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Top 5 Most Disrespectful Newsmakers Of 2009

Written by Ashton Lattimore on December 9, 2009 1:55 pm

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Manners took quite a hit this year. Socially conservative types have bemoaned the decline of common decency for decades now, but the past 12 months have made even the most forgiving among us sit up and take notice. Here are the five newsmakers who committed this year’s most appalling public acts of impoliteness:

5) Serena Williams

When a line judge at the U.S. Semifinals made a questionable call, Williams had some choice words for her. Among them: “If I could, I would take this #^%*&! ball and shove it down your #^%*&! throat.” It didn’t stop there, as Williams continued cursing, yelling, and menacingly shaking her racket at the judge. Thanks to her unsportsmanlike conduct, she lost the match and has since been hit with an $82,500 fine.

4) Kanye West

YO SERENA I’M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU AND I’MMA LET YOU FINISH, BUT KANYE WEST HAD ONE OF THE MOST DISRESPECTFUL OUTBURSTS OF ALL TIME. OF ALL TIME! Not only did Kanye ruin poor little Taylor Swift’s big VMA moment (and ultimately give her career a huge boost), he spawned an internet meme that’s given the masses a brand new way to disrespect one another in cyberspace. Pretty impressive fallout for a few seconds of Hennessy-fueled buffoonery.

3) Teabaggers and Town Hall Protesters

I’m all for free speech and healthy debate about the activities of our government, but these rabblerousers took the discourse entirely off the rails. You don’t have to agree with health care reform, but is it really necessary to bring guns to town hall meetings and compare the President to Hitler? And as for the protesters who ran into some trouble writing their signs — “Obama Is A Half-Breed Muslin,” “NO PUBIC OPTION!”– at least have enough respect for your adversaries to hit up the spell-check.

2) Joe Wilson

This South Carolina congressman was apparently so overcome with righteous anger that he felt the need to express himself in the middle of a presidential address to Congress. For his “You Lie!” temper tantrum, Wilson was rewarded with millions of dollars from his supporters and lots of publicity. But he didn’t get off scot-free: the House of Representatives passed a resolution reprimanding him, and the Democratic challenger for his House seat also received a windfall of cash after the outburst.

1) The Salahis

Say what you will about Joe Wilson’s outburst in Congress, but at least he was supposed to be there. The Salahis were much too hungry for reality TV fame to let little things like invitations or presidential safety get in their way, so they crashed the White House State Dinner for India’s Prime Minister. And they were so proud of their accomplishment that they posted photos of it on facebook.com to brag about the big-wigs they hobknobbed with. Their antics went beyond mere tackiness — they’ve had real consequences. “Gatecrashergate” exposed a gaping hole in the security of President Obama, landed his social secretary in hot water, and resulted in three secret service officers being placed on leave. Where the Salahis are concerned, calling them “rude” would be the understatement of the year.

Dishonorable Mention: Tiger Woods and His Ten Merry Mistresses

Unlike the rest of the shameful characters on this list, Tiger’s (many, many) disrespectful acts were initially conducted in private. But since the car accident that blew this story wide open, there’s been a never-ending stream of Tiger’s former  jump-offs looking to get their 15 minutes in the spotlight by snitching. The actions of Tiger and his ladies are not only disrespectful to his wife and children, but are an affront to common decency in general. This list would’ve been incomplete without acknowledgment of Tiger’s sordid tale.

Check out more of NewsOne’s Best & Worst of 2009 and the Decade HERE.

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Serena Williams Fined $82,500 For U.S. Open Outburst

Potential Reality TV Show Couple Crashed State Dinner, Met Obama

Man Brings Gun To Obama Town Hall Meeting

Tags: Barack Obama, Joe Wilson, Kanye West, Protests, Serena Williams, State Dinner
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/masculine31/ masculine31

    Wowerz…why is most of ‘em B L A C K?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/esco000/ esco000

    ummm, atleast 3 out 5 are needed to be “most”. Perhaps you miscounted as only two on the list are black.

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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jazzwatch/ jazzwatch

    Only Serena I forgive, with her H-O-T-T-I-E assed self….she can make that amount back selling her clothing line in an hour……Joe is an a*****e and Kayne is insane in the membrane…..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Nightowl358/ Nightowl358

    Kanye’s a bastard.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Nefertiti313/ Nefertiti313

    I believe that Kanye is a complete and utter moron, but I believe the backlash that arose from this incident was blown way out of proportion — particularly when we know that Kanye’s rantings were fueled by booze. To me the firey response was reminiscent of times of yore when black men were hung up by the testicles for even looking at a white woman. I can’t help, but wonder, if Kanye’s same irrational tirade was directed at an up-and-coming black songstress if the reaction would have been the same. This incident is a transparent reminder that black men are expected to stay in their place when it comes to the defamation of white women. The white woman is still the sweet, gentle magnolia who must be handled gingerly with white gloves. The punishment did not fit the crime! Taylor completely benefited from Kanye’s antics. She is second only to Beyonce in nomination for the Grammys. Before this incident, it would have been Taylor Swift — Who?

    I believe Kanye needs psychological counseling. He and his mother were extremely close. To have lost his mother so suddenly has to have had devastating affects on Kanye. He is in desperate need of direction. Even the choices that he has been making lately (can you say Amber) reveal that he is not quite thinking straight. His sense of logic was askew before he lost his mother, but now — well, he simply needs help.

    Again, I think what Kanye did was horrible, but the reaction was the equivalent of sending a man to the chair for stealing a loaf of bread. Hey, I’m just saying…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/producer6tray/ producer6tray

    Hey f**k Taylor Swift, until Kanye did his thing no even knew who little b***h was.. she ought to get on her knees and service on SNL because now the b***h is every where.. White folks are s**tting on Tiger for the same thing they praise their men and women for. lets gets off this white bulls**t. this is BLACK Planet. Lets quit trying to imitate these krackers..while trying to measure up to their low standards.

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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ASLgeek/ ASLgeek

    I don’t think the whole issue with Kanye and Taylor had anything to do with race. The outcome would have probably been the same had he done this to KeKe Palmer or some other little teenaged girl. That was the main point. That he interrupted basically a kid’s speech. She’s nowhere near as old as him (she’s what 17 yo?)so for him to interrupt an important moment like that for her is ridiculous and any backlash he got related to it was well deserved.

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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sexyprynces69/ sexyprynces69

    tell me what the issue is,with the kanye and taylor issue, is it because she was unknown? is it because she was white, is it because she was a young gurl? if it was a man would u be so concerned, if it was a grown ass woman or man would u still be this upset. or is it because its a young girl who cant stand up for herself. i’m outspoken i say whats on my mind and how i feel, if u wanna punch me in the mouth do it. i dont care but i’m not going to keep silent for anyone. if she had a spine and a backbone, and stood up to him NOONE would feel bad i know this for a fact its because she was silent on stage. as far as i’m concerned she was known , but after that day she was on the radio constantly and the number 1 engine internet search he gave her a boost. new year let it go

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