He's 41, she's 16 –- but he took her on anyway. Jamie Foxx apologized this week on the "Tonight Show" for getting vulgar with Miley Cyrus on his radio show. Over the weekend he made fun of her looks and suggested she "make a sex tape and grow up." He also suggested Cyrus should "get like Britney Spears and do some heroin. Do like Lindsay Lohan and start seeing a lesbian and get some crack in your pipe. Catch chlamydia on a bicycle seat."
His rehearsed apology included a few "look I can make sad eyes into the camera" shots, along with the ultimate "I'm a comedian" catch-all excuse.
He apologized on national television, which usually should be enough. But should he be left off the hook?
This is a guy that won an Oscar for playing a blind man. Who's to say this too wasn't just another act?
Especially, since what makes this so creepy is the point he barely grazed. Foxx's daughter, Corrine, is sickeningly close to Miley's age. In previous interviews he's shared how protective he is and how he fears for his daughter because she developed early and looks twice her age. But to someone else's daughter in the same age group –- he tears into her and suggests she go exploit herself.
What a gentleman.
If we're to believe this crossing of the line was a quick lapse of judgment and Jamie is actually sorry, then the contrition tour shouldn't stop at the Tonight Show. Jamie can donate his time teaching young men how to speak and treat women respectfully. He can use his celebrity to reach people, not pimp them out.
Or he can believe his little mea culpa did the trick and go back to his talk show on Sirius, the "Foxxhole." And if that's what he chooses, perhaps he can also change up four of the letters in the title to make it more apropos.
Laura Baron is an NBC 5 contributor, a lifestyle consultant and a relationship expert. Learn more about her at www.asklaurabaron.com.
