Talker's Blackface Bit Draws Press Attention

Mark Larsen

The ST. PETERSBURG TIMES' ERIC DEGGANS reports in THURSDAY's paper that GENESIS Talk WWBA-A/TAMPA morning man MARK LARSEN opened his show WEDNESDAY by donning blackface makeup on the air in front of the station's webcam to fulfill a bet made over BARACK OBAMA's run for President. 

DEGGANS says that LARSEN joked about changing his name to "MARCUS WASHINGTON LARSEN" and discussed racial issues with callers, but quotes LARSEN as saying, "I wasn't making fun of black people" and intending no insult, adding, "If DAVE CHAPPELLE can wear whiteface and make fun of white people, then I should be able to do this ... The point I'm making is there's a double standard here, and I don't abide by the double standard."

"What I did today was knuckleheaded and goofy, but ... it wasn't a big deal to me," LARESN told DEGGANS. "I want to make it abundantly clear, I'm not on any mission to disparage anyone. I just don't play double standards."

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