Jerry Lewis Answers The Media 

I have Duchenne MD. As of April 27 2014 I am an unprecedented 56 years old. Having googled and researched I find that I am at an age not reached by any other Duchenne MD. As for MDA, I am "off the radar", meaning MDA doesn't know I exist; however, I am, and will always be one of Jerry's kids. We, meaning I and other Duchenne MD victims back in the 60's and 70's watched the Lewis telethons with hope; he was our personal hero to us. The others have long since passed; only I am left; but their hope never died!

Watching this on September 2, 2019. Thinking back on all of the telethons that aired and I personally watched. This was the most heartfelt, passionate and concise reply to his critics that resounded throughout the rest of the show's run. The annual MDA Telethon was a staple for many local TV channels, and many went all out to raise money for this worthwhile cause. When the telethon cast Jerry out, it did a quick death. Jerry WAS the telethon, and without him...it was nothing. Jerry truly believed in his cause and gave it 1000% until he was forced out just because the telethon's organizers wanted a younger audience. When the telethon was no longer Jerry, it was simply no longer. And with Jerry's death, it is missed all the more. I am sure that he is up there with "his" kids and all are looking down with much gratitude at the progress that science has made toward finding a cure for this terrible disease. God Bless you, Jerry Lewis.

Whether you love Jerry Lewis or hate him, whether you think he is a humanitarian or a schmuck, you have to say he did a lot for MD in helping them.

I met Jerry in 2001. Short story: we talked later on the phone for 20 minutes. Yes, he is genuine. Is "Hollywood affected" ... certainly, to some degree. Who wouldn't be with what he has done? But he is a real person, who really and truly cared about the MDA and "his kids". That, I can guarantee you! He is greatly missed.

This needed to be said. He had the platform to defend himself and he did so beautifully.

I remember this moment as if it were yesterday. Thanks for the post.

It wouldn't matter what you do Jer, there are people who are going to criticize you regardless. You are a beautiful man with a generous heart and I love you💗💗💗 You will always be my hero 😘

This takes guts to say this in front of over 100 million people after all those years.He was one of the greatest entertainers and meant so much to Muscular Dystrophy. How can people today forget how wonderful he was its not possible is it just because he died does this mean we throw him under the bus ??? Anyone who thinks he was a bad person is a bad person themselves!!!!!

THANK YOU JERRY FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR HUMANITY AND ALL THE WORLD WE LOVE AND MISS YOU ALWAYS RIP JERRY LEWIS

CONTEXT: The previous year (1981) Jerry and the MDA Telethon earned $31 million - the highest total to that time. Around this time, several organizations began focusing on telethons, the way handicapped people were treated/exploited, and they focused on Jerry's work with MDA which may have impacted donations. Another factor was the recession of 1982 which cut deeply into the economy. As this telethon began, the numbers weren't coming in like in years past - which led Jerry to hope, pray, and plead throughout the entire telethon. This led to ranting and raving in the final hours (where this clip was taken from). The 1982 Telethon finished at $28 million and it would not surpass the previous record until 1984.

I was thinking about this incident but couldn't remember when it happened. I remember reading about the article Jerry mentioned and I remember him making this response on the telethon. It's hard to believe it was so long ago. Thanks for posting it.

I find it hard to believe that there are people who hate this wonderful human. We love you sweet Jerry. Always💕

It’s positively DISGUSTING that someone would write things like that. This was a man who did everything to simply help. I’d love to know what these “writers” have done for their fellow man. Scumbags

humanitarian. speaks his mind, honesty is his way .....

Yo vi Películas de Jerry Lewis....me hizo reír hasta destornillarme ...Era un Niñote ..como manejaba la voz ..En una de sus Películas lo vi bailar con Maestría y en otras muy gracioso ...también me moría de risa 😁😂..era una niña de 10 años , fue hace 56 años .Todavía lo encuentro en Youtobe...y me encanta verlo . No se si ya falleció ..si es así , Que Dios lo tenga en Su Presencia .😁😄😇😇😇💖💞

Mr. Lewis showed a lot of class in this clip by never mentioning the specific author(s) of the articles that bothered him or the cartoonist. He fought back without naming names, which if you watch this clip, seems proper. I know Jerry was a controversial figure, but I don't think anybody has ever successfully questioned his work for MDA and his "kids." I think Jerry Lewis was sincere in his passion for this cause. Again, I don't think anybody ever came close to proving Mr. Lewis and/or MDA ever did anything improper.

Jerry was and is a real Hero. Those who talked bad about him were just jealous of his kinship with those with M.D.. I always trusted in what he and M.D.A Were doing and the M.D.A. turned their back on him. I pray the MDA bring back the telethon as a full night of information and entertainment and use Jerry's name as a tribute to his work for them. Dear Jerry I AM has a place for you in Heaven. I hope I meet you there.

Jerry Lewis did alot for America for over 30 years, God bless you sir, rest on peace! He says like it is, had a big heart raising money for MDA!

The Media even sucked back in 1982.

Saludos a todos los Fans de Jerry Lewis ..desde México .💖💞😁😀

"To he who understands, no explanation is necessary. To he who does not understand, none would suffice."

The great Jerry Lewis! Nuff said!

Thanks for posting this video.No matter what haters say,Jerry is and always be my hero and idol.Greetings from Brazil.

That's a very smart guy talking--off the cuff?If so,even more impressive.

Jerry Lewis is speaking truth the media is full of bullface liers who want nothing more nothing less then to say Jerry Lewis mocked and betrayed the kids I say bull shit he gave his ❤️ heart and soul to everyone of those kids and adults fighting that horrorfying illness and yet the media attacked him he is as innocent as the day is long he gave his life for those kids and adults he is by all rights a saint and he deserves respect respect the man period respect him

I remember myself doing a charity show, small compared to everything Mr Lewis achieved but we raised money. The person I was co-hosting it with later logged onto videos of it and ‘anonymously’ insulted me, making fun of my clothes etc. He didn’t realize I had sold my best dress for charity also, so people can be pretty disgusting. I feel for Mr Lewis here, he saw how cruel people can be.

Reminds me of the press today,rest well Mr lewis

I've just watched this once again in December of 2022, and this speech is still as powerful as it was in the 1980s!!!!!

Unfortunately,the 1982 MDA Telethon STUNK!! That was the first time ever that the final total DID NOT exceed the final total from the previous year.This occured due to the combination of bad economic conditions,plus the anti-MDA backlash.In my opinion,MDA did a lousy job of giving him more support while he was being personally attacked for what he was doing in regards with his work with MDA and the Telethon.I would also take umbrage if my personal integrity was being questioned as well.

Jerry was a great humanitarian, a great clown, and a truly great comic. I'm sure he could be difficult to work with, ... but he was a genius at what he did, ... and no one ever did it any better.

Jerry was then and will always be one of the greatest!!!

thank you for posting this clip and bringing attention to, just what the media is capable of doing .. anything to sell news, Jerry did himself and the MDA Association proud in making this statement. Jerry is just the best.. god love him and his kids :)

First time I've seen Jerry so emotional.

Every media outlet must see this; it's probably more relevant today than it was in 1982.

The media people long forgotten, Jerry is beloved.

I saw that drawing of him crying in a Hustler magazine as a kid. I do it was some critique of the telethon.

bravo jerry well said thought out. sometimes you gotta swat away the flies to protect the potato salad

How appropriate even more so today.

I grew up with this program and I loved it I used to stay up all night and watch it I'm 61 years old so I was there. And the Press just loves to tear people down that's what they love to do sensationalize and make people who are doing good look like they're doing bad and they're doing the same thing to our president of the United States so I don't really realize how many years ago this was but the Press is still doing the same thing shoving their agenda down our throats and they gave this poor man a terrible time and he was a miracle to MDA

Jerry tells it like it was (and still is)!

a lot of good points. hated that SNL joke.

Who in the world... what kind of soulless demoniac... would criticize someone who makes the world better by helping handicapped children? Thank you, Jerry. Thank you.

What a powerful and bold speech and shocking as well, to be on television in front of 100 million people on his telethon, telling everyone he is not a bad person or his platform has immoral flaws. He should have never had to do this. And now after he has passed away people talking about his personal business with his family that he hurt his own children and wives and relatives! It,s nobody,s business right or wrong he did what he needed to do for his own reasons ! As far as an Entertainer, and chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy and his great Telethons for over 40 years, Jerry Lewis was an Icon and a humanitarian and a true great and wonderful and brilliant person, and he should be remembered for that only, not the other crap that people are discussing now, its horrible. Let this man rest in peace and remember him for all the many and wonderful years he gave to everyone with all his marvelous work Period !!!!!

this is for any Jerry Lewis fan, it is too late for 2013 now AFI picked Mel Brooks who is a fine artist but consider that he is the same age as Jerry with only 11 films to his name and worked for Jerry for a short time in either the late fifties or early sixites i believe Jerry has way more qualifications.

JERRY DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE IDIOTS . YOU KEEP DOING YOUR JOB.

Jerry was a humanitarian and a genius.

Always n foreVer love u oso much jerry carol mirabile brisendine

What a great man! Thanks for posting this for everyone.

The second picture he showed was from NATIONAL LAMPOON, but he didn't mention that.

Good for Lewis...!!!

JERRY: Yes, a hero for using his fame to help hurting people. He could have sat at home and watched TV every Labor Day weekend. As he's gotten older, he has become a better person. How mny people can we say that of?

What Mr. Lewis could never understand was that the sanctimonious way of expressing himself was in itself distressing. His constant, show biz , maudlin approach to his critics was infuriating - and easily parodied. It didn’t help that within the entertainment industry, people couldn’t stand him. He will was rude, arrogant, narcissistic and not nearly as gifted as he’d have you believe. He treated his own family like dirt. Now... despite this he WAS a tireless worker on behalf of MDA. He raised millions and helped many people. For this’s he does deserve credit. But my God, what an insufferable ham.

This is very prescient in 1918. Outstanding.

I❤JERRY

I despised Jerry Lewis the man after watching many interviews that showed his cruel and narcissistic nature, including an interview with his son who testified that Jerry was an abusive asshole of a father, but Jerry Lewis the MDA telethon promoter was a prince of a guy. Fascinating study in the ability of some people to compartmentalize their behavior. As for the press, they’ve always been the enemy. They went after Jerry, who was trying to help kids with a devastating disease, and ignored the real evil and corruption that destroyed our country. Fck the press. May they burn in hell for eternity. I wonder if Jerry ever sued them for these defamatory allegations, particularly those suggesting he was unscrupulous with the funds raised?

And now after all this time this rant still holds up and this man must be remembered for his great work and for being a wonderful human being Period!!!!!

Jerry Lewis is the Greatest

The media got worse. Jerry was a trump supporter. Rest in peace jerry

Does anyone know the story behind this? What made Jerry Lewis do this?

Does this include overseas fans or is it only valid in the US?

Lewis was a complicated man who had issues with his personal life, but all this said he worked his tail off, passionately and for decades led fundraising for MDA. Say what you will about him where he messed up for real, but with his MDA work, no way.

This dude I went to high school with who was obssessed with Jerry showed me this on tape in the summer of '82. Classic Jerry self-aggrandizement.

Jerry Lewis was not perfect...but he certainly did not make his money off of the telethon. Fund raisers are investigated...always. so I doubt he'd do something so dastardly stupid.

chris thanks for the video

no one is perfect...was lewis a jerk?..yes according to everything we know of the man....but taking heat over these telethons........he didnt deserve that....who else has ever did it and for no pay?

I wish more people defended the truth of their work to community service and the arts industry. Its frightening to me that people like Jerry won't last forever, people that not afraid to speak their minds. While there is always going to be the fault finders of this world, they can never deny the fact that Jerry Lewis has a much bigger following than the people that make coarse comments in the first place. face it criticizers, love might be dying for you but not for everyone.

GOOD VIDEO ! FRIDAY 7/16/21 JULY 16, 2021

This may sound stupid, but what's "thirty?" When he says, "Let the press do something with that! Thirty!" What does "thirty" mean?

WHAT DOES THIRTY MEAN? DOES ANYONE KNOW?

JERRY LEWIS 16 DE MARZO DE 1926 20 DE AGOSTO DE 2017 91 AÑOS PISCIS

wow...

10:39

Jack Kennedy = Hero ?

why they disown him when he 85 that seems unfair

school is a brainwashing system, glad he didn't finish school, he's so deep and intelligent

I laughed at the picture of Jerry in the wheelchair!!!!

👎👎👎👎👎

He's a genius! He's a genius! Not Jerry Lewis -- Martin Short. See Martin Short's You Tube imitation of Jerry Lewis. It captures Jerry Lewis' unbelievable phoniness and clinically narcissistic immaturity.* "He's a genius! He's a genius!"