Talk:Spike Lee/Archive 1

Personal Views
I do get the sense that much of the text entered by users is HEAVILY influenced by personal opinion and that the tone of this article needs to be altered if it is to be seriously considered as a neutral, informative document which is not currently. Having a section called racism suggested that Spike Lee is bigoted. It is perfectly reasonable to state any constroversial statements made by Lee and any reactions to those but these can not be intertwined with POV's which here are arguably anti-Spike Lee. There is a lot of this in Wikipedia and it detracts from the quality of it as a information database. Bababouska 18:00, 8 April 2006 (UTC)

I agree that this is way too influenced by personal opinion. I would personally like to see more about his style of cinimatography. Like, for instance, how the film Network influenced him. Dkceaser 23:51, 16 January 2007 (UTC)dkceaser

The article fails to mention the controversy he has but this does:http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/Articles/Spike%20Lees%20Bigoted%20Obsessions.html

Mentions his anti-semitism, his incessant blaming of Jews for the lack of success of his movies, failure to earn Academy Awards and the general bitterness he has about filmakers like Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick.LesGlass (talk) 22:34, 21 March 2009 (UTC)


 * In my opinion, the source you've cited is too biased to meet the reliable source criteria. If he is indeed an anti-semite, I agree that deserves mention in the controversies section; can this be confirmed by any reliable sources?  -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 22:38, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

There should be a mention of Lee's anti-semitism, but of course this article is locked by those few who value his work. Look at another director like Quentin Tarantino--his page has edits, and many details. Room for change too regarding personal views. You want verifiable evidence Lee is an antisemite? That is impossible, but it can be surmised via his expression through his work. Also check this out: http://www.playboy.com/arts-entertainment/features/quentin-tarantino/04.html 66.31.253.227 (talk) 01:36, 6 September 2009 (UTC)


 * As many people have written here, find a reliable source that says Lee is an antisemite, and it goes into the article. Without a reliable source, it's just an opinion. Please read Wikipedia's policy concerning biographies of living people for further details. Thank you. — Malik Shabazz 01:46, 6 September 2009 (UTC)

There's not even a mention of the ADL's reaction to Lee during the release of Mo Better Blues and his subsequent reaction. You want verfiable sources? Stop cherry-picking what is allowed in the "controversy" section before you claim to be an authority on bias.66.31.253.227 (talk) 23:13, 8 September 2009 (UTC)


 * There's no mention of it because no one has yet added one with a reliable, verifiable source supporting it. If you have one, feel free to add it. Nightscream (talk) 22:11, 9 September 2009 (UTC)

Category:Racism
An anon contrib added Category:Racism to the article. I'm perplexed. Lee does deal with Racism in his films, a lot. But does he belong in that category? :-? Project2501a 02:07, 26 Jun 2005 (UTC)


 * Of course not. Vandalism is what that was. --FuriousFreddy 5 July 2005 17:19 (UTC)


 * Removed it. --Dvyost 20:31, 27 July 2005 (UTC)


 * I disagree. How can you say he isn't racist after seeing his films? His portraits of whites are offensive caricatures in the vein of blackface in the 20's. The criticism of purported racism in SL films is limp-wristed at best. 24.181.29.106

His characters are a little skewed for effect, but this is true of blacks and whites. Besides that there are plenty of likeable white characters in his films. Still the article might have a point on the Italian thing, I'm not sure.--T. Anthony 07:21, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

But overall Lee as a person is a racist. So I would not say the racism category is a vandalism. Norum (talk) 10:06, 4 August 2009 (UTC)


 * Got a reliable source for that? Otherwise it's against WP:BLP. — Malik Shabazz 19:25, 4 August 2009 (UTC)


 * Agreed. Whether he's a racist is not something that can be sourced anyway, because unless he declares himself to be one, it's purely POV, and we don't add categories based on editors' POV. Nightscream (talk) 23:48, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

I agree with the last statement. It hasn't been sourced so we won't know for sure. Wouldn't be surprising though knowing how he claims all other films besides his are racist. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.179.178.64 (talk) 04:44, 19 December 2010 (UTC)

@ Nightscream: What a load of bullshit. Every article on Wikipedia about a White person who advocates for White people is categorized as racist, supremacist, or nazi without any reliable, unbiased sources and is based off pure POV. Wikipedia is the biggest commie front on the internet 68.198.104.107 (talk) 00:16, 30 March 2012 (UTC)

"Lee hates white people"
Just removed this sentence pending some citation: "Many people feel Lee hates White people." For a controversial figure like Lee, it's probably best to boil this down to specific allegations (unless Gallup did a poll on people's opinions about Lee hating white people =)). Did he make some particularly controversial comments that we can include?  Did some notable film critics, filmmakers, or political figures claim this?  --Dvyost 00:02, 7 November 2005 (UTC)


 * I disagree. He's not racist, he's often creating caractures.  Also, how is his anti-semitism oft-observed? it's rarely observed, if that.  I don't think this article is balanced.  I think its biased

Please sign your posts on talk pages per Sign your posts on talk pages. Thanks!Hyacinth 20:12, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

You can think what you want about Spike Lee. I am not a Spike Lee fan, I am African-American but I don't think nor there is any proof that Spike Lee hates white people. Can that be justified because he makes movies that have all his movies starring majority blacks?


 * Don't worry--it's long been pulled from the article. --Dvyost 15:42, 23 December 2005 (UTC)


 * I've read in many places Lee has expressed the desire to be interviewed only by blacks, or about the demand of same, etc. Anyone have a source?  If so I think it belongs in this article.  Mr. Me

You are wasting your time. The Fascists of Wakopedia will never allow anything bad to be written about a Liberal. Jesus you can trash all you want Wakopedia loves when people do that but don't touch a liberal or you will be banned. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.14.97.53 (talk) 20:30, 12 August 2012 (UTC)


 * In other words, there's no such source. ...  disco spinster   talk  20:32, 12 August 2012 (UTC)


 * I don't care if there is a source or not, no one takes wakopedia serious anymore. Unless you are trying to find someones date of birth the rest of the info is so one sided it is like reading a fake letter to DEAR PENTHOUSE - there is no truth in it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.14.97.53 (talk) 20:39, 12 August 2012 (UTC)


 * No, people still take Wikipedia seriously, and it's because Wikipedia doesn't let users add controversial content like "Spike Lee hates white people" if they don't provide a source. ...  disco spinster   talk  20:54, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

Why is he controversial?
The article mentions he is controversial but does not explain why. Why he is controversial should really be explained in the article. --Cab88 12:37, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
 * spike lee is against interracial dating. he states he hates seeing a black person with a white person.  he's very open about this in interviews.  i guess he isn't quite "judging people by their character" instead of their color as the great Dr. MLK stated in his "I have a dream" speech.

The controversial points seem rather standard for any public person of Lee*s stature. Famous people generate press by their actions.


 * Please sign your posts on talk pages per Sign your posts on talk pages. Thanks. Hyacinth 10:32, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

why he is controversial- have you seen "get on the bus" ? i've seldom seen such open jew-baiting. there's an argument to be made that he chose to take 'inside man' as a project to rehabilitate his public image in regards to jews. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.162.29.77 (talk) 18:36, 23 May 2008 (UTC)

Religion
There should be a description of Spike Lee's religious afiliation over the course of his life in the biography section of the article. I know that he converted to Islam (around the time of the "Malcolm X" movie), then he seceeded (un-converted) from Islam. I remember that both of these events were reported in the news, so I think a passage describing his religion would be relevant.

69.39.172.5 04:57, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

Inter Milan
Is it necessary to have the additional information about Inter Milan being one of the strongest clubs in Europe/Italy. One may as well as one edit did, add this to the comment about Arsenal or the New York Knicks. Having the information just added to Inter is superfluous and suggest a US-centric article. Y control 21:50, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

A Spike Lee Joint
The trivia about the tagging of his films with this line needs explanation. What is meant by joint?
 * "joint" is slang for venture, deal, place where something's happening, like a jazz joint. Project2501a 21:23, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

He does not call When the Levees Broke a joint. - In an interview in Advocatehe said "Yeah, joint is just like a nickname, slang for a good place to be--a juke joint or whatever joint. A hip place" (Advocate: The National Gay & Lesbian Newsmagazine: 66, August 17, 2004. ISSN: 0001-8996) I'd add it to the article but I'm not too sure how to go about it with the correct citations and all, and I'm too busy atm to figure it out.

The article claims that Inside Man is not a 'Spkie Lee Joint', but it says so right at the begining of teh film, after Clive owens little opener. |x —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.149.139.85 (talk) 22:35, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

When the Levees Broke
"Lee claimed that the government had probably blown up the levee in the lower ninth ward to flood it and rid it of black people, citing on Real Time with Bill Maher the government's past atrocities including the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. However, many whites from the New Orleans Area suspected Lee was just out for attention because there is no way to flood the Lower 9th Ward without also flooding Arabi and Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish, which are predominantly white communities." I am assuming this quote is in reference to When the Levees Broke, since he states this in a different way in his interviews for the movie. The problem here is that in interviews, Lee goes out of his way to emphasize that the breaking of the levee wasn't so much to get rid of just the black people, but all *poor* people. It wasn't an issue of race so much as of class. Just thought that should be emphasized and maybe this paragraph rewritten. I know there's a short version of the interview on CNN.com video right now. Might want to theck it out. Uncreative 06:30, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Lee does in fact call his film Inside Man a "Spike Lee Joint." It appears in the opening credits. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hlmorgan (talk • contribs) 21:23, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

There actually was a flood in the 1920's when the New Orlean's Levee's were intentionally blown up to save richer white residents, and it killed many poorer and blacker residents. There is already a wikiepedia article on this. This is what Lee is referring to. I made a documentary about New Orleans and have researched this. Dkceaser 23:49, 16 January 2007 (UTC)Dkceaser

Trivia section is a little too long
Someone needs to go through it and try to whittle it down. Much of it seems to have enough weight for its own section (or to be incorporated into an existing section). Much of it is too trivial even for trivia. Pele Merengue 07:08, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Lee & The Basketball Game
The last paragraph of the "Controversy" section contains no references, and before i edited it slightly, was written very poorly.

It might warrant removal - I don't know, I don't know Spike Lee's story well enough to make that decision. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ventolin (talk • contribs) 08:53, 12 December 2006 (UTC).

Discussing Columbine at Cannes in 1998?
The Columbine incident occured in April of 1999. I seriously doubt anybody asked him questions about it at the 1998 CFF. That should either be edited to be accurate (after research, that is, not just by changing the year to 1999), or removed. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.142.55.85 (talk) 23:52, 17 December 2006 (UTC).

the comment occurred at the 1999 cannes festival in may 1999, as all the sources state. problem solved. 74.62.99.61 (talk) 20:21, 20 October 2009 (UTC)

Discussing Columbine at Cannes in 1998? (as referenced in the "Controversy" section)
The Columbine incident occured in April of 1999. I seriously doubt anybody asked him questions about it at the 1998 CFF. That should either be edited to be accurate (after research, that is, not just by changing the year to 1999), or removed. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.142.55.85 (talk) 23:53, 17 December 2006 (UTC).

the comment occurred at the 1999 cannes festival in may 1999, as all the sources state. problem solved. 74.62.99.61 (talk) 20:21, 20 October 2009 (UTC)

Actor Listing (trivia section)
In the trivia section can we remove the list of actors who played in several films and the list of actors who played themselves in the films? This information is available on individual actors' pages along with the wiki pages for each movie. This trivia section needs to go, so if we can whittle it down by removing those rather large lists that would be a good start --Csodennc 02:05, 1 April 2007 (UTC)
 * I have placed the lists of actors in a section of their own to make it easier to decide what to do with them, and so that the trivia section is only a list of unrelated facts - a real trivia section as it were. The list of actors who played themselves already seems to have been deleted. Coyets 18:42, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

Don Imus and School Daze
I placed the incident under Controversy rather than Trivia, since the trivia section says not to put stuff there. Feel free to modify it however you all feel fits the article best. CodeCarpenter 17:27, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

spike lee is tight  I'm killing the Imus reference since "jigaboo" was a well known slur since before Spike used it in School Daze (1988) - it was used in Police Academy (1984) for example Anechoic Man 16:05, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Never mind, I read the transcript, and saw the Imus directly referenced the movie. Anechoic Man 16:12, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

I'm deleting the part about Don Imus and the nappy headed hoes quote, simply because there's no relationship between the 2. Don Imus never saw School Daze, I promise. The fact that it was said by Don Imus and in that movie is purely coincidental. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.254.194.198 (talk) 05:25, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Anthony LaPaglia
How can Anthony LaPaglia be listed as an Italian-American due to the fact he is Australian. doesn't really make sense to me.

Yeah, I thought the same so I deleted Tony's name from the list....Hutchy xix 02:02, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Career in film section is way too short!
She's Gotta Have It...some ads...and that's it? And then a long section about controversy? Boy, what about Do The Right Thing? Figureground 03:24, 5 August 2007 (UTC)


 * What about it? Go ahead and add something about it. Nightscream 04:00, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I do not understand why Spike Lee's film "Higher Education" is not mentioned. Not even in list of important films he directed. 149.99.88.236 21:07, 14 October 2007 (UTC)


 * There is no film by that name listed on Lee's imdb page. If you're referring to Higher Learning, that was John Singleton's. Nightscream 04:00, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

Citations Needed
Lots of places that could use a citation Directed pilot for TV Show "Shark"  :  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000490/ Larsplaysthefish 22:01, 19 October 2007 (UTC)


 * First of all, please begin a new section if you're going to start a conversation on a different aspect of the article than the one mentioned immediately above. Second, why don't you just add that citation into the article?  Why put it here? Nightscream 04:16, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

Recurring Actors
Hi. I made the new chart for the Recurring Actors section. I feel that a chart is better for comparing and contrasting for actors' and actresses' filmographies. I have no real concern or for this article (I've only seen one film from the guy, but I felt this would be better than just listing it down like it was. MwNNrules (talk) 01:52, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Looks good. Kudos and props. :-) Nightscream (talk) 05:13, 12 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks. MwNNrules (talk) 21:02, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Mars Blackmon.jpg
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BetacommandBot (talk) 16:09, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Spike Lee's Mother?
Spike Lee's mother is not cited. There are sources that say she is deceased. However, there is a commercial running which shows Bob Lee, Spike Lee, and a woman - much alive - that appears to resemble Spike Lee. She is performing commericals in California for supporting the arts. Is there any definitive sources on his mother - pictures? --69.109.243.231 (talk) 12:12, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

His mother passed away of cancer when he was 20 according to an interview Spike Lee did with The Observer on 1/4/2009. Here is a link to the article Barack Changes Everything. Teeheeklin (talk) 19:28, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

spouse
I'm not sure if the posting of the DOB of Spike Lee's Spouse is correct because if she was born in 1993 she would be 15.

Crayonman Crayonman (talk) 00:49, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

I believe that is the year they were married, not the year his wife was born. 216.125.251.254 (talk) 22:38, 26 January 2009 (UTC)AFZ

Can we get some more information on his wife/family? Or something else about his personal life? There shouldn't be a "personal life" section if it's only going to be a few words.StanHater (talk) 20:01, 24 February 2009 (UTC)

Racist
Having read this article and having watched a few of his films i certainly feel that he has quite strong racist attitudes yet all the stuff in contreversy sections tends to surround him calling white people racist. Surely this stereotyping of whites is racist? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.103.88.63 (talk) 18:05, 3 July 2008 (UTC)

If each instance in question is properly sourced, then it's valid for inclusion.

Anti-semitism
I am surprised Lee's anti-semitism is not mentioned in the article. There's the fact he neglected to include a large section of the Autobiography of Malcom X (the section where X is in prison and is befriended by Jaime a Jewish prisoner who challenges his viewpoints on Judaism). It is no wonder that Lee didn't want this in the movie. He is on record for hating Jews and blames them for his bad movies. Howard Stern mentioned this years ago and had a clip of him berating the Jews for the fact he couldn't get his movies financed (in reality people don't see them because they're boring).There's the greedy Jewish club-owners in that bad movie of which I can't think of the name (Mo Better Blues). Lee spouts rhetoric about how the "white owned" media portrays black males as dangerous and thus stereotypes them. He seems to have no problem stereotyping Jews in his movies. Oh, there the video he directed for Michael Jackson too and he is purported to have added the derogratory comment about Jews. I vote his anti-semitism be added to the article.

Seymourglass99 (talk) 00:48, 8 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Jaime? I've read The Autobiography of Malcolm X many times, and there's no Jewish prisoner that I can recall. In fact, I have it as an e-book and I just searched it; no Jaime. — Malik Shabazz (talk · contribs) 01:00, 8 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Maybe you're referring to Hymie, Malcolm's Jewish boss before he gets arrested and sent to prison? — Malik Shabazz (talk · contribs) 02:38, 8 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Also, the negative portrayal of the Jewish characters in Mo' Better Blues is probably better addressed in that article than in a biography of Spike Lee. Unless you can find a reliable source that alleges that Spike Lee is an antisemite. — Malik Shabazz (talk · contribs) 01:03, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Yes...the Jewish prisoner is not included in Lee's botched adaptation of the book. That wasn't suprising. Neither was Lee's reaction when Michael Jackson apologized for the anti-semitic slur he made. Lee had no problem with using it. Moreover, Lee has a long history of anti-semitism, a quick web search finds many "reliable sources" of this, and at least one should be included in the controversy section.The mention of the vile antisemitic characterization in Mo Better Blues is already on the page.LesGlass (talk) 22:28, 21 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Hello? There is no Jewish prisoner. — Malik Shabazz (talk · contribs) 23:37, 21 March 2009 (UTC)
 * remember people, it you accuse a liberal of racism you have to have 30 Affidavits and 49 articles from any liberal rag (because Wakopodia doesn't except anything but liberal rags as reliable) but if you accuse a Christian, Conservative or White person of racism, it is always a fact and never needs sources.--69.14.97.53 (talk) 20:36, 12 August 2012 (UTC)

about... about (solved)
Not a major issue, but someone should considered correcteing the double "about" in the second section of Controversy (At the 2008 Cannes Film Festival Lee, who is making Miracle at St. Anna, about about an...). 212.10.90.172 (talk) 04:42, 25 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Solved. Thanks to Malik Shabazz. 212.10.90.172 (talk) 04:51, 25 September 2008 (UTC)

Personal Life
Spike Lee has two children: daughter Satchel, b. 1995 and son Jackson, b. 1997 (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000490/bio.)70.144.65.80 (talk) 17:41, 5 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia does not consider imdb a reliable source. With regard to the biography sections in particular, I agree with this, since that information is submitted from anonymous users without any editorial verification. Nightscream (talk) 19:12, 5 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Director Spike Lee, his son Jackson, wife Tonya Lewis Lee, and daughter Satchel attended the Miracle At St. Anna premiere at Warner Moderno Cinema this weekend in Rome, Italy. --82.59.125.212 (talk) 10:13, 3 May 2009 (UTC)]

Photo of Spike Lee and son Jackson http://www.mtv.com/photos/justin-biebers-never-say-never-hits-new-york/1657172/5657119/photo.jhtml Article about Spike Lee's wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, published in October 2004's Town & Country that mentions their two children Satchel (then 9) and Jackson (then 7) http://www.tonyalewislee.com/town_article.html New York Magazine article that mentions Spike Lee's two children Satchel (on page 1) and Jackson (on page 2) http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/19144/

Critical responses to Lee's work; is Spike Lee any good as a filmmaker?
Somewhere the issue of whether Spike lee is any good as a filmmaker should be adderssed in the body of the article. Not eveyone agrees that he is a major talent, or for that matter even a minor one. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Miasnikov (talk • contribs) 19:01, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

He's made 21 major motion pictures, and the only director to do so un-awarded by the Academy (other than Hitchcock). That's good company.unsigned comment added by Omegared25 (talk • contribs) 19:01, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Omegared: Your point is not clear; is it that this guy has made 21 "major motion pictures" and that the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Artists have in effect voted with their feet on the question of whether Spike Lee is any good as a filmmaker? Miasnikov


 * The issue of whether Lee is "any good as a filmmaker" should only be addressed if you have reliable, verifiable sources that discuss that point. That is the only context in which such material is added. We add our own personal viewpoints on such things. Nightscream (talk) 23:49, 31 October 2008 (UTC)

There isn't any mention of whether Lee is any good as a filmaker because he isn't. If he was, there'd be a section on "influence" at the least and even "legacy" at some point. But after 20 years he is best known for making a fool of himself courtside while Reggie Miller humiliated him and a film he made years ago that did nothing but expose how racist he is. Someone like Kubrick made a fraction of the films he did, and will be in the history books. Lee is at best a footnote in a section about mediocrity, and has a following of narrow-minded naive fans who frequent boards like this, but don't pay for a ticket for his movies. It's kind of hard for the AMPA to vote for a guys movie when he has an axe to grind with every film he directs.LesGlass (talk) 22:45, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Recurring actors
Does anybody know if it's possible to change the films' titles so they're vertical or diagonal instead of horizontal? As it is, they're running into one another.

An alternative would be to split the table into two parts. If that's done, maybe the table(s) should be moved to an article of their own.

Just a suggestion. 04:47, 17 December 2008 (UTC)

BRING BACK THIS SECTION. There is a striking difference drawn when removing this from Lee's article, as every notable filmmaker includes this section. As well, the removal is sad sign. 05:41, 06 November 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.239.74.99 (talk)

Incorrect actor name
The actor should be Danny Aiello (Daniel Aiello, Jr.), not Rick Aiello, in the table of recurring actors in Spike Lee's films. (Note: there is a Wikipedia page for Danny Aiello) Klapholz (talk) 02:52, 19 January 2009 (UTC)


 * No, it's correct. Rick Aiello was in the films marked with an "X". Danny Aiello was not. Danny was only in one of those films, Do the Right Thing. Nightscream (talk) 20:58, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

Columbia?
I did a faculty search and a general people search for Lee on Columbia University's website and came up with nothing. I question whether he teaches there. Does anybody have some sources? Rdanneskjold (talk) 07:46, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

That's because he doesn't teach at Columbia. Notice the entire first section is unsourced. Yet, when suggesting that "anti-semitism" be added to the controversy section the rationale is that it can't because it is unsourced. It's hilarious, the only thing more amusing is that Lee is still considered a film-maker, though understood by many as a hack! Jim Steele (talk) 18:22, 23 November 2009 (UTC)


 * As the Lead is supposed to be a summary of the article itself, it doesn't necessarily have to be sourced, unless it contains material not in the rest of the article's body. The bit about his teaching, however, is not sourced, possibly because someone, perhaps a newbie, added it without knowing about the WP:NOR and WP:V, so I just removed it. Unless this person was the same one who previously offered you these policies as the reason why material cannot be added to the article, I'm not sure why it's "hilarious", but in any event, I assume you agree that material, especially of a controversial nature, should not be added without a reliable source, right? As for your opinion of his filmmaking, that really has nothing to do with the purpose of these talk pages, and is irrelevant to this discussion. Nightscream (talk) 20:14, 23 November 2009 (UTC)

Spike's family
he has two kids, a daughter, Satchel, born in 94, and a son Jackson, two years younger.

ok, just saw that someone mentioned it above. A reference is his wife's website and publications: http://www.tonyalewislee.com/town_article.html Pannam1 (talk) 06:39, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Controversy section
This is just overly long IMO. Much of it doesn't seem particularly relevant and some not even controversial. Can someone explain to me how this is controversial?

"During a lecture at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada on February 11, 2009, Lee criticized how some in the black community wrongfully associate "intelligence with acting white, and ignorance with acting black", admonishing students and parents to maintain more positive attitudes in order to follow their dreams and achieving their goals" 98.168.192.162 (talk) 05:04, 20 January 2010 (UTC)

Appearances in his own movies
I think it's an interesting point that Spike Lee appears in all his own films, I can't see any mention of this in the article. What do you think about having a short section for this? It could go in themes and style maybe. Kaleeyed (talk) 16:30, 18 July 2011 (UTC)


 * He's not the first director to do so. Find a source about Lee's appearances in his own films. Are there any exceptions? — Malik Shabazz Talk/Stalk 22:15, 19 July 2011 (UTC)

Edit request on 23 January 2012
This article contains a matrix marking that Danny Aiello was in the movie "Jungle Fever", and he was not. Mr. Aiello's Wikipedia and IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000732/) pages will confirm this. Thank you.

66.104.73.42 (talk) 22:10, 23 January 2012 (UTC)
 * ✅, thank you pointing it out-- Jac 16888 Talk 22:18, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Spike Lee putting couple in their 70s in danger
Sources for that http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/28/10902897-couple-lives-in-fear-after-their-address-tweeted-as-george-zimmermans?chromedomain=entertainment http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/27/paper-spike-lee-tweeted-incorrect-george-zimmerman-address-possibly-putting-sanford-woman-in-danger/ For whoever added it to the article. Lunaspike (talk) 16:48, 28 March 2012 (UTC)


 * Please read WP:NOTNEWS and WP:RECENT. There is no indication that anybody will care about this next week. — Malik Shabazz Talk/Stalk 03:11, 29 March 2012 (UTC)


 * That's your own personal opinion. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.223.125.87 (talk) 03:37, 29 March 2012 (UTC)


 * This has picked up enough media coverage in reliable sources to be worth a brief mention. Lee issued a personal apology on Twitter.-- ♦Ian Ma c M♦  (talk to me) 08:30, 29 March 2012 (UTC)

Not Larry
-removed Fishburne from list of actors whose careers Lee "helped launch" After three Francis Ford Coppola films, including A.A.nominated Apocalypse Now, and a Steven Spielberg one (AA-nominated The Color Purple), Fishburne's career was already in flight before he worked on School Daze. Some of us older folk (over 25) actually knew him before The Matrix. ;-) I believe the only new thing with Spike Lee (on School Daze) was that Fishburne started using Laurence as his credited name instead of Larry. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.136.42.118 (talk) 02:45, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

Epithets and Trivia
Update on edits: The Italian epithet comment is pointless as more black epithets are present in his films. I removed rumored anti-semitism comments, they're uncited and furthermore unfounded. removed pointless "shit" reference (the actors spoke that way, as in many movies, it wasn't scripted). Removed inaccurate Spike TV reference: when it was settled out of court, Walter Tolub lifted the 2 million dollar bond that would have been paid (so contrary to what was posted, Spike Lee never had to pay "millions" to them). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.0.101.151 (talk) 06:40, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

May 1988 WSB (Atlanta) noon news appearance
Does anyone have a copy of the Spike Lee appearance on the WSB-TV2 noon news c. May 1988, where he made his triumphant return to their White Columns studios on Peachtree Street in Buckhead? Spike was finishing up filming School Daze; and in fact was kicked off the campus because the film was too controversial. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Discpad (talk • contribs) 06:19, 16 July 2011 (UTC)

Merger proposal
I think the article List of awards and nominations received by Spike Lee should be merged into the main Spike Lee article. It's just not long enough to merit a separate page, when most of those awards are already listed in the main page. Fnordware (talk) 05:07, 20 August 2012 (UTC)


 * Totally for this merge. The awards article is way too small to stand alone. QuasyBoy (talk)  13:35, 26 August 2012 (UTC)

I agree that List of awards and nominations received by Spike Lee is terribly short, right now, but I would say that is a case for improving that article, not for merging it into this one. Spike Lee has won and been nominated for way more awards than that article currently lists.  Chickenmonkey  20:52, 27 November 2012 (UTC)


 * Well, we should do one or the other as the current state is not ideal. Merging is not permanent; a redirect will be put in the current article's place and it could be made into a proper article again in the future. Merging the current secondary article would not really distort the primary article the way it would for, say, Steven Speilberg. Also, many of his awards on IMDB might be considered too little known for Wikipedia. I don't know if there's a standard for this. Fnordware (talk) 02:01, 29 November 2012 (UTC)


 * I think the pertinent question is "Is there enough information available that could result in the article reaching featured list status?" I think the answer is: yes, it is possible List of awards and nominations received by Spike Lee could be improved to the point of being a high quality article. If that is the case, then I do not see a reason to merge it into this one. Wikipedia is a work in progress; that article is not very good, right now, but there exists the potential for it to be improved. Either way does not bother me. If it is merged and the section is improved in the future, it will eventually just be split again. It is just a matter of "Where do we want the article to reside while it is awaiting improvement?" I do not think its current location is detrimental to the project, to the subject, or to the future improvement of either article, but I understand if not everyone agrees with that assessment.  Chickenmonkey  05:19, 29 November 2012 (UTC)


 * Now that I think about it, expanding the awards article would be best. I'm thinking about doing so myself, but it may a long time for me, though. QuasyBoy (talk)  20:10, 26 January 2013 (UTC)

Quentin Tarantino/Spike Lee
Perhaps it should be mentioned in the controversy section that Spike Lee has been highly critical of multiple Quentin Tarantino movies on issues of race or use of the slur "nigger". Lee was critical of Tarantino's use of nigger in Jackie Brown, during which they traded barbs in the media. And now, with the release of slave-era Django Unchained, Lee boycotted the film without viewing it, calling it disrespectful to his (Lee's) ancestors, use of nigger, and portraying slavery for entertainment instead of "a Holocaust", as Lee puts it. There's more than enough sources to cover Lee's dislike for Tarantino's work. --173.171.197.185 (talk) 06:57, 31 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Can you provide us any examples of sources confirming these criticisms by Spike Lee? -- Hb — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.32.35.244 (talk) 03:00, 15 February 2013 (UTC)

Personal Life - Football team
Spike Lee is currently listed as a Jets fan but has recently stated that he is in fact a Giants / USC Trojans fan.

tweet 7th March 2013: https://twitter.com/SpikeLee/status/309700984316260352

"Just curious who ur fav football team?""New York Football Giants.USC Trojans."

 "@deethebeatmaker: @spikelee</a> Just curious who ur fav football team?"New York Football Giants.USC Trojans. &mdash; Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpikeLee/status/309700984316260352">March 7, 2013</a> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8">


 * That "fact" about the Jets was just added recently. I removed it. — Malik Shabazz Talk/Stalk 02:50, 12 March 2013 (UTC)

Edit request on 22 March 2013
In the Early Life section, "Lee also three younger siblings" is missing the verb "has". Thanks, Peter G

68.196.59.187 (talk) 21:40, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

Too short
This article is ridicously short, and it's made even more worse by the fact that half of it is about his controversial comments. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.148.180.237 (talk) 12:19, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
 * I just cut down on the controversy section by removing non-notable and poorly supported items in order to provide some balance, though there should be more added to the film career section because it is still lopsided. - Maximusveritas (talk) 20:49, 13 November 2013 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 15:50, 1 May 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 28 December 2013
"Spike Lee and director Cole Dabney at the University of Texas" The photo portraying the director Spike Lee with Cole Dabney seems absolutely irrelevant and apparently posted for the sole purpose of benefiting Mr. Dabney. I strongly suggest its removal. Pbetteo (talk) 20:14, 28 December 2013 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Technical 13 (talk) 05:29, 29 December 2013 (UTC)
 * This has nothing to do with reliable sources but with notability, to which I agree -- image removed —Eustress 12:52, 2 April 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
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Copyright violation
The paragraph added today about Lee being a professor was copied and pasted from Lee's faculty page (cited as the source) with some nonsense about being a tenured professor inserted. Please remove or correct this WP:COPYVIO. Also, please remove the multiple descriptions of Lee as a tenured professor, added by the same editor. They are unsourced and untrue. Thank you. 66.87.115.181 (talk) 17:03, 25 November 2015 (UTC)


 * ✅ – please also note that short, brief excerpts from copyrighted works are allowed by law; however, it is best to include them in quotation marks and give explicit attribution. <b style="font-size:85%;color:darkblue;font-family:Segoe Script">Paine</b>  17:39, 25 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Thank you. 66.87.81.203 (talk) 19:03, 25 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Pleasure! <b style="font-size:85%;color:darkblue;font-family:Segoe Script">Paine</b>

Racism?
Why he's not marked as racist? Kind of double standarts here. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.72.8.212 (talk) 20:29, 10 September 2013 (UTC)


 * Because he is not. http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/spike-lee-on-americas-gun-culture-591409219652  Jrgilb (talk) 17:23, 27 December 2015 (UTC)

Though very powerful and one of his most memorable films...
The final line in the "Awards, honors and nominations" section currently reads "Though very powerful and one of his most memorable films, "Do The Right Thing" only received a nomination from the Academy in 1990." 1) The sentence reads very opinionated - i.e. comes across as if Lee was wronged by the Academy. 2) In the sentence before it mentions his being twice nominated by the Academy - at the very least the final line is excessive.

5.81.251.212 (talk) 22:41, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

"He Got Game"
Spike Lee's page doesn't seem to have any mention of "He Got Game." There is a Wikipedia page about the movie, however. Virago2 (talk) 01:34, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110614222728/https://www.wexarts.org/about/wexner_prize/spikelee/ to http://www.wexarts.org/about/wexner_prize/spikelee/
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Children's Author
Spike Lee has penned several children's books including "Please Baby Please". This should be referenced or mentioned on this page with a list of all his titles. There's nowhere else that has a good compilation/list of all his books.

Thanks!

24.214.212.214 (talk) 17:55, 24 July 2018 (UTC)Carmela

Spike Lee's Controversies
Spike Lee is known as a controversial public figure, especially regarding issues of race. For whatever reason, his biggest controversies have been omitted from this page. Below is a summary of three controversies that were front page news and help the reader better understand his character. These summaries were generated by multiple Wikipedia editors, including myself.

User Calton reverted these edits and suggested they be discussed on this page:

CONTROVERSY #1:

In February 2014, speaking at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn for a lecture in honor of African American History Month, Spike Lee (wearing a “Defend Brooklyn” hoodie) went on a 7-minute expletive-filled rant about how the neighborhood has changed due to white gentrification. "And why does it take an influx of white New Yorkers for the facilities to get better? ...So, why did it take this great influx of white people to get the schools better? ... When you see white mothers pushing their babies in strollers ... that must tell you something ... If you can’t get your kid into private school and you’re white here, what’s the next best thing? ...Then comes the motherfuckin’ Christopher Columbus Syndrome. You can’t discover this! We been here. Get the fuck outta here. You can’t just come in the neighborhood like you’re motherfuckin’ Columbus and kill off the Native Americans. Or what they do in Brazil, what they did to the indigenous people ... They can’t even afford Williamsburg now because of motherfuckin’ hipsters ... How you walking around Brooklyn with a Larry Bird jersey on? You can’t do that."

CONTROVERSY #2

On January 18, 2016 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), director Spike Lee announced he would be boycotting the Academy Award ceremony, posting to Instagram in all caps : “How is it possible for the 2nd consecutive year all 20 contenders under the actor category are white? 40 white actors in 2 years and no flava at all.” Lee criticized the “lilly white” Oscar Nominees in an all caps statement posted online. The next day Lee called for affirmative action to address racial disparity in Hollywood. CONTROVERSY #3

At the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, Lee was promoting BlacKkKlansman, which has a scene at the end about the Charlottesville rally, at which activist Heather Heyer was reportedly killed by an alleged white supremacist and President Donald Trump said there were "very fine people on both sides". In a five-minute tirade, Lee heavily criticized Trump, while referring to him only as a "motherfucker": "And we have a guy in the White House — I’m not gonna say his fucking name — who defined that moment not just for Americans but the world, and that motherfucker was given the chance to say we are about love, not hate. And that motherfucker did not denounce the motherfucking Klan, the alt-right, and those Nazis motherfuckers. It was a defining moment, and he could have said to the world, not just the United States, that we were better than that."

EXTRA 4th CONTROVERSY

While Lee continues to maintain an office in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, he and his wife live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in a 8,292-square-foot townhouse located at 153 East 63rd Street. The "three-story Spanish renaissance fancy" with "a stucco facade and red-tile roof" is known as the Hatch House and contains five bedrooms, five bathrooms, three fireplaces, cathedral ceilings, a courtyard and fountain, library and staff quarters. The townhouse was listed with Sotheby's in 2014 for $32 Million.

+++

Note: This 4th controversy regarding his residence is pertinent because he spoke out so adamantly against gentrification.

Wesley Craig (talk) 09:30, 22 July 2018 (UTC)


 * That's all well and good, but Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a scandal sheet, and it has policies we have to follow, such as WP:V, WP:NOR, and WP:BLP. You're welcome to think that something about Lee -- something he said or where he chooses to live -- is "controversial", but unless reliable sources describe it as controversial, it doesn't belong in the article. And even if reliable sources describe something as controversial, it doesn't necessarily belong in the article -- see WP:ONUS. — MShabazz Talk/Stalk 14:26, 22 July 2018 (UTC)

+++

User:MShabazz please explain how these controversies were reverted due to WP:BLP violations ???

It is my view that they conform and adhere to Wikipedia's three core content policies:

Neutral point of view (NPOV) Verifiability (V) No original research (NOR)

Perhaps we should remove the title "Controversial Remarks" and replace it with Spike Lee In the News

If the argument is these stories are sensitive in nature, perhaps Spike Lee should have considered that when he made the remarks. That is why there were in the News and in the public domain. He said/did racially sensitive things.

Covering up these events that were reported by reliable sources such as CNN sets a dangerous precedent.

Does that mean derogatory remarks and/or controversies made by "white supremacists" can be reverted?

Political correctness poses two questions: whose politics and whose correctness? If Wikipedia purports neutrality, it should be consistent.

Wesley Craig (talk) 19:23, 22 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Please read Wikipedia's talk page guidelines. If someone has replied to your comment, you shouldn't delete it or edit it to change its meaning.
 * WP:BLP requires strict compliance with WP:V. As I wrote above, these are not "controversies" because you consider them so; we need to cite reliable sources that describe them as controversies. Until you have such sources, adding them (restoring them) to the article is a BLP violation. — MShabazz Talk/Stalk 20:01, 22 July 2018 (UTC)

+++

Agreed: Controversy #4 is private information and not widely described as controversial by others.

Propose to change sub-section from "Controversial Remarks" to "Spike Lee In the News" and add Paragraphs (Controversies) 1-3

Wesley Craig (talk) 20:05, 22 July 2018 (UTC)


 * See if you can build consensus for your proposed change, but I'm opposed to it. The whole article is made up of "Spike Lee in the News" events.
 * What makes these particular things worthy of mention? Have other biographers focused on them? If so, how much attention did they pay to them, relative to Lee's life and career? Are you giving them similar weight here, or are you trying to give them more weight in this article than other biographers have thought appropriate? — Malik Shabazz Talk/Stalk 01:36, 23 July 2018 (UTC)

What Malik Shabazz said. And given the language used -- "covering up"? "political correctness"? -- and you resorting to whataboutist arguments, NPOV is the furthest thing from your mind. --Calton | Talk 08:50, 23 July 2018 (UTC)

Thank you for the contributions to this discussion. As a fairly new contributor, this is the first civil group discussion I've experienced on Wikipedia and is a welcomed change. Not sure why submitting controversial remarks from reliable sources to Spike Lee's Controversial Remarks section is controversial? What makes the other controversial remarks not as controversial? It was big news when he boycotted the Academy Awards and accused the Academy of being "lilly white" and #OscarsSoWhite. After Googling Spike Lee controversial remarks, I think the top article that comes up by the LA Times "Spike Lee's controversial quotes: A brief history" would be an appropriate insertion: http://www.latimes.com/la-et-spike-lee-controversy-pictures-photogallery.html Cheers, Wesley Craig (talk) 03:08, 24 July 2018 (UTC)


 * The difference is reliable sources. You can think it's scandalous, hypocritical, and even controversial that a man whose career was built on the "brand" of promoting Brooklyn lives in Manhattan. Unless reliable sources describe it as controversial, nobody cares what you think. (Nothing personal. Nobody cares what I think either.)
 * I'm a little confused about what, specifically, you're proposing to add to the Wikipedia article. It isn't helped by the fact that the HTML on the Los Angeles Times website isn't rendering properly in my browser, so I see HTML markup instead of neat text below the photos. — Malik Shabazz Talk/Stalk 03:31, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
 * I'm a little confused how an LA Times article entitled "Spike Lee's controversial quotes" doesn't pass the reliable sources test? And how does that article have anything to do with what I think? Malik, I also noticed the HTML problem and agree that is unsightly. I've conceded on inserting anything pertaining to where Spike Lee lives. The controversy lies with what comes out of his mouth, hence the appropriately titled section Controversial Remarks  -Wesley Craig (talk) 03:00, 26 July 2018 (UTC)

The LA Times article fixed the HTML problem, and the article was inserted into Spike Lee's page since there was no disagreement to the last talking point about RS. Calton reverted the edit but did not give a reason for doing so. When editors do not reach agreement by editing, discussion on the associated talk pages continues the process toward consensus. Calton, please use the talking page to express your disagreement rather than reverting edits without discussing them and edit warring (WP:CIV, WP:HAR). Civility is part of Wikipedia's code of conduct and one of its five pillars. Editors, including Calton, should always treat each other with consideration and respect. They should focus on improving the encyclopedia while maintaining a pleasant editing environment by behaving politely, calmly and reasonably, even during heated debates. Wikipedia must never be misused to harass, undermine, frighten, or discourage anyone from editing, and editors who engage in harassment are subject to blocking.

Sheila Jackson Lee
Does anyone know if Sheila Jackson Lee is related to Sheldon Jackson (Spike) Lee? They both lived in New York City in the 1950's and are of the same ilk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Jackson_Lee — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wesley Craig (talk • contribs) 19:46, July 31, 2018 (UTC)


 * "of the same ilk"? What the hell is that even supposed to mean? I might just as well ask if you, Daniel Craig, and Larry Craig are related, because you're all "of the same ilk". --Calton | Talk 02:28, 1 August 2018 (UTC)

It means they are both black identity extremist as evident by their controversial public remarks. Wesley Craig (talk) 14:00, 1 August 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 30 October 2018
Can you please make Links to his Wife Tonya Lewis Lee who has a Wikipedia entry too? See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonya_Lewis_Lee 2003:CD:EF0D:E100:B86C:10AB:E463:9447 (talk) 04:01, 30 October 2018 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done &mdash; KuyaBriBri Talk 13:42, 30 October 2018 (UTC)

Update template?
Is it me or is this article way, way too short for one of the most famous directors in the world with over 30 years in the business? Stub quality, even. What's missing? Trillfendi (talk) 18:17, 27 February 2019 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 24 February 2020
His mother would take him to galleries, plays and museums. 131.109.50.112 (talk) 16:48, 24 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Please point to a source. Might not be that relevant to mention. – Thjarkur (talk) 18:38, 24 February 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 3 March 2020
In the article, source "30," specifically, this one:

Romano, Allison (April 21, 2003). "TNN Hopes Mainly Men Will Watch "Spike TV"s". Retrieved August 31, 2007.

Links to this dead/removed link: https://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA293348.html

I've gone back and found an archive of the source from before it was removed:

https://web.archive.org/web/20090506102313/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/148961-TNN_Hopes_Mainly_Men_Will_Watch_Spike_TV_.php

Can someone properly edit in this to replace the dead link?

It should also be noted that several other sources are "dead" and need to be replaced, I'm just correcting one of them.

Sorry if this request is not formatted correctly. — Preceding unsigned comment added by AndrokanNiw (talk • contribs) 15:49, March 3, 2020 (UTC)


 * Yes check.svg Done Just make sure to sign your post with  on talk pages.    To reply, copy and paste this:      (Talk)       04:46, 13 March 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on June 14, 2020
I apologize in advance if I'm not formatting or submitting this properly...

Under the "Controversy" section of this page, I noticed a peculiar line: "Nevertheless, Lee can apparently tolerate sexual violence by Mike Tyson and Roman Polanski (whose rape convictions have not hurt their careers),[1][69] rape in his film She's Gotta Have It,[2] and sexual harassment in his film She Hate Me,[70]"

This does not belong in an encyclopedia as it simply isn't objective enough. There are some facts here: Lee did make a documentary about Mike Tyson, included Roman Polanski's Chinatown on a list of essential films despite Polanski's rape conviction, and included a rape scene in She's Gotta Have It (I haven't seen She Hate Me, but I'm assuming that there is, as stated, some form of sexual harassment in the film). However, the conclusion that Lee "can apparently tolerate sexual violence" isn't fair for a site like Wikipedia to make based on the information supporting the claim.

For starters, while Lee did direct the Tyson documentary, he does not necessarily approve of the boxer's sexual crimes. Similarly, while he does consider Chinatown to be a must-watch film for aspiring directors, he (again) does not necessarily approve of Polanski's sexual crimes. As for the rape scene in She's Gotta Have It, films that depict bad things do not necessarily endorse or romanticize them. Regardless, Lee has stated that he regrets the inclusion of the scene in the film, so it is unfair to claim that he tolerates the rape in the film.

My suggestion would be to keep what is accurate and communicate it more objectively, but that might be a little tricky. Here's a few possibilities...

— I might argue that none of this information belongs under the "Controversy" section as they haven't really generated much controversy at all (at least from my understanding). The article cited for the Tyson documentary point does criticize Lee for making the film, so maybe that can be worked in (e.g. "In 2013, Lee received some criticism for directing a documentary about Mike Tyson, despite the subject's 1992 conviction of rape").

— Lee's admiration of Chinatown could potentially be added into the section about him defending Woody Allen (e.g. "In 2020, Lee said in an interview, 'I’d just like to say Woody Allen is a great, great filmmaker and this cancel thing is not just Woody. And I think when we look back on it we are going to see that — short of killing somebody — I don’t know that you can just erase somebody like they never existed . . . . Woody is a friend of mine, a fellow Knicks fan, and I know he’s going through it right now.' Lee had previously included Woody Allen's film "Zelig" on his list of essential films for aspiring directors. The list also included Roman Polanski's Chinatown, despite Polanski's sexual assault conviction in the late 70s.")

— The rape scene in She's Gotta Have It could potentially be mentioned in the "Career" section of the article (e.g. "In 1985, Lee began work on his first feature film, She's Gotta Have It. With a budget of $175,000, he shot the film in two weeks. When the film was released in 1986, it grossed over $7 million at the U.S. box office and received praise from critics. While She's Gotta Have It remains one of the his most acclaimed works, Lee has renounced the film's rape scene. In a 2014 interview with Deadline, the director stated that the scene is his "biggest regret".)

Furthermore, I believe that another part of this section should be removed or edited: "(Although Allen has made dozens of movies with acclaimed actors and filmmakers, and garnered numerous awards since the allegations against him became public, he is apparently described by some as 'a pariah')".

--360mph (talk) 18:54, 14 June 2020 (UTC)

No mention of American Utopia?
Someone needs to add that movie to his filmography and biography — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.233.5.12 (talk) 21:02, 23 December 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 22 March 2021
In the Filmography section, add When the Levees Broke, in year 2006. 2409:4053:49B:3313:E610:C86F:9904:DD22 (talk) 07:25, 22 March 2021 (UTC)


 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: see Spike Lee filmography, it seems that documentary was for television, so not appropriate for that table. Volteer1 (talk) 14:44, 22 March 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 16 May 2021
In the "1990s" section, before the "Four Little Girls" paragraph, add "In 1996, he directed the music video for Michael Jackson's "They Don't Care About Us", filmed in Brazil." - Possible source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6664122/Actualcannibala (talk) 18:04, 16 May 2021 (UTC)


 * can you find a source for this? (Leaving the request open for now.) --Ferien (talk) 18:52, 16 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Pictogram voting comment.svg Note: Marked as close pending requester input. RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 19:56, 16 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Candidate source Barte (talk) 09:15, 17 May 2021 (UTC)

Jet fuel, steel beams; conspiracies, thermal extremes
Apparently Spike Lee is a 9/11 conspiracy theorist: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-08-24/spike-lee-9-11-conspiracy-theories-documentary and this info is not in the article. 2600:1012:B016:6506:31E1:F0D:B292:C5EB (talk) 21:25, 24 August 2021 (UTC)

The death of a young mixed kid. A good kid that was murdered by the police dept.
Would you please investigate the murder of Tyler Smith galesburg Illinois please l!! Help give his mother(this was her only child) Sandy Halsne some closure. She spends her holidays st the graveyard. She has been robbed of so much that it breaks my heart. As a mother my heart breaks for her. If I was in better health(I have breast cancer stage 3)I would be raising hell for her. Please he was a young mixed kid. Going to be a San Jose police officer. Out of 5,000 applicants he got chosen. He was to go their the next day. But he was murder and the police department is behind it. It needs someone to bring attention. To it. Please! HELP!! Sincerely Lynda Mesecher and thank you. Please look at #justicefortylersmith 50.44.97.218 (talk) 08:12, 21 February 2022 (UTC)


 * The irony of posting this here when Spike Lee hates mixed race couples.--2.30.55.86 (talk) 20:15, 4 June 2022 (UTC)

Yankees game —. Aaron judge
How in the right mind can someone with all your money steal the bat that Aaron Judge was giving to the father with the 8 yr old little son next to him on his birthday and his father asked Aaron for the bat ! Aaron is the little ones hero. I mean really SPIKE!!! It’s sickens everyone and I hope this all gets out 2600:6C65:683F:F161:14B6:55F0:A63B:EA82 (talk) 02:03, 28 June 2022 (UTC)

Nagisa Ghaffari's fat requet
Dear Spike Lee, Please help Jafar Panahi (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jafar_Panahi) if you are in Berlin or somewehre around in Europe. I just finished a song for Christensen, our goal keeper af Hertha BSC. Nagisa Ghaffari Musik-Verlag und Studio 194.94.134.90 (talk) 14:45, 19 February 2023 (UTC)