Geraldo Rivera Says Hip-Hop Has Done More Damage To 'Black & Brown' People Than Racism

Geraldo Rivera is just doing what he does best — stirring up controversy!
On Tuesday, the reporter made a very controversial comment about “brown and black” people and their relationship to hip-hop music.
The Celebrity Apprentice star explained in the worst cringe-worthy way:

“Hip-hop has done more damage to black and brown people than racism in the last 10 years. When you find the youngster├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥a Puerto Rican from the South Bronx or a black kid from Harlem├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥who has succeeded in life other than being the one-tenth of one-tenth of one percent that makes it in the music business, that’s been a success in life with his pants around his ass and with visible tattoos. It’s this whole ethos.”

Wow, that’s QUITE the statement. What’s interesting is the timing of this comment — just last month Geraldo made a very controversial statement about LeBron James wearing an “I can’t breathe” t-shirt in honor of Eric Garner, an African-American male who died at the hands of cops back in July.
The 71-year-old disagreed with LeBron, saying:

“What if LeBron James instead had a shirt: ├óΓé¼╦£Be a better father to your son.’ ├óΓé¼╦£Raise your children’. Those difficult issues are not being dealt with by the black community, because they are so complex, they are so deep rooted, they are really so profoundly troubling that they don’t want to try ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ and it is a victimization mentality that says ├óΓé¼╦£we can only motivate when we are the victims.'”

…yeah, there’s A LOT to dissect in that debatable statement!
Going back to Rivera’s most recent interview, the Fox News correspondent added:

“And I love Russell Simmons. He’s a dear friend of mine. I admire his business acumen. At some point, those guys have to cop to the fact that by encouraging this distinctive culture that is removed from the mainstream, they have encouraged people to be so different from the mainstream that they can’t participate other than, you know, the racks in the garment center and those entry-level jobs, and I lament it. I really do. I think that it has been very destructive culturally.”

Sheesh, dude just needs to realize when it’s time to STOP!
Obviously, the interviewer, Josh Zepps, was shocked by Geraldo’s questionable remarks.
Zepps replied:

“I don’t want to go down an entire racial hole because there are a lot of potential explanations for why there is alienation in minority communities outside of hip-hop.”

We think so too, Mr.Zepps!
So, we must ask…
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[Image via WENN.]