Ted Danson has continued to express regret over his controversial performance at the 1993 Friars Club roast of Whoopi Goldberg. Speaking on W. Kamau Bell’s podcast, he admitted he feels compelled to apologize “for the rest of my life,” since the footage remains accessible and still provokes anger.
At the time, Danson was Goldberg’s partner and took his role as toastmaster seriously, but his routine which included blackface and repeated use of racial slurs quickly drew backlash.
Danson explained that he believed he was attempting satire about race and relationships, but misjudged the impact. He thought the roast would be confined to a closed‑circuit audience rather than reaching the wider public.
Within moments of performing, he realized the act was failing, describing it as feeling like he had “stuck [his] finger in a light socket.” Prominent figures such as Montel Williams and Mayor David Dinkins condemned the routine, and the Friars Club issued a public apology.
Despite the criticism, Goldberg defended Danson at the time, though the incident has remained a stain on his career. Danson has since acknowledged that he convinced himself he could deliver “performance theater” but now recognizes the harm caused.
His reflections underscore how misguided attempts at “edgy” humor can perpetuate stereotypes and cause lasting damage, leaving him with a lifelong sense of responsibility to own the mistake.
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