Letter to Chris Rock from Mrs. Richard Pryor

[astonamous]

This was originally sent to you Matt, but since you are choosing to ignore it, I will now address it to Chris himself and post this everywhere I can...

TO CHRIS ROCK:
SO ironic that you are talking about your poor, scalding scalp, and how it burned from all those chemicals...when you are completely clueless when it comes to how those innocent dogs suffered while being tortured by Michael Vick!

We were on the front page of Variety today and the timing is unfortunate for it comes the same day I am forced to write this letter!

Richard and I established Pryor's Planet, a non-profit, before he passed, for the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating homeless and abused or neglected dogs, so they can go into loving, forever homes! PRYOR'S PLANET is an all breed rescue: which means, we rescue everything from little white, fluffy dogs to Pitbulls.
We currently have 40 dogs we are caring for while they await their forever homes.

Among these 40 dogs, Pryor's Planet has 7 Pitbulls (actually American Staffordshire Terriers), all of whom are receiving care and training while they await their forever homes, at great expense I might add! Each one is a sweet and affectionate dog who was mistreated, or dumped or neglected all because of their breed! These are sentient, thinking beings with real feelings.
SOMEONE PUT THIS ON MY FACE BOOK PAGE THIS MORNING:
Chris asks, "What did Vick do? Pit bulls aren't real dogs anyway." If he doesn't understand at this point then I guess he never will. If you're taking Vick's side, it's unforgivable. This is as bad as if a white guy on a 50's talk show defended killing a black man. "I mean, it's not like he's a real human. What did he do?"

Regarding those comments Chris: "What did Michael Vick do? Pitbulls aren't even real dogs!"
What Michael Vick did was torture, drown, electrocute and murder several dogs all for fun and for profit! He went to prison for FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY! That's what he did!

Because of your insensitive and ignorant remarks that you made on The Jay Leno Show, The David Letterman show and various public forums and websites; I have notified my attorney and Bill Condon directly that I don't want you, Chris Rock, associated with the Richard Pryor Bio Pic---UNLESS, you find a way to retract and apologize for these comments in some public way.
Clearly this is part of your latest stand-up routine which frankly, would not make Richard laugh!

Richard knew you and I know you, Chris, you are not from the streets, nor are you a country bumpkin...so to whom are you trying to appeal with these outrageous remarks? These type of comments only foment and encourage abuse and misunderstanding of this breed as well as actual dog fighting. Kind of like Rush Limbaugh does for the crazy right!
Do you want to become the Rush Limbaugh to the rescue community?

I have personally been involved in saving Pits from fight rings in Texas and California and in fact have one in my personal pack who was used as a 'bait dog' in a fight ring...a sweet, young puppy who is now a sweet adult dog!
Below is a video link to a dog we rescued from Bakersfield Shelter, abused and starved...he is the sweetest dog!

Eli The Great Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52aflzItHVg

Outraged and hurt,
Jennifer Lee Pryor

[emilyg]

1. Kudos to Mrs. Pryor.

[provis99]

2. oh, more nonsense about how sweet pit bulls are.

Next we'll hear about how Great White sharks are snuggle-pusses, too.:eyes:

[Tansy_Gold]

3. You obviously haven't met mine.

Now, the Aussie shepherd is another story altogether, but the Staffie, she's a pussy cat.





Tansy Gold

[DebbieCDC]

5. Aussie Shepherds are wonderful dogs

My sister and many friends have them.

I have three smaller mutts.

[Tansy_Gold]

6. Oh, I'm certainly not suggesting he's not 154% wonderful,

just that he's far more protective of me, of the house, and of the other three dogs, including the Staffie. He thinks of us as his sheep.

My point is that blanket condemnation of an entire breed is foolish. And I say this as someone who has -- most unfortunately -- known people who have deliberately bred pit bulls to get the meanest dogs possible. I know that dog breeds have been intentionally created to emphasize particular characteristics, including temperament. Terriers, including American Staffordshire Bull Terriers, are usually feisty and persistent. It's their "nature," even though that "nature" has been engineered by generations of human intervention.

So my Aussie attempts to herd everyone and he's very protective of his "flock" of two humans and three other dogs. My Staffie has powerful jaw muscles and the disposition of a teddy bear. And the two mutts, well, they're just good dogs.

And they're all "rescues" in one way or another. Wouldn't have any other kind.



TG

[parasim]

9. Not sure how pit bulls compare to sharks...

Especially since they are who they are trained to be, whereas sharks simply do what sharks do.

It's only when surfers impersonate their dinner that it becomes a problem.

[madrchsod]

10. scary dogs

at the turn of the last century they were the most popular dog in america. they were great pets for children because they were big babies and protectors. there`s nothing wrong with the breed, it`s the humans that have fucked them up.

[astonamous]

11. I have three kiss-bulls and a chihuahua.

The chihuahua is the one we have to protect people from. He will bark, growl and bite at the drop of a hat.

[juno jones]

20. LOL!

The little guys can be so fierce!

We once spent several weeks buiding a portable ren-faire stage on someone's property near sac. The neighbors had several dogs, a pit bull and a fleet/gang/pack of 7 or 8 mini-daschunds (daschunii?). The pit bull started coming by to see us and we named him Morehead. His head outstripped his body and he could swallow his own ears when he smiled, which was all the time. The daschunds however were like pirhanas that could strip your carcass in seconds and leave naught but your bleaching bones. Mean little bastards who would attack as a pack. The ironic thing was that Morehead was the farm watch dog who was never given the attention (unless negative) or love of his owners, that was reserved for the yappy little bags of teeth who were constantly coddled and slept inside while he slept out in the yard.

Morehead became quite unhappy when we gathered up to leave. He sat with our stuff, like he was going with, and I guiltily admit, I sorta regret to this day that I didn't take him.

[astonamous]

21. It is never an easy decision to "liberate" a dog from a bad situation.

Isn't it amazing that even though he had no reason to expect any more love and attention from you than he was getting from his own family and yet he still gave it a shot?




Sunshine was liberated from a junk yard in Hollywood. She had spent her whole life fighting for food and having babies. When we picked her up, she was way pregnant and almost dead from starvation and dehydration. The puppies didn't make it (13 of them) but we were able to save Sunshine and she is now in a wonderful, loving forever home. It took her a long time to trust people and it was the most wonderful thing when we witnessed her first happy dance.

[juno jones]

29. What a sweetie.

Morehead was much the same coloring, but looked more like Ernest Borgnine. :) :hi:

If I ever experience a similar situation, I know what I should do. At the time I was younger and not-so stable myself. Also we had another dog, a wolf hybrid (omega love baby) and were having problems finding apts to begin with.

Happy dance... :)

[FarrenH]

14. I'm in the "middle ground" on pit bulls

I think they've been bred to be fighting dogs and that makes them a risky breed, along with Dobies, Rotties and a few others. I agree with various country's legislation that actually bans breeding of these breeds based on known qualities and history.

BUT I also believe that individuals from the breed can have sweet temperaments and be good lifetime family pets when treated with love and affection and (in the case of troubled animals) trained well. So I would never hate on an individual pit or member of a risky breed that is well-adjusted in a loving home.

And I would give any dog that has been mistreated the benefit of the doubt and all the love and care it deserves as an intelligent creature. For context I had my lip bitten off my face (it had to be sewed back on) by a rottie and still went back and made friends with him afterwards, as well as convincing his owners not to put him down.

I think one can consider a breed dangerous and still have compassion and love for every dog on its particular merits, without contradiction. And I think people's love for their own representative of a dangerous breed can make cloud their judgement when discussing the breed rather than the dog. Despite protestations from pit owners, the breed is certainly more dangerous than, say pugs or labs.

On the topic of the OP, if Chris Rock is defending Vick, that's as bad as defending someone who raped or tortured other people in my book. Disgusting, and disappointing.

[DesertDiamond]

25. I've known 14 of them and they were all sweet. Only the one who was abused has shown

even the slightest aggression, and now that he feels sure he's in a home where he's loved, he has never bitten or even nipped. At one point he got the habit of rubbing his face on mine. I nicely told him, "No teeth, honey," and after that when he rubbed his face on me he did it without scraping me. They are way more intelligent that most people know.

[lmarcotty]

26. Oh, and you know something about pit bulls?

Did you know they were specifically bred to be friendly towards and tolerant of humans? Pit bulls ARE sweet unless they've been deliberately abused and/or neglected - the fact that so many who were used for bait and for fighting are STILL friendly towards humans goes to prove it. I suggest that you visit a pit bull rescue and meet a few of their dogs. And while you're at it, learn a little about canine ethology, genetics, the causes of aggression in dogs generally, the relative frequency of biting in the various breeds (pit bulls are nowhere near the top of the list) and breed characteristics. Obviously, you know nothing about either dogs or sharks, and are doing the equivalent of getting your information about dogs from Fox News.

[Onceuponalife]

39. Looks like you hit a nerve provis99

Good grief.

[YOY]

33. You raise them right they are sweethearts. You torture them you have a potential danger.

Same as people.

[Still Blue in PDX]

38. One more name for my ignore list. nt

[DebbieCDC]

4. Blessings on Mrs. Pryor

This finishes me with Chris Rock, that's for sure.

[astonamous]

12. Mrs. Pryor (my boss) is very serious...

about this and Chris is ignoring her at this point. She's pulled the plug on other would be producers and actors on this project and she is willing and able to do it again.

[madrchsod]

7. i did`t know she rescued dogs

...my "pit bull" mix is the biggest baby in the world. unfortunately she was a bait dog and she still bears the psychological scars. she`s a work in progress.

[astonamous]

13. This is Eli The Great on intake at the shelter...

his previous owner only got a few months in jail for abusing, starving and using Eli for baiting other dogs. Eli doesn't trust all dogs, but for the most part, he is ok. He isn't even a pit bull. He is a Mastiff mix. There isn't any terrier in him at all. DNA is very cool!

[FarrenH]

15. Oh my god it breaks my heart just looking at him

I cannot understand why sentences for animal abuse are so short.

[BanzaiBonnie]

16. A lot of the pit hysteria is from mis-identification

Most people would look at Eli and call him a pit bull. Anything that has a particular look is called a pit bull.

[Historic NY]

8. One at a shop I go to he has a Devil cut but will lick you to death...

scary looking but a mush.

[astonamous]

17. ...and this is Eli Now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=465y7oWVpyk

[Historic NY]

23. Wow, he is almost a twin to Dakota an 8yr old who thinks he is a pup...

he never has a bad day because he is so happy to be with people.

[niyad]

18. I had no opinion of chris rock until this very moment. what an ass. will NEVER watch him in

anything.

also didn't know about the pryors' rescue group--how wonderful, but how sad that such groups are so needed. Every time I learn of such abuse, I pray that that person suffers as much as the victims did.

and michael vick is playing football again? some team actually took him on? and people wonder why I have no use for football, or indeed, any pro sport. all about the money.

[astonamous]

19. I love football...from little league to pro, but you are sooo right

and I will not support the NFL in any way shape or form.

I get so tired of hearing/reading the statement, "it's just a dog". I came up with a fabulous Tee-shirt/bumper sticker idea. I am waiting for a couple of quotes for the tees and we should have them up for sale soon. Can't wait! The bumper stickers will be up on cafepress soon.


We hope some day that we don't need to keep saving lives...

I am sitting here working and watching one of our rescued pits play with my chihuahua. It is hysterical!

[Toasterlad]

22. Mrs Pryor Should Put Down the Airplane Glue.

Seriously. Good message, but WAY over the top. "Therse are sentient, thinking beings" and " This is as bad as if a white guy on a 50's talk show defended killing a black man"

REALLY, Jennifer?

[DesertDiamond]

24. Yes, they are sentient, thinking beings. Not everyone sees it, but those of us who do...

know that animals are much more intelligent than most people know. Sometimes I wonder if they aren't even smarter than humans. After all, they are able to understand our language. How many of us understand theirs?

[astonamous]

27. Jennifer says, "YES, REALLY!".

[astonamous]

28. UPDATE! Reply from Chris Rock's Publicist...

Matthew Labov wrote:

Jennifer-

Thank you for your note.
He told a joke and millions of people laughed. It was just a joke, not meant to inflame you.

Thank you.
ML

*************

Jennifer's reply to that:

Matthew:
I am not stupid, I have a great sense of humor...I married Richard Pryor twice, for hell's sake... and worked with him on several projects...I KNOW WHAT'S FUNNY!
I knew that this would be the standard answer--doesn't cut it!

Chris pounded his fists on the chair and asked: "what did Mike Vick do!" He went on to say: 'Pit bulls aren't even real dogs"...then of course, he went on to say it's a 'white thing...black people don't like dogs, yadayada...'---and finished his highly unfunny, dated, routine!
Your patronizing comment, " It was just a joke, not meant to inflame you.---"
is insult to injury! I assure you, many others are shocked and 'INFLAMED' as you put it, about this!
If you think this is damage control, you have fallen very short in your job.
One need only Google Chris Rock and Michael Vick to see just who else is disturbed by these comments.
"Millions of people laughing" doesn't make it OK.
Apparently, it's a black thing to defend Michael Vick...and bash Pit bulls!
Now, please understand my position: I am Director of a rescue organization established by Richard and myself and named after Richard, I cannot have anyone associated, with the Pryor name, who publicly defends a known animal abuser and feels this way about dogs in general.Therefore,Chris will not be associated with Richard Pryor and any project about Richard.
And if you have checked, to see if I have any 'power' to enforce this, I assure you I do.

As stated in my previous email, both my attorney and Bill Condon are aware of how strongly I feel and of my commitment to animal welfare.

And to repeat what I stated earlier, let the chips fall where they may.

You had an opportunity to try to repair this and you have chosen to patronize and minimize.

[Onceuponalife]

40. Mrs. Pryor obviously knows what's funny

She was the wife of a famous comic so all new comedy material must now pass before her to be judged funny or not. Geez, lighten up. We better pray she never gets wind of Sarah Silverman.

[cherie1960]

30. Airplane Glue? How Dare You Say That About Her!

Are you serious? Do you really think that dogs are not thinking, feeling, sentient beings? Who raised you? SAVAGES? I find it amazing that someone would seriously believe that animals do not have feelings. And by the way, Jennifer Pryor is right on all counts in what she said. I know this woman and she is a very hard working person who spends her time saving a lot of animals.

[Iggo]

35. .

Welcome to DU.:hi:

[blizzil31337]

31. hilarious

loved it

[mackerel]

32. I viewed what Rock said as satire.

Isn't it possible that he was actually trying to expose Vic in a way that would
reach his audience?

[Iggo]

34. ohmigod, still?

[khawkings09]

36. Interesting letter

[Still Blue in PDX]

37. What a nasty man Chris Rock is. nt

[Divine Discontent]

41. not sure how Chris doesn't see his 'humor' as being no different than when white racists laughed

when ridiculing blacks, because "they aren't real people, anyhow!"

Glad this smart & courageous lady stood up!

[brettdale]

42. Well done to Mrs Pryor

Hats off to her.

[brettdale]

43. uhm i have noticed

The orginal story was from 2009, has their been a update?