FULL CLIP Chelsea Lately Show "Interpreter Finds Fame" skit; Chelsea Handler finds controversy by mocking deaf

FAIR-USE DEFENSE CLAIM, based on public commentary and criticism, education and raising social awareness.


Late-night host Chelsea Handler (of the Chelsea Lately Show, on E! Network) has found herself in the center of controversy, due to this skit (air date: Oct 30, 2012) which many members of the deaf community say mocks and makes fun of the language they use to communicate: ASL (American Sign Language).

In the skit, a member of the cast (Heather McDonald) mocks Mayor Bloomberg's ASL Interpreter Lydia Callis, who translated for the Mayor's Hurricane Sandy press conferences. This is the FULL segment, not just the partial version of the skit itself that I previously uploaded, where the panel further displays their insensitivity and ignorance of deaf culture (Josh, did you ever consider that comparing a deaf women to a dog MIGHT just be viewed as a TAD BIT insulting and demeaning, and worse, for a comedian: just not funny?).

Many people unfamiliar with ASL and the plight of the deaf and hearing-impaired don't realize that facial expressions and body movements are a PART of ASL, and hence it is a protected activity, with communication considered a 'major life activity' under the American With Disabilities Act (ADA).

And what some with hearing (like Chelsea) would consider as "over-exaggerated" facial expressions and body movements are actually used for good reason, not to "editorialize" or to be "passionate", but to communicate linguistic elements that those with hearing convey by way of vocal inflection, pitch, rhythm, pace, etc, and apparently take for granted.

The following article is required reading for everyone (esp. people who think like Chelsea), to understand what they're seeing:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/arch...

(Also check out the comments section below the article, as they provide further information which is important to understand the issue.)

NOTE: Video commenting is enabled, specifically so that a public discourse of the video may ensue. Please exercise your right to free speech, expressing your thoughts and feelings (however, PLEASE keep it family-friendly, as I WILL delete comments and block users with potty-mouths who cannot express ideas without dropping F-bombs).

E! Entertainment Television corporate lawyers may feel compelled to file a DMCA take-down notice with YouTube (as is their right, as they have the copyright), but I WILL file a DMCA counter-notice, demanding they file suit in Federal Court for copyright infringement. If they wish to have a Judge lecture them on the principle of "fair use" exceptions, as allowed under U.S. Federal Copyright law, then they can be my guest.

On the other hand, I'm willing to consider relinquishing my right to this "fair use" (public commentary) if the "Chelsea Lately Show" offers a public apology for whatever insult and harm they have caused, with a statement educating their viewers as to WHY ASL interpreters must use non-gestural components as a part of ASL, to be broadcast on the Chelsey Lately show containing a message that has prior-approval of representatives of the deaf community (eg Deaf Nation).