Stephen Colbert: "Donald Sterling is both a racist and looks like Slimer"

The comedian riffs on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's comment that more whites believe in ghosts than believe in racism

Published May 6, 2014 2:25PM (EDT)

Although some people believe that "racism goes away naturally if you stop talking about it -- just like STDs," as Stephen Colbert joked on Monday night, former NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants to keep talking about disgraced Clippers owner Donald Sterling because, as he pointed out on "This Week," racism "is a problem."

"I did a little bit of research, more whites believe in ghosts than believe in racism...that’s why we have shows like ‘Ghostbusters’ and don’t have shows like ‘Racistbusters,’” he said. “It’s something that’s still part of our culture and people hold on to some of these ideas and practices just out of habit and saying that, ‘Well, that’s the way it always was.’ But things have to change.”

Adbul-Jabbar's comments inspired Colbert to examine further. Colbert concluded that "in this case, it's reasonable to mix up racism and ghosts, because Donald Sterling is both a racist and looks like Slimer."


By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

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Donald Sterling Ghostbusters Ghosts Kareem Abdul-jabbar Racism Slimer Video