Ted Danson breaks silence on blackface scandal that shocked Hollywood

Ted Danson reflects on his 1993 blackface controversy, saying he will apologise for the rest of his life

Ted Danson has revisited one of the most controversial moments of his career, saying he will continue apologising for his 1993 blackface performance at a roast honouring then-partner Whoopi Goldberg.

Speaking on comedian W. Kamau Bell’s podcast Who’s With Me?, the Cheers star reflected on the incident and acknowledged the lasting impact it had on audiences. Danson said he remains deeply sorry for the performance and understands why people continue to view it as offensive more than three decades later.

The controversy stems from a Friars Club roast held in 1993 while Danson and Goldberg were in a relationship. During the event, Danson appeared in blackface as part of a comedy routine intended to address public reactions to their interracial relationship. The performance sparked widespread criticism and became one of the most discussed moments of his career.

During the podcast conversation, Danson explained that he originally believed his intentions were positive and that he was attempting to use humour to comment on racism and public perceptions of interracial couples. However, he now says intentions do not outweigh the impact such actions have on others.

The actor acknowledged that his decision was misguided and described it as arrogant, admitting he overestimated his ability to handle such sensitive subject matter. He also apologised to Goldberg for the position she was placed in after publicly defending him following the backlash.

Danson noted that the controversy resurfaced during the Black Lives Matter movement, prompting further reflection on the incident and its consequences.

While Goldberg defended him at the time, Danson said the experience taught him an important lesson about accountability, adding that understanding the effect of one’s actions is more important than focusing solely on personal intentions.