Ugh!
As if!
In SundaysLast Week TonightwithJohn Oliver, the comic host delved into one of the main talking points having come out ofthis months presidential debate: that of the GOP tickets parroting of a baseless racist dog whistle regarding the Haitian immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio.
Alicia Silverstone in ‘Clueless’ and JD VanceEverett Collection; Getty Images
Oliver began the segment by playing Donald Trumps much-memed and discussed clip where hefalsely claimedthat Haitians were eating pets, a notion that running mateJD Vancehad circulated (and since walked back) and that originated in neo-Nazi groups.
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In playing a video of Vance discussing the discredited conspiracy theory, the VP candidate is seen mispronouncing the Caribbean nation as Haitia.
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Not missing a beat, the talk show host quipped, First, there is only one Haiti-related mispronunciation we recognize in this house, and itsAlicia SilverstoneinClueless,delivering the iconic line: And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haiteeans.
Oliver is, of course, referencing the classic 90s teen movie, inspired by Jane AustensEmma, which stars Silverstone as a Cher Horowitz, a high schooler with the makings of a socialite, as she uses her matchmaking prowess to court the new girl in town (Brittany Murphy) into her popular squad, to disastrous ends.
In a 2022 interview with Looper, the actressconfirmeda long-standing claim that she did not, in fact, know how to pronounce the word Haitians.
Filmmaker Amy Heckerling stopped the pics script supervisor from rushing up to correct Silverstone, opting to keep that take in the final cut.
She was like, Stop, and she didnt let anybody go near me because she loved that I was saying it wrong.
