Jerry Lewis, on Merv Griffin: 'He Deserved to Die'

It seems that Jerry Lewis is gearing up for this year's Labor Day Telethon by weighing in as an expert on prostate cancer -- and saying some unfortunate things about the recently departed. Like Merv Griffin. This probably didn't come out the way Jerry intended, but he tells "Entertainment Tonight" in an interview airing Friday night that Griffin's alleged lack of aggressive treatment following his prostate cancer diagnosis was interpreted by Lewis as evidence that he got what he deserved -- which was death last Friday at age 82.

"I was very angry when I heard he died," Lewis tells "ET." "He didn't have to die. He knew he had prostate cancer and he did nothing about it. He deserved to die." Let's hope this isn't the same tack he uses when memorializing his deceased "kids" over Labor Day. It doesn't have quite the same ring as, say, "He was a great man and a wonderful talk show host and I had a bundle of laughs with the guy. I'll sure miss him." We all may need to chip in to get Jerry some bereavement training, as this new "It's his own damn fault!" approach seems to be falling a tad short in the compassion department.

Lewis also says in the "ET" interview that he has no intention of dying before he turns 101. Then when he does go, we'll all be able to lay into him for allowing his body to age and break down.

Comments

[OldOldLady Of The Hills]

Frighteningly cold and I wonder too, what his attitude is when so many of "his" kids die....
How truly truly terrible of him!

[Theodora]

Well...

Lewis *did* play "The Devil" in "Damn Yankees"... Maybe, in his dementedly cholesterol-clogged latter years, he's become a "Method Actor" --and believes his role...

BTW, Jer...

As FAT as you've become --and with all the heart attacks you've had as a result of it... PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF...