Fullerton Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald with Andy Dick and event organizer Brian Bartholomew, after Thursday night’s performance where the comedian made reference to autistic people as “retards.” Photo from the Hornet, credited to Joshua Miranda
“I really appreciate that he came to Fullerton and shared his comedy with our city.”
–Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald, referring to actor Andy Dick, who had that night used the word “retard” to refer to autistic people during the annual Comedy Show for Autism.
According to an October 20 article in Fullerton College’s newspaper The Hornet, comedian Andy Dick used the word “retard” in reference to autistic people during a charity event Thursday night meant to raise awareness of the condition itself. Event organizers Fullerton Cares quickly released a statement distancing themselves “from (Dick’s) statement onstage and emphasize that we do not condone or endorse this type of language,” referring to the actor’s “slur.” The statement went on to “apologize deeply to anyone who was affected by this language.” (see illustration below)
According to the Hornet Andy Dick ‘“began speaking on his brother who has just passed away, but that his brother had been dying for “twenty years” and had been asking Dick for money, to which Dick said “That’s why I’m in Fullerton for retards.”” Half of the attendees reportedly left the main room of the Fullerton Ballroom as the comedian was booed from the audience.
Andy Dick himself later apologized, writing in a statement “I shouldn’t use that word.”
Incredibly, Fullerton Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald, who attended the benefit show, was wiling to defend the unpredictable actor’s comments, saying “I really appreciate that he came to Fullerton and shared his comedy with our city. I think this isn’t the last your (sic) going to see of him, that is not the word that will define him,” and “I know Andy Dick in his heart, and his personal connection with autism and I think that it’s more than one word. I think he regrets the use of that but that in fairness we need to look at the whole body of who he is and who his family is.” (Andy Dick referred to himself in the article as being “slightly autistic,” saying “I honestly feel that I’m on the spectrum,” but it is unclear in the article whether or not Mr. Dick has ever been formally diagnosed with the disorder.)
Fullerton resident Kris Hanna had more sense than Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald, telling the Hornet that she thought it was “crossing the line to say what he said about autistic people.” Another attendee, Fred Allen, said of Andy Dick’s comments ‘“Off cuff, should be better suited for where he’s at, especially the retard shit man, America’s a beautiful place and you shouldn’t take advantage of what America’s good for.”’
Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald should reconsider supporting unsupportable behavior, and keep in mind that when she speaks to the media, even a local college newspaper, she will be viewed on some level as representing the City of Fullerton, even if many would prefer that she wasn’t in the position to do so.
Fulleton Cares had enough sense to criticize Andy Dick. Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald? Not so much.
fullertonrag.com 
The dark irony of a BIOLA (Bible Institute of Los Angeles)University) graduate like Jennifer Fitzgerald defending the immoral behavior of a Hollywood comedian is not lost on me.
Does any one else wonder why Jennifer Fitzgerald has procured over a $120,000
from out-of-town donors to fund her political campaign to get elected to the Fullerton City Council in two weeks?
Bye the way Fullertonian’s, O.C. Weekly has just named Downtown Fullerton as the best place to find a one-night stand!
As the Mayor of Fullerton, and the downtown Fullerton bar owner’s greatest political ally, maybe wen can get Jennifer Fitzgerald to receive the award on Fullerton’s behalf?
I’d pay to see that!
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…just so Jennifer Fitzgerald knows the type of people who’s behavior she’s defending, I would like to share with her this excerpt about Andy Dick…(and I do mean DICK!)
On July 10, 2007, Andy Dick and former Newsradio costar Jon Lovitz got into a physical confrontation at The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. The two had several previous disagreements concerning the death of their mutual friend Phil Hartman.
According to Lovitz, Dick had given Hartman’s wife Brynn cocaine at a Christmas party at Hartman’s house in 1997; Brynn, a recovering addict, fell back into drug use, culminating in her killing Hartman and herself on May 28, 1998.
When Lovitz joined the cast of Newsradio as Hartman’s replacement, he and Dick got into an argument in which Lovitz said, “I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t given Brynn coke in the first place.” Lovitz eventually apologized to Dick for the remark.[46] In early 2007, Dick approached Lovitz at a restaurant and said “I put the Phil Hartman hex on you – you’re the next to die.”[47] At the Laugh Factory, Lovitz demanded an apology from Dick, who refused and accused the comic of blaming him for Hartman’s death. Lovitz then smashed Dick’s head into the bar.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Dick
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Anyone who is familiar with Andy Dick, should have known that the likelihood of him making totally inappropriate and/or offensive remarks was extremely high. Mayor Fitzgerald’s defense of him is very surprising.
First of all, the very offensive and derogatory term “retard” refers to someone with less than average intelligence. Most autistic children have above average IQ’s. So Andy Dick is not only offensive but totally wrong to suggest that autistic children have less than average intelligence.
The only people’s intelligence and judgment that should have come into question the evening of this benefit was Andy Dick for his conduct and also Mayor Fitzgerald for her defense of Andy Dick.
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