Ted Danson offered a public apology on June 3, 2026, for performing in blackface and using racial slurs while roasting Whoopi Goldberg at the New York Friars Club in 1993 [1, 2]. Danson, 78 at the time of the apology, expressed deep regret for the act, calling it "so arrogant and stupid on my part," and said, "I need to and want to apologise for the rest of my life" [1].
At the time of the roast, Danson and Goldberg were romantically involved. Danson said the relationship was ending just before the event, and they had tried to back out but were unable to because tickets had already been sold [1]. He described feeling intimidated by roasting Goldberg, whom he called one of the most outrageous and funny Black women [2].
Danson spent months preparing the monologue and initially thought doing blackface gave him license to say outrageous things. He admitted this was a "disastrous miscalculation" and said he had been "so stupid and entitled" thinking he could speak on race relations as a white man [1, 2]. He compared his intent to that of Robin Williams, hoping to pull off edgy comedy [2].
The roast drew immediate backlash. Television host Montel Williams walked off the dais in protest at the offensive material [1]. David N. Dinkins, then mayor of New York and the city’s first Black mayor, called the jokes "way, way over the line" [1]. The Friars Club dean also apologized for the roast's content at the time [1].
Danson acknowledged Goldberg had defended him over the years with "grace and sweetness" despite the controversy [1]. He said on the podcast Who’s With Me hosted by W. Kamau Bell that he wanted to "address this and apologize forever" for the harm caused [2].
