Wesley Snipes blames his troubles on racism....

[Bicoastal]

Found this at IMDb:

Snipes: "I'm a Victim of Racism"

Actor Wesley Snipes has slammed the media for portraying him as a "bad guy" after he was charged with tax fraud, claiming he is a victim of racism. Snipes, 45, is due to stand trial next month in Florida on charges he fraudulently claimed tax refunds of almost $12 million in 1996 and 1997. He is also accused of failing to file tax returns from 1999 to 2004.

But the star has blamed the press and its racial prejudice for over-exaggerating the scandal, and depicting him as a villain. He says, "It was easy for people to jump on the 'Wesley's the bad guy' bandwagon. That's where I think the systematic racism comes in. We're conditioned in this country to believe that if there's a problem, the black man is the culprit."

Snipes also blames discrimination for the box office failure of his 2004 movie Blade: Trinity. He adds, "There are so few guys who do action and do it well. Even fewer who are African-American. Even fewer who have classical-theater training. So a cat like me coming in, I'm bringing all of that to an action movie. Since there are so few people that do this and have that pedigree, people disregard their contribution."

Not sure about this one...

[Snarkturian Clone]

1. I'll give him his first point...

but Blade:Trinity was a box office failure because it sucked big donkey dick. How does he explain the first Blade movie being such a big hit?

A funny article about Wesley Snipes:

http://www.cracked.com/article_14934_wisdom-wesley-snipes-7-quotes-live-by.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Racism forced him to illegally claim tax refunds? To not file taxes five years in a row?

Whatever. :eyes:

Corrected subject header.

[Snarkturian Clone]

3. He can use the Willie Nelson excuse...

that he thought he was supposed to pay Texas, not taxes.

[ingac70]

4. Wesley Snipes needs to get over himself....

His tax fraud consisted of taking a "reparations for slavery" write off for those two tax years. His own stupidity, and not his race, had everything to do with his tax woes.

I find it amusing that he brings up his classical-theater training when talking about his doing crap action films!

[Sugar Smack]

5. He didn't have to take "villain" roles.

He was good in "One Night Stand". Not a villain in that one. I wish I had "happy problems".

[aquart]

9. A villain role is the best way for an actor to get noticed.

AND HE WAS A GREAT VILLAIN! He played Simon Phoenix with such zesty relish. It was a pure treat to see him.

But I always tell young actors to hope they get cast as murderers, thugs, assassins, serial killers. A dependable villain always has work. And if he makes the character human, there will be a demand to see him as a good guy...which is never as much fun. But it seems like Snipes' ego needs it, like John Wayne who couldn't handle being a bad guy ever.

[Sugar Smack]

10. The Duke couldn't handle being "the bad guy"?

Wow! You have a good point--> The bad guy gets attention. One reason Tim Robbins & Jeremy Irons are two of my favorite actors. They do BAD GUY so well.

[knitter4democracy]

13. I was just thinking that, too.

A real, complex villain is hard to do. Only great actors can handle them. I think a good test of an actor's ability is to test him with Iago. If he can't do Iago convincingly, he's not that great.

[Mz Pip]

6. His argument is pretty pathetic

There are plenty of examples of racial prejudice that need to be addressed. This isn't one of them. Stop trivializing racism with your lame actions, Wesley. I'm sure there are many many Black people who would love to have the opportunities you have had.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[SidDithers]

7. More here...

http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/usaopress/2006/txdv06W_Snipes.html

I guess that's what happens when you let Guiding Light of God Ministries prepare and file your tax returns.

Sid

[DS1]

8. I guess the IRS bet on red

[madmom]

11. Snipes lost me a few years ago when I heard him say that" Black people

are obligated to see movies that are made by black people!" That to me was just a bit to much!

[Javaman]

12. whatever! it all comes down to money he didn't think he should pay

and he got caught. All the rest is pure theatrical bullshit.

[flashl]

14. Didn't he settle with the IRS?