Man Up, Wesley!

Racism still exists. Subtle and overt. It is a serious issue and we shouldn't underestimate its impact. So, it irks me when knuckleheads like Wesley Snipes try to blame their failures or lack of judgement on racism.

Wesley, you screwed up. Accept it. It has nothing to do with your race. You broke the law. You legally are required to pay taxes. As for racism causing poor box office sales for Blade: Trinity, please give us a break! People apparently didn't want to see another Blade sequel (for the record, I liked it - although, I did watch it on DVD). Aside from the fact that the movie starred you, and you are great in the Blade franchise, it also starred Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds...your racism story really holds no water here.

Wes, please stop whining, you're making it harder for people who are legitimately facing the brunt of racism. Man up, and take responsibility. Thanks.

For more details on what I am reacting to, please see the following blurb from today's New York Post (Page Six column by Richard Johnson):

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WESLEY Snipes, who's charged with eight counts of tax fraud, is playing the race card. The star tells Entertainment Weekly, "It was easy for people to jump on the 'Wesley's the bad guy' bandwagon. That's where I think the systematic racism comes in. We're conditioned in this country to believe that if there's a problem, the black man is the culprit." As for being in Namibia when federal prosecutors were looking for him, Snipes said, "They positioned it like, 'He's irresponsible, dangerous, guilty, this is why he's in Africa' . . . All these things, they play into our stereotypes . . . They think I'm an evil dude."

Snipes even blames racism for the failure of his 2004 movie, "Blade: Trinity," saying, "There are so few guys who do action and do it well. Even fewer who are African-American. Even fewer who have classical-theater training. So a cat like me coming in, I'm bringing all of that to an action movie. Since there are so few people that do this and have that pedigree, people disregard their contribution." Snipes' case is scheduled to go to trial next month in Florida.