Richard Belzer gave the Nazi salute during a photo call at the Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Tuesday — a jarring visual that TMZ immediately posted.
To drive home the point, he also placed two fingers on his upper lip to mimic Adolf Hilter’s mustache.
But Gossip Cop is told there was actually some context for the outwardly questionable gesture.
A rep for Belzer tells us the comedian (who is Jewish) was responding to a reporter who had asked about Charlie Chaplin.Chaplin and The Great Dictator, Chaplin’s classic takedown of Hitler.
The rep says it was obvious to people there that Belzer was doing it for laughs, and that it’s "ludicrous and insulting" for anyone to interpret the gesture as a serious nod to Nazism.
It’s worth pointing out that Belzer made a series of other obviously farcical "poses" during the appearance, as seen below.
Tell us what you think of Belzer’s salute in the comments section.
The salute, we’re told, was meant as a comedic riff on Chapman's takedown on Hitler .
[UPDATE]
2:24 PM PDT -- Belzer has issued a statement to TMZ ... saying, "My grandfather represented Israel in the UN before it was made a nation. I'm a Jewish comedian, and there's this new thing out, it's called satire, irony and historical reference."
He adds, "To say that a Jew can't do that gesture as homage to Chaplin's masterpiece, 'The Great Dictator' is like Muslim extremists killing a cartoonist for disparaging Mohammed in his art."
2:32 PM PDT -- A rep for Belzer tells TMZ ... Richard was involved in a conversation with a reporter about the Charlie Chaplin movie, "The Great Dictator" ... when Richard decided to re-enact a scene from the movie when Charlie's character gave a mock Nazi salute.
The rep says Belzer is a "Jewish comedian" and is upset and insulted that anyone would assume he would deliver the Nazi salute in a "negative" way.
"Law & Order" star Richard Belzer threw up the Nazi salute on the red carpet at a TV festival in Monte Carlo earlier today ... because he's an idiot.
67-year-old Belzer -- who reportedly grew up in a Jewish family -- also stuck two fingers on his upper lip, in what appears to be an attempt to simulate the infamous Hitler mustache.
Belzer also bent over and stuck his ass out at the paparazzi ... for some unknown reason.
It's not the first time Belzer has thrown the Nazi salute in public -- he pulled the "Heil Hitler" schtick during an appearance on Hannity back in 2009 .
He's a comedian f'gosh sakes.
ReplyDeleteThese are the jokes folks. Laugh it up.
Some people have way too much time on their hands, trying to make something out of nothing
I agree 100%
ReplyDeleteHe was responding to a media reporter that asked about Charlie Chapman take on Hitler in the 'Great Dictator.
I think his hiney photo was aim at the reporter ... Hahaha and some giffles too .