Jews Force Diversity Training on Non-PC Newspaper Editor
Variety editor gets lessons on racism
Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
Saturday September 1, 2001
The Guardian
One of the best-known figures in Hollywood, who was suspended from his job for using racially offensive language in a magazine interview, was reinstated as editor-in-chief of the daily trade paper Variety yesterday on the condition that he undertakes “diversity training”.
Peter Bart, who had been suspended without pay for 21 days, has also been investigated for allegedly selling a movie script in violation of the paper’s policy.
Yesterday the flamboyant 69-year-old journalist, author and former film industry executive, publicly apologised. “I was quoted making several statements to a Los Angeles magazine reporter that do not reflect my personal beliefs and values. Nevertheless, I am deeply sorry and regret that they offended anyone. It will not happen again.”
Bart appeared on the cover of the September issue of Los Angeles Magazine under the headline: “Is this the most hated man in Hollywood?” The article contained damaging allegations that he had abused his position as one of the most powerful media figures in the entertainment industry.
Variety staff are not allowed to sell scripts because they have to write about the potential buyers, but the article suggested that Bart had done so.
He also spoke about his views on race, commenting on “the big distinction between people they call ‘niggers’ – who are the ghetto blacks who can’t even speak, can’t even get a job and bury themselves in ‘blackitude’ – and those people who are better looking, better educated, smarter and who own the world: the black middle class.”
Yesterday Tad Smith, president of the media division of Cahners Business Information which owns the paper, said that an investigation had cleared Bart of selling a script, although he said his actions “created the appearance of a conflict of interest”. He said that the staff at Variety wanted Bart to return.
Bart will attend a diversity training programme in which he will be taught what constitutes offensive language and behaviour concerning race and sexuality. “He knows he made a mistake,” said Smith. His salary for the suspended period will be donated to charities that fight prejudice.
The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People has been asked to nominate appropriate charities, but said yesterday that it would not do so but would talk to Variety about confronting what had happened.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2001
