
this girl cant be too retarded to give an interview
Is that Heidi Montag on the left? She DOES look much better after her plastic surgery!
AMAZING
I absolutely LOVE the French Bread comment !!! LOL !!
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Sarah, you clearly always looked offended every time you had to carry your daughter's prop baby around.
well said Andrea & Perez!
Yepp if Andrea were to run for president I'd vote for her before Palin because she seems to be 1000x more intelligent.
Just because a child has DS doesnt mean they shouldnt or can't particiapte and contribute like "normal" functioning people. Palin and her slut daughter are a bunch of morons who need to stay in alaska and stare at fucking russia from their back porch.
Re: supersongbird – I agree ! I've seen Andrea in a number of rolls and she is amazing !!!
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For the record, my cousin has downs syndrome - folks would incorrect in thinking he doesn't pick up on EVERY single thing around him.
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His speech is impaired - which means some folks "talk down" to him.
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I suspect he's thinking all the while "that person is s-l-o-w," but he's too polite to say anything. LOL !
Most people with dissabilities AREN't that much differnt from us. They don't want sympathy. In fact, they hate it. NOTHING was wrong with that episode. The R word was never used. I've worked with poeple like this and some of them had the EXACT same attitude as the character. Mainly because people treat them SPECIAL, when all they want is to be treated like everyone else. You see how she answered those questions? Smart girl.
Re: papatoony – Watch the entire episode - she is portrayed as being well above the character Chris. No harm, no foul, unless you want to feel sorry for Chris.
Just because this girl made money by making fun of a disability she shares with thousands of other people doesn't make her the spokeswoman for everyone with Down Syndrome. It was offensive and not funny in the slightest.
You people are ridiculous. You don’t like her policies, fine. You don’t like her, fine But why do you have to stoop so low and ridicule her family. "I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska" from a down syndrome character is tasteless and not needed. I don’t agree with President Obama’s healthcare reform, does that give me free range to poke fun at his two daughters, no. Leave the children out of it.
I have seen this episode and i do not think it takes offense to anyone with down syndrome. One of my aunts actually has down syndrome, and I thought the episode clearly shows what a dumbass sarah palin is. After reading this article, I can now see how the former governor uses her child as a prop of sympathy. People living with down syndrome can definitely live a normal life, case in point my aunt, and this wickedly funny actress. Sarah palin's son i feel bad for because there are so much better people out there that would love him for who he is, and instead he has that trainwreck as a mother.
Couldn't agree more.
I think the lesson they're trying to tell us is that if you laugh at yourself, you can't cry. This is just like black people making jokes about blacks (and some have made careers off of that), or latino doing solely latino jokes (and some have made careers off of THAT).
Relax everybody. Just. Freaking. Relax. Isn't there something more important you have to be pissed off about?
Re: andriiiiia –
Just because you have down syndrome doesn't mean you are incapable of speaking of can't formulate thought/ or response to questions you ignorant bitch.
Re: YummyYummyScrewScrew –
Ha! Zing!
And as a side note I find Sarah and her daughter to be disgusting two-faced opportunity-perverting bottom feeding money mongers.
awesome
I hope you read this Andrea! You did an awesome job on Family Guy and you were simply amazing on Law and Order SUV. I hope after this you get more roles. You are a breath of fresh air and we love you girlie. I wish everyone could have your sense and strength. The world would be a much better place!! Go Andrea!!!!!!!! You rock
brilliant.
i really hope sarah palin reads all this.
and if so, i hope she dares to make a comment /statement about it. she'd be dumb enough to, so let's see what 2 thoughts she comes up with.
If people stop paying attention to the Pains, they'll go away.
I think if our "human" way is to LAUGH at EVERYONE's challenges in life. . .then we as a society will never learn the line. . ."Who cares". . .
If we're ALWAYS forced to laugh at gay people, black people, asian people, natives, people with Down's, people in wheelchairs, people who are blind. . .then I guess we're just setting up for a world, where our "challenges" will ALWAYS be on notice. . .ALWAYS. . .
So I guess no more statements, about, EQUALITY. . .no more statements, about "Well, that doesn't matter". . .
Because if laughing, is ALWAYS the way, we talk about social taboos. . .then we will get NO WHERE!!!
Maybe, you Perez. . .should take notes!
P.S. . .Holding a child like a football. . .is a cheap stab to make it seem like Palin doesn't truly care about her child. . .SICK!
I love her. She was good in Law and Order.
Good for you Andrea. This girl sounds like a riot, I want to go down to the pub with her for a pint
GOOD FOR HER! I hate how Sarah Palin acts holier than thou because she has a child with a disability. She's done nothing to actually help people with disabilities and only uses her child for sympathy. This girl is smarter than A LOT of americans that buy into Palin's CRAP!
Re: trinigirl123 – E-x-a-c-t-l-y !!
Amen, Andrea!
Sarah was too stupid to realize they weren't making fun of her son.They were making fun of Sarah.Family Guy makes fun of everyone.I curse the day John Mc Cain was born.He brought this idiot and her family into our lives.Fuck you Mc Cain.
Wow! Andrea would betray her own demographic just to make sure she keeps on getting those PAYCHECKS from the FAMILY GUY. How dare she presume to know that Sarah, as a mother, carries her child around for anything, but love? Can you say SELL OUT, Andrea? Disgusting….
Way to go girl! I LOVED Life Goes On, and I am so happy to see that andrea friedman is doing well. She is such an articulate woman, and so smart, too. I haven't even watched the episode. But it seems like palin is always begging for an apology about something. Palin could learn a few things from Friedman.
i understand. sarah palin is making it worse because her ego was insulted she has to make a big press conference because of it. i didnt watch the episode but from what i hear it was not insultive at all, its family guy it has to poke fun, but this actress is making a good point. have a sense of humor! its not fair to single anyone out because of a disability, etc…
everything on that show is distasteful.
Hey Perez, thanks for linking to Palingates! There's a bit more there that you might find titillating and interesting if you have time to explore. This woman (and her daughter) are disgusting beyond words. Give some hillbillies a voice and boy do they abuse it!
that is great she is able to work and has a great sense of humor. BUT, people with down's syndrome have all different levels of IQ's. She obviously is highly functioning. others are not so lucky. Now, why is she picking on sarah palin? if she did not bring trig around, people would say she was hiding the kid. Does anyone remember all the press were saying that trig was Bristol's? Sarah cannot win, not matter what she does. She is just trying to protect her kid. I give her credit for that. Who knows at this point how well her son is going to do? Not all down syndrome people function well enough that they are able to hold down jobs, never mind acting jobs. Someone put this young woman up to it. That is not funny.
The thing is, Family Guy makes fun of EVERYONE; black, white, asian, straight, gay, celebrities, average people.. you can't take offense to anything they say because even though it seems like they single people out, if you're a true Family Guy fan then you know they have made a joke out of every type of person there is.
You got one thing wrong though, the episode wasn't making fun of Trig or Down Syndrome. Chris comes to the conclusion at the end that Ellen is an "asshole, just like everybody else." THAT is the message, THEY ARE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
So stop using your son as an arm accessory Sarah.
Palin got FUCKING OWNED. You go Ms. Friedman, your choice words were FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC, and I applaud you for speaking up.
Aww, she should date Corky from Life Goes On!
IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN OFFENSIVE TO OTHERS WHO WATCHED THAT EPISODE BUT THEY SHOULDN'T BE MAKING FUN OF ANYONES CHILD REGARDLESS IF THEY HAVE DOWN OR NOT!! SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT SARAH PALIN, SHE CAN DEFEND HERSELF BUT LEAVE THE LITTLE ONES OUT!
wow fun
Poor exploited little girl doesn't realize she was being made fun of, tragic.
o wow what fucking coincidence huh i got nothing against with this people but this is way over bearing but they should of told her before making fun of the kid
I Saw This Episode And Thought It Was Funny And Not Offensive.
I Think That Sarah Palin Is Way Too Sensitive About That. I Don't Think She Should Be Piping Up Everytime Someone Makes A Joke About It! I Mean, Look At The Actress, She Have A Great Sense Of Humor And Was Born With Down Syndrome….
Re: tigrrrlilly – I agree with ya.
I love that this girl came out and made a statement. She may not represent everyone with down syndrome, but she makes a valid point that they have a voice and that they are not people to feel sorry for. Family Guy satirizes EVERYONE, and they don't hold back on any group of people. I'm glad they don't tip toe around some people's feelings, they get everyone. This girl is eloquent and I'm proud that she fires back at Palin. Down syndrome or not, they are still human, they can still laugh. I hope this shuts everyone up now who got their panties in a bunch over it.
Thank God they've finally talked to someone who understands the matter. I have a younger brother that has Down Syndrome. He is 35, lives on his own, has a job, pays his bills. I certainly find there is no hardship leveled on him with that. Growing up he was my brother, we treated him no different in my family. Hell, we call eachother retarded all the time (yes that includes him too). He sees himself as normal as do we.
Perez, you're the only moron I see!!
leave sarah alone you fat hog
My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.
GENIUS!!! I love this girl! Thank you Andrea for having the guts to speak the truth when nobody else will!
Re: BilboBaggins# – so you know what is best for this young woman and her "demographic" better than she does? she doesn't need your patronising, condescending judgement about her choices. she's a grown woman capable of making decisions for herself. she knows much more about what her "demographic" wants, needs and desires than you or palin do.
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Andrea Fay Friedman and Seth McFarlane 1
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Sarah and Bristol Palin 0
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This is amazing. This woman is amazing.
sarah palin is a disgrace to women….
Andrea Fay Friedman is a saint!…and Sarah Palin is a fuckin idiotic moron. I hope she feels completely embarrassed.
Re: elo – so you think she's so stupid she can't make decisions for herself? you think she's just some helpless idiot that does whatever people tell her to do? wow. you are the one who is insulting this actress and all the other people like her. why do people like you and palin want to deny that people with mental disabilities are JUST LIKE THE REST OF US? they are not perfect little saints to be kept from the world; protected from reality and from the ability to grow and learn, succeed and fail… some of them are bossy, mean and rude like the character ellen played on "family guy". they don't want your condescension. they don't want your patronising attitude. they don't want your "protection". they want to make decisions for themselves, to have work they enjoy and to laugh and just be human beings like everybody else. this woman has not been "taken advantage of" in any way, shape or form. she's a working actress and she is RIGHT. palin and her daughter can SUCK IT.
I really, really dislike Sarah Palin. Can we PLEASE stop giving her attention?!?
Re: BilboBaggins# –
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Andrea Fay Friedman has the right to her own opinion like every person.
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Having a bad opinion of Sarah Palin and they way she carries around her prop child is NOT and act to "betray her own demographic " as you claim unless of cause you are claiming Sarah Palin has Down Syndrome ?
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Calling Andrea Fay Friedman a SELL OUT for having a job and her own opinion makes YOU DISCUSTING !!!!
What we have to remember is that it is our own personal feelings that keeps making this a hot topic. I think those like the Palins who hear the comments made ar hurt because they cannot deal with how they feel about a loved one being mentally handicapped. I have an uncle that is developmentally disable. I worked with mentally disabled adults for years. But I also know that the word retarded was a part of medical terminology for mentally handicapped people. It was never a deragotory phrase. It did become that in later years. Some mentally hadnicapped people can stand up for themselves and say they do or o not like something. The others do not care because they do not care or know about anything else so who are we hurting?? We are hurting those who are either ashamed or feel sorry for their mentally handicapped loved ones. I say get over it. Deal with it by just loving your loved one. I have yet to see anyone use retarded in a hateful, mean, angry way like the N word. This young lady proved that it is the Palins who are RETARDED, not trig, nor anyone else who has downs syndrome..
Papatoony, get your head out of your a***.. They were not making fun of trig.. The girl was making sarcastic fun of Palin.. Because of her stupid stance against those who use a certain word, the character was being sarcastic by saying Palin was her mom..Sort of like me being latino, and someone asked me a dumb question and to be sarcastic to that person, i tell them my dad is David Duke, former grand wizard of the KKK.. Thats kind of dumb sarcasm…get with the program and pay attention. Sometimes it is people like you who make life dangerous because you hear only what you want to hear. Go through life with blinders on instead of looking all around..
Brava Andrea Fay Friedman! Brava indeed!
Note to Palins: Get a life and get out of ours. You suck. Go back to obscurity in Alaska where you can keep an eye on Russia from your window for us, mkay? We don't want you here in the lower 48!!!!
Re: tigrrrlilly –
I 100% agree. I also find it absurd that everyone thinks its insulting Trig when Andrea herself said its making fun of Sarah, not her son. This girl is like my new Hero!
You go Andrea! It was hilarious and saw nothing wrong with the episode. Hey Sarah…if the shoe fits…thats all I have to say.
This woman is a class act, nuff said.
Elizabeth101;
You are dumber than Palin, and i did not think that was possible.. Are you friggin kidding me? The difference between Palin and Obama is that he actually is helping to run this country and is trying to do something for this country. It's his job believe it or not. Palin, is travelling around this country telling lies. Making hateful statements or comments on everyone, esepcially anyone who is a democrat. her brand of speach is very, very hateful, and she shows a double standard.. When Rahm says RETARD in the privacy of his office to a co-worker, according to Sarah he should be fired. Rush Limbaugh says it on the radio, to his listeners, disagreeing with Palin and saying RETARD dozens of times, she laughs it off as being satirical.. Well, was it not what they did on the Family Guy?? She puts herself in this positon by making stupid statements and comments on all. So she deserv es what get dished..So you comparing Obama to what is being said to her is stupid and moronic.. Put your big girl panties on and get over it…
Re: Roccomagoo –
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I really, really dislike Sarah Palin too but sadly it will only stop when she stops doing and saying stupid things…. What is the life expectancy of a female American again ??
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HonestyPlease;
When we can laugh at ourselves is when we know we have moved forward. People like you are so overly sensitive and PC correct. You would be a nightmare to work with because you would be the type of person going to the supervisor or HR because you heard this or saw that and so they would be pulling people into the office opr firing them because you felt one thing or another was wrong.. I am latino. I am gay. I am very drk skinned. i have a mentally challenged uncle. I worked with mentally disabled adults. Even they would laugh at you and this whole subject. I can laugh at my community, all communities I fit in..
Score, she must be a very smart young lady!
I agree with what Andrea said.
SNAP! CRACKLE! POP! You go girl! You are a REAL role model to ALL women, not just people with disabilities, but all women!
Unlike Sarah "I-Quit" Palin.
Suck it, Palin.
You just got pwnd by the amazing Andrea.
Wow nice burn. Nothing will hurt you more than finding out the voice artist has down syndrom and was not insulted…shame on Palin. Although maybe Fox set this up to embarrass her. That girl is freakin awesome I must say.
Re: Spindoc – What an idiot you are. Sarah Palin did NOT attack the actress that played this role at all, she knocked the show for targeting her family with their insensitive "jokes" I love Family Guy, and watch it all the time, but sometimes they do indeed go to far. And, in cases like these, it's not for humor or satire, it's painfully obvious that it is done only to serve their own Democratic, Republican bashing purposes. It truly saddens me when they keep doing these things. I love this show, and they need to wake up and realize the audience that watches this program aren't all Democrats. They'll end up alienating half their audience and get canceled again if they don't watch themselves. That would suck because I do like the show.
papatonny. . .you're just like every other conservative moron who can't except the fact that Palin is an asshole. Rush Limbaugh used the term "retard" last week and Palin defended him. She's a simp and YOU'RE a simp. I'm sure you fall FAR below the tax brackett that the Republicans benefitt. . .you're just insecure and want to belong. . .poser.
There was an excellent comedy that ran in Australia called House Gang and starred people with down syndrome. It was a hilarious show and the actors were talented and brilliant with their comedic timing. Their 'disability' was not addressed as a disability, and it was about them going through their everyday lives and loves. Positive, 'real' depictions such as this should help to shed prejudice and fear.
There is no good reason why they can't enter the public arena and help dismiss myths and bad judgement. I'm very happy that Andrea is speaking out and throwing off the veil of taboo! I hope to see (and hear) a lot more of her!
[re=4769846]Re: Elizabeth101[ Amen Sister!!
Re: tigrrrlilly – love everything you have written. I completely agree! Seriously I think people dont want to see disabled person on Tv! It was not at all offensive. It was a normal character with a disability. thank you for your comment. explained it well.
just look at you a shining example mr potatoe head
I LOVE Andrea! she is the best!
Re: jennifer69 – u mean his ghostwriter
Re: hateliars – well said!
That is bullshit. Maybe SHE has no problem with the insulting people like HERSELF, but that doesn't mean no one else is insulted. Palin was offended because it mentioned HER, it's her SON, BABY son they were making fun of. If they didn't bring her kid, her baby, into making fun of her, I doubt she would have cared this much about the Down Syndrome joke. Sure, it would be a little offensive because her son has it, but at least they wouldn't have made it personal with a baby. This actress is full of shit, and I'm sorry, an idiot for agreeing to make fun of people like herself.
And FYI Andrea, Trig is being carried around, usually by Bristol from what I saw during the campaign, because he was a baby. A year old, about, at that time? Last time I checked, one year olds get carried around on campaign trails, and anywhere else. Disgrace.
Re: Shaboobie –
Was a good show.
Amazing, Never thought I would see her on a Celebrity Site.
Nice Work Andre,
mb
Funny how people DONT mention HOW Palin wears fur! Dont give a crap about animals! And kills them for fun! SMH!!!! Oh lets forget about that! and be "cry" about a progamme that did nothing wrong! people need to start watching the show and then talk. The character was a STRONG, independent WOMAN not a BABY! The character is not what most people would "think" a disabled person is.
Way to go for this girl! She sounds million times smarter than failin!
Hate, Hate, Hate, family guy's creator but love, love, love this young woman!! Sarah is such a faker.
Re: Aussieone –
Lol. She's going to continue capitalizing on things (like this, for example) to remain in the spotlight. Oh well…
Sarah Palin and the rest of the lot are just looking for more attention. They are as media hungry as Tila
Re: jerseygirl415 – you obviously didnt watch the show. She didnt make a joke about her disability. And no where in the show was sArah baby mentioned. The character was confident, independent! was it wrong with that. but i guess that is your opinion.
Love, love, love the comment about Sarah Palin carrying her baby around like a loaf of french bread looking for sympathy and votes!! (too true) This girl is one of the smartest people I've ever heard!!! Good for her!
My best friends son has down syndrome. He is smart, funny, and outgoing. No one ever tells him he's any different than anyone else. If we are at a bar with them (he's 27) or a wedding etc, I always dance with him. My bf, my son's, and him are the only men I will dance with! He's my sweetheart, but even he would have watched that show and laughed because they were making fun of Sarah Palin, not Trig!
I LOVE her - she is amazing. And clearly she is 100000X more intelligent and articulate than Palin!!!
Re: papatoony – They were making fun of Sarah, not Trig.
ummm…Perez…if peeps can make jokes about people who have down syndrome then why can't people make fun of gay people without offending you? I mean seriously…you are so f-ing hypocrytical. Believe me…I'm all about freedom of speech and I can't stand p.c. crap…I mean it is such a joke…but next time somebody makes fun of you or for that matter disagrees with you over your opinions and your style and whatnot…I don't want to hear a bunch of b.s. outrage…get real…