Was Aries Spears Actually Wrong? Let's Be Honest.

[mcguyver]

Backhanded compliments

Right, that "acknowledge their greatness" was to misdirect from the "their comedy is not for ne" hate comment.

 

[SirRahX]

If Aries Spears was a rapper

 

[yureeka9]

If Aries Spears was a rapper

Yeah, him and Dame Dash should become a duo called "The Bitter Bros" and have Faizon Love as the DJ.

 

[robinsee]

Let's slow down and look at what actually happened, because the outrage doesn't match the facts.

Aries Spears was asked his opinion. Not asked to write a hit piece. Not asked to disrespect anyone's legacy. Asked — directly, on the spot, by a host who knew exactly what kind of headline that question could generate — what he thought of Bernie Mac and Martin's brand of comedy.

And what did he actually say? He said he respected them. He acknowledged their greatness. He simply said their specific style of comedy wasn't for him, and that at times, Martin leaned into buffoonery. That's it. No insults. No disrespect. No trashing their legacy. Just an honest, qualified answer to a question he didn't ask to be asked.

So here's the real question nobody wants to sit with: Is the outrage actually about what he said — or about the fact that he said it at all?

Because if you strip away the noise, what you're left with is a man giving a nuanced, respectful opinion... and getting torched for it anyway. That's not accountability. That's punishment for having a preference.

Think about it this way: I don't get Aries Spears' comedy either. Never paid to see him. Skip his material when it comes on. Does that make me right? Does it make me wrong? No — it makes me someone with a taste in comedy that differs from his. That's all preference ever is. If I said that publicly, would I deserve to get dragged for it? Or would the honest answer be: "fair enough, comedy is subjective"?

That's the standard we'd apply to anyone else. Why does it disappear the second the name changes?

And let's talk about the host for a second, because they don't get a pass here either. Loaded questions aren't asked by accident. When you ask a comedian to weigh in on two legends, in that format, on that platform, you know exactly what you're doing — you're not looking for insight, you're fishing for a soundbite that'll generate clicks and controversy. The host set the trap. Aries just answered honestly. Yet somehow he's the villain of the story?

Here's the uncomfortable truth: we say we value authenticity. We say we want people to speak their truth instead of giving safe, sanitized non-answers. But the second someone does exactly that — respectfully, without malice, without disrespect — we turn on them for not agreeing with the consensus.

That's not open-mindedness. That's an echo chamber wearing open-mindedness as a costume.

If we can't tolerate a respectful difference of opinion — one that was solicited, qualified, and delivered without an ounce of disrespect — then maybe we're not as tolerant, as enlightened, or as accepting of diverse perspectives as we like to believe. Real respect for others isn't just applauding when people agree with us. It's allowing space for people to disagree, especially when they've clearly done it with care.

So no — Aries Spears wasn't wrong. He was honest, respectful, and answering a question he didn't ask for. The only thing that was wrong here is how quickly we decided honesty deserves a pile-on.

i always felt similar about Martin when i watched him as a teen back then.

i wouldnt call it buffoonery but to me Martin (on the show Martin) would flog the joke until it wasnt funny anymore. and i NEVER found his stand-up funny AT ALL.

Kevin Hart suffers from the same tone deaf joke issue. and also his stand-ups be trash too.

now the Martin show was brilliant. i loved it as a teen. i just remember how some of those characters had me saying to myself “ok Martin we get it, move on”

now with Bernie, (who i love everything about), i took his comments as his opinion, which it was. but i knew niggas was gon take issue with it.

 

[ronmch20]

Aries Spears throws shade because he's forever salty over the fact that his career never blew up like Martin, Bernie and others did.
No doubt he talented, but more often that not he just comes across as an off-putting arrogant asshole.

 

[dasailr03]

It's not about you repping Tim Scott.

It's about a well known Black person (in this case it's both Tim Scott & Aries Spears) expressing unfavorable "opinions" about Black people which the Black Community (in particular) find objectionable, hostile or downright offensive.

In your initial post; you essentially championed Aries Spears for his "honesty", and concluded it by chastising the Black Community for "piling on" him.

So, the Tim Scott comparison seems pretty dead-on and accurate to me...

actually fam, i was not championing Aries Spears. I created the post to start a discussion about why folks are quick to attack when their attack is out of context. Aries gave his opinion to what I considered a loaded fucked up question and he gets attacked. He actually never disrepected Martin or Bernie but nobody paid attention to that that.They just attacked him for shit that had nothing todo with the question he was asked. Now Im not a fan or Aries and could care less about whatever smoke he's catching but he did, do and does have a right to his opinion to speak it when asked. Period, point blank.

Now my friend, I don't see Tim Scott the same way. While I do support his right to speak his opinion, the difference is he has the ability to affect public policy and in that context, the two things are not the same. Aries can be cancelled and nobody will lose a right, suffer an injustice or be treated in a manner not afforded to white people. Tim Scott on the other hand, has way more power, influence, and abilities than a comedian by virtue of his elected office, so no, I don't see them as the same other than they do have a right to their opinion.

It's not that Tim scotts words are not unfavorable they have real world deadly consequences for black people. Nothing Tim Scotts does as an elected official, causes harm to white people. Period point blank. The same cannot be said about what he says about black people. Tim Scott loves to talk about the shit his black mother had to go through when she raised him but he ignores the fact, it was , is and always has been the very white folks whom he always champions and sees no wrong that created and continue to maintain those very same conditions. Today he may be a senator from the south but there will come a day, he won't be and those very same white people he loves, will remind him that he's not like them at all. I hope you can understand this huge difference.

 

[dasailr03]

I definitely agree that the host was complicit in the fuckery but he gets a pass because his loaded question was not pointed. He absolutely kicked up dust but he didn't sling mud. There's a difference. And you're right everyone has the right to an opinion. We're not the speech police. The public's reaction to Aries Spears is just another "opinion". So now we've all expressed them. Its the same argument that's had about people getting mad when they're cancelled. Cancel culture is just everyone's right to have a response to something they don't like. Nothing wrong with it all. Aries didn't like Martin and Bernie and he said so. People didn't like what he said about Martin and Bernie and they said so. End of story.

i agree what you said about AS but not about the host. They knew what they were doing. They knew some lesser known fool was going to say some shit and shit would get popped off. AS took the bait but the host hands are not clean because in the whole context of the conversation they were having, it was pointless, not relevant and added nothing at all to their ongoing conversation. IMHO they setup AS and AS being the jack ass he is fell for it.

 

[D24OHA]

i agree what you said about AS but not about the host. They knew what they were doing. They knew some lesser known fool was going to say some shit and shit would get popped off. AS took the bait but the host hands are not clean because in the whole context of the conversation they were having, it was pointless, not relevant and added nothing at all to their ongoing conversation. IMHO they setup AS and AS being the jack ass he is fell for it.

Or it was by design.....

Tony Rock is one of the hosts.....

Comedians serve up pitches right down the middle for other comedians, ala "Funny You Should Ask" and similar comedy shows/ pods.

Tony knows who Aries has a problem with,

 

[ghoststrike]

The reactions I saw were an overblown reaction to clickbait. Typical.

 

[yureeka9]

i agree what you said about AS but not about the host. They knew what they were doing. They knew some lesser known fool was going to say some shit and shit would get popped off. AS took the bait but the host hands are not clean because in the whole context of the conversation they were having, it was pointless, not relevant and added nothing at all to their ongoing conversation. IMHO they setup AS and AS being the jack ass he is fell for it.

Yeah, I can agree with that but it could have been all planned that way from the beginning. Manufacturing controversy keeps you in the algorithm. Either way everyone on that panel should be above that. Its a bad look for black men to behave that way.

 

[dasailr03]

Yeah, I can agree with that but it could have been all planned that way from the beginning. Manufacturing controversy keeps you in the algorithm. Either way everyone on that panel should be above that. Its a bad look for black men to behave that way.

trud dat!

 

[dasailr03]

Or it was by design.....

Tony Rock is one of the hosts.....

Comedians serve up pitches right down the middle for other comedians, ala "Funny You Should Ask" and similar comedy shows/ pods.

Tony knows who Aries has a problem with,

true dat!

 

[CptMARVEL]

actually fam, i was not championing Aries Spears. I created the post to start a discussion about why folks are quick to attack when their attack is out of context. Aries gave his opinion to what I considered a loaded fucked up question and he gets attacked. He actually never disrepected Martin or Bernie but nobody paid attention to that that.They just attacked him for shit that had nothing todo with the question he was asked. Now Im not a fan or Aries and could care less about whatever smoke he's catching but he did, do and does have a right to his opinion to speak it when asked. Period, point blank.

Now my friend, I don't see Tim Scott the same way. While I do support his right to speak his opinion, the difference is he has the ability to affect public policy and in that context, the two things are not the same. Aries can be cancelled and nobody will lose a right, suffer an injustice or be treated in a manner not afforded to white people. Tim Scott on the other hand, has way more power, influence, and abilities than a comedian by virtue of his elected office, so no, I don't see them as the same other than they do have a right to their opinion.

It's not that Tim scotts words are not unfavorable they have real world deadly consequences for black people. Nothing Tim Scotts does as an elected official, causes harm to white people. Period point blank. The same cannot be said about what he says about black people. Tim Scott loves to talk about the shit his black mother had to go through when she raised him but he ignores the fact, it was , is and always has been the very white folks whom he always champions and sees no wrong that created and continue to maintain those very same conditions. Today he may be a senator from the south but there will come a day, he won't be and those very same white people he loves, will remind him that he's not like them at all. I hope you can understand this huge difference.

Uh, huh.
Yeah, right...
Dude, this whole thread is about nothing BUT you gaslighting folks & defending Aries Spears.
However:
- No one has "attacked" Aries Spears. (They're reacting to his statements)
- Nor has anyone "cancelled" Aries Spears. (But people have the right to not support him)
- Tony Rock didn't ask a "loaded" question that Aries couldn't have answered more thoughtfully or more tactfully. (Dude isn't a child. Although he very often behaves like one.)

Furthermore, I find it extremely hypocritical of you chastising the Black Community for expressing their collective opinions about Spears and what he said, like they are entitled to do. The same way Blacks are entitled to express their collective opinions about Tim Scott and his equally unfavorable and offensive opinions.

But hey; you go on telling yourself whatever you need to help sleep well at night.

 

[Temujin]

Aries Spears is a wack comedian and just a bummy looking individual. To be a TV star he looks like he sweeps up at a bodega. He's banned by all reputable escort companies for his foot funk. This is not a man who should be giving opinions on other comics his face looks like a bald coconut.

 

[playahaitian]

If Aries Spears was a rapper

How dare you.

Every single interlude by D Dot can still be played and will be still funny and quoted till this day

And you made an unintentionally brilliant comparison...

That skit was released in 1997

the exact same year Aries started on MAD TV.

Who had a larger impact on pop culture?

One album and a handful of skits?

Versus

over 30 years of a career marred by ignorance envy hate jealousy, vlad TV cooning, sexual assault claims and pedophile skits?

 

[Hey Julian!]

You missing the point OP. Nobody is saying Aries can’t have an opinion. The problem is this negro is tried to say he wasn’t a fan based on their “buffoonery”. I mean of all the people be criticizing some buffoonery.

This nigga?

This negro here?

This same negro name Aries Spears? Man, and dude got the nerve to say people tell him he’s in their top 5 all time greatest comedians? Who? People with brain injuries? This nigga won’t even perform in the South and his reason is the jokes go over their heads? Yeah an all -time great can’t get laughs all over the country.

 

[jawnswoop]

You missing the point OP. Nobody is saying Aries can’t have an opinion. The problem is this negro is tried to say he wasn’t a fan based on their “buffoonery”. I mean of all the people be criticizing some buffoonery.

This nigga?

This negro here?

This same negro name Aries Spears? Man, and dude got the nerve to say people tell him he’s in their top 5 all time greatest comedians? Who? People with brain injuries?

 

[November 17]

 

[November 17]

 

[SirRahX]

How dare you.

Every single interlude by D Dot can still be played and will be still funny and quoted till this day

And you made an unintentionally brilliant comparison...

That skit was released in 1997

the exact same year Aries started on MAD TV.

Who had a larger impact on pop culture?

One album and a handful of skits?

Versus

over 30 years of a career marred by ignorance envy hate jealousy, vlad TV cooning, sexual assault claims and pedophile skits?

Yea, Yea, Yea. I used to bump the shit out of The Madd Rapper. It was banger. But you got the point.

 

[Walter Panov]

Yes, he was wrong about Bernie Mac. Period. If he would have said the same about this one other unfunny famous comedian who's a BGOL favorite, he would been right. But Bernie was legit funny. Famous or not.

 

[dasailr03]

Uh, huh.
Yeah, right...
Dude, this whole thread is about nothing BUT you gaslighting folks & defending Aries Spears.
However:
- No one has "attacked" Aries Spears. (They're reacting to his statements)
- Nor has anyone "cancelled" Aries Spears. (But people have the right to not support him)
- Tony Rock didn't ask a "loaded" question that Aries couldn't have answered more thoughtfully or more tactfully. (Dude isn't a child. Although he very often behaves like one.)

Furthermore, I find it extremely hypocritical of you chastising the Black Community for expressing their collective opinions about Spears and what he said, like they are entitled to do. The same way Blacks are entitled to express their collective opinions about Tim Scott and his equally unfavorable and offensive opinions.

But hey; you go on telling yourself whatever you need to help sleep well at night.

slow down man.... where did I ever defend AS? playa did you even read my OP? shit comprehension on this board is way fuked up. How in the hell am im gas lighting anyone or this board but trying to introduce a different level of engagement that moves behind the typical kneejerk responses too man threads are filled with? Just so we are clear, I dont' give a fuk about AS. I was trying to speak to a deeper issue than AS and his bullshit. If Kevin H n or DAve C responded the same way, I wonder how many would be so quick to attack?

and lastly Dude.. don't believe the BS mofo's be throwing out on this board Im as blackity black as you but don't feel the need to constantly defend it and since I am blackity black yeah i can be critical of black folks and all things black but that's never been my steelo! .. ease up fam and re read the OP is all I'm asking so i can keep sleeping peacefully at night.

 

[CptMARVEL]

slow down man.... where did I ever defend AS? playa did you even read my OP? shit comprehension on this board is way fuked up. How in the hell am im gas lighting anyone or this board but trying to introduce a different level of engagement that moves behind the typical kneejerk responses too man threads are filled with? Just so we are clear, I dont' give a fuk about AS. I was trying to speak to a deeper issue than AS and his bullshit. If Kevin H n or DAve C responded the same way, I wonder how many would be so quick to attack?

and lastly Dude.. don't believe the BS mofo's be throwing out on this board Im as blackity black as you but don't feel the need to constantly defend it and since I am blackity black yeah i can be critical of black folks and all things black but that's never been my steelo! .. ease up fam and re read the OP is all I'm asking so i can keep sleeping peacefully at night.

Dude, you're still going on about this...?

My last post on this subject was a week ago.
Hell, these days Aries is back to beefing with Vlad. Proving yet again that he's a whiny, jealous egomanical child.
- Please, (for your own sanity) let this go...

 

[playahaitian]

Yea, Yea, Yea. I used to bump the shit out of The Madd Rapper. It was banger. But you got the point.

Peace bro... Just making sure we keep the record straight. Got dudes out here trying to cape for Aries of all people. Next they gonna try to say Lord Jamar had a point.

 

[bgbtylvr]

Aries is a necessary hater for the business. He has a place in the game just like all whack people. Every genre has a pool: good, bad, how did he/she ever get famous. That’s music, acting, sports, comedy, etc. He’s a good impressionist that I don’t consider a “comedian”, like Jay Pharoah; that ninjas is also trash, should not do standup, but he’s the Will Smith of comedy—palatable to cacs.

What he said about Martin’s show and Bernie Mack’s comedy is somewhat valid to those who either come from an era when blacks were always the mammy or the coon, with the bugged out eyes and the “Feet’s don’t fails me now!” shit. That offends many generations of blacks to the current day. My brother is 7 years older, and he hated In Living Color, and I understood why. Tv was black and white when he was little and every black man or woman had to dance a jig, bug their eyes, etc. My brother also took issue with Martin’s show; as would my father, who never watched it. When Harry Belifante, Richard Roundtree, Sidney Portier and those dudes popped, there was a pride in black men that was palpable—until Jimmy JJ Walker and the coonin came back. The affects of the minstrel era will always cut you if you’re even mildly informed.

As hypocritical as Aries’ stance is, I get it, hypocrisy withstanding. Bernie was funny and the best of THAT group of 4 Horsemen. But it was more his voice that the jokes. It’s like a great singer that, when you really listen, actually has whack songs. A weak rapper with dope cadance and beats like E40, Too Short or Snoop. Method Man has horrrrrrrible songs; still a legend. Bernie is the Method Man of standups OF THAT ERA. He’s top 10 because there’s so few black legends allowed to shine. Aries is a dick, he’s jealous, mediocre and wants to be accepted by whites.

 

[dasailr03]

Aries is a necessary hater for the business. He has a place in the game just like all whack people. Every genre has a pool: good, bad, how did he/she ever get famous. That’s music, acting, sports, comedy, etc. He’s a good impressionist that I don’t consider a “comedian”, like Jay Pharoah; that ninjas is also trash, should not do standup, but he’s the Will Smith of comedy—palatable to cacs.

What he said about Martin’s show and Bernie Mack’s comedy is somewhat valid to those who either come from an era when blacks were always the mammy or the coon, with the bugged out eyes and the “Feet’s don’t fails me now!” shit. That offends many generations of blacks to the current day. My brother is 7 years older, and he hated In Living Color, and I understood why. Tv was black and white when he was little and every black man or woman had to dance a jig, bug their eyes, etc. My brother also took issue with Martin’s show; as would my father, who never watched it. When Harry Belifante, Richard Roundtree, Sidney Portier and those dudes popped, there was a pride in black men that was palpable—until Jimmy JJ Walker and the coonin came back. The affects of the minstrel era will always cut you if you’re even mildly informed.

As hypocritical as Aries’ stance is, I get it, hypocrisy withstanding. Bernie was funny and the best of THAT group of 4 Horsemen. But it was more his voice that the jokes. It’s like a great singer that, when you really listen, actually has whack songs. A weak rapper with dope cadance and beats like E40, Too Short or Snoop. Method Man has horrrrrrrible songs; still a legend. Bernie is the Method Man of standups OF THAT ERA. He’s top 10 because there’s so few black legends allowed to shine. Aries is a dick, he’s jealous, mediocre and wants to be accepted by whites.

damn fam, tell us how you really feel about Meth? lol

 

[scullydog]

Mayne, you wrote a bunch of nothing typing that novel.

Fazion Love and Aries spears have no leg to stand on but to sneak diss talking about 2 legends that neither of them can come close to touch being on their level.

I mean he could've said "next question" if it was all about respect by not answering that question at all.

Besides, why speak on a dead man who can't defend himself except martin.

This is a nicely written editorial piece. Well thought out, and crafted.

 

[bgbtylvr]

damn fam, tell us how you really feel about Meth? lol

Ha! I like him, but, c’mon. Jadakiss is fire; songs are meh, no dope albums. Hugely famous doesn’t mean great. Epps, to me, is ass. Cedric nor Epps are all that great. I’m the monority on a lot of this shit.