Gary Owen Addresses Claims He 'Fetishizes' Black Culture, Tries To 'Fit' In With Black People

Gary Owen has responded to Emanny's suggestion that he was trying to "fit in" with Black people.

During an episode of the "Joe Budden Podcast" this week, Emanny and the other panelists weighed in on Owen's recent "Club Shay Shay" interview with Shannon Sharpe.

Emanny apparently had a negative impression of Owen from the interview as he said the comedian-actor made him feel "uncomfortable" and came off as someone who wants to be Black, as seen in a clip shared on X, formerly Twitter.

Owen seemingly learned about the singer's comments about him after an X user posted: "I don't agree with Emanny take on Gary Owens (sic)....I never felt he tries to be black, he be sounding [and] acting white [as f**k] lol."

"Who is this Emanny??? And where can I find him talking s**t about me?? lol," Owen replied to the tweet.

Some users quickly shared with Owen clips of Emanny talking about him on the "Joe Budden Podcast."

Emanny chimed in to encourage the 49-year-old stand-up comedian to watch the podcast episode and then discuss it with him afterward.

"Shared my opinion and said I'm open to being wrong [and] a bit ignorant. Watch and get back at me if you feel a way after viewing," Emanny responded to Owen's post.

But Owen apparently did not take issue with the podcast co-host's remarks.

"That wasn't that bad. Just making talking points. [People] are entitled to their opinion. @emannymusic included," the comedian responded to one user who posted a clip of Emanny.

Owen's mannerisms during his "Club Shay Shay" appearance sparked a debate among the "Joe Budden Podcast" panelists this week.

Emanny suggested that Owen -- who was the only white man to have ever hosted BET's "Comic View" and was dubbed "Black America’s favorite white comedian” by Ebony magazine -- gave the impression that he was trying to be Black.

"I might be ignorant. I was looking at him, and I was like, 'Damn, if this was a white woman sitting up there talking like this, this might make me feel a little different. Almost like she fetishizes our culture a little bit,'" he explained.

He pointed to co-host Parks as an example of a white man in a Black space who isn't trying to "ingratiate himself with Black culture" and "doesn't come around to try and fit in to us."

However, based on his interview with Sharpe, Emanny said he thought Owen was one of the white men who "feel like they have to become us in how they talk, they lingo, and all that just to fit into a space."

"It makes me feel uncomfortable a little bit," Emanny told his fellow panelists.

However, his co-hosts had a different opinion.

Ish thought Owen just came off as "awkward" as he tried to fight for "validation and acceptance."

"I think that there's a sincerity there. But, one, a lot of times we ain't with that s**t. And then two, I think he, like, when you see him, I mean, we've watched him for years, he's like, 'Yo, I'm real,'" Ish added.

Co-host Ice also disagreed with Emanny as he thought Owen was "white as f**k" during his interview.

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Gary Owen