Sunda Croonquist describes herself as a half-black, half-Swedish jokester who married into a humorless Jewish family. The comedienne was actually sued two years ago by her peeved mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law for using them as the brunt of her jokes. Recently, a federal court judge threw out the lawsuit, citing that the jokes fell under the category of protected speech.
According to court documents, the jokes were Croonquist's own opinions and not facts, so she was protected by the First Amendment. As a matter of fact, the judge found jokes like, "My sister-in-law's voice sounds like a cat in heat," to be quite colorful.
Croonquist's mother-in-law, Ruth Zafrin (pictured below right), is not laughing, though. She claims that her daughter-in-law is insensitive and is defaming her with racist lies. The comedienne, however, points the accusatory racist finger at her in-laws. During her interview with the 'Today' show, she said that she was "shocked and sickened by the suit." She was also "saddened that her children no longer have a grandmother."
Ironically, Mark Zafrin (pictured above middle), Croonquist's husband, is a partner in the firm that represented the comedienne against his own family members.
Croonquist is expected to appear at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood this weekend, and, yes, she plans to continue where she left off, telling off-color in-law jokes. She tells the Associated Press, "In honor of Henny Youngman, why would I stop?" citing the legendary comedian whose signature line was, "Take my wife, please."
30-Apr-10 - Now a year has passed and Grey's Anatomy star Aasha Davis sister's body has still not been found, but police think they've caught the woman's killer: her husband, Davis's brother-in-law, Lyle Herring, Sr., who was arrested Wednesday.
30-Apr-10 - Now a year has passed and Grey's Anatomy star Aasha Davis sister's body has still not been found, but police think they've caught the woman's killer: her husband, Davis's brother-in-law, Lyle Herring, Sr., who was arrested Wednesday.
29-Apr-10 - First, it was Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Then it was Madonna. Now Sandra Bullock has joined the collective of celebrities adopting black babies.
27-Apr-10 - Michael Jackson's mother has asked ex-daughter-in-law Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza and her four children to vacate the premises by next week.
26-Apr-10 - Radio show host Rush Limbaugh responded harshly to critics who have accused him of being seditious with his words. In other words, Limbaugh has been accused of causing acts of rebellion and disrespect for authority by those who are unhappy with the recent actions of the federal government.
23-Apr-10 - The police, county sheriff, and federal investigators are all investigating the death of white supremacist Richard Barrett, lawyer, white nationalist and self-proclaimed leader in the skinhead movement. Barrett's neighbors called the fire department when they noticed his home was ablaze. His body was found inside his Pearl, Miss., home on Thursday morning. Firemen discovered Barrett's body inside the home. Investigators initially speculated that it was likely the flames of hell that killed him. Okay, not really.
23-Apr-10 - One of the quietest members of the Jackson clan, oldest sister Rebbie, recently sat down with Matt Lauer on the 'Today' show to talk about coping with the death of her brother Michael.
22-Apr-10 - Allen E. Brown delivered an early Mother's Day present that no one in the family will ever forget. He is sending his mother, Tecora Brown, on a one-way trip to prison after telling authorities of her involvement in a New Jersey prostitution ring.
21-Apr-10 - The Arizona House of Representatives recently approved a provision requiring President Barack Obama to prove that he is a natural-born citizen before the state agrees to place him on the ballot in 2012. He must have his birth certificate approved by the state's attorney general in order to run in the next election.
20-Apr-10 - Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard has reversed course, dropping voluntary manslaughter charges against the strip club manager charged in the death of A.J. Jewell, former fiance of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' cast member Kandi Burruss.
19-Apr-10 - Just when you thought he could not get any more ridiculous, last week hate radio host Rush Limbaugh talked about the eruption of the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano.
She aint funny. Needs work. She's got the mouth and the attitude but the jokes are weak. She fine though. As for her in-law, well. Mama Z needs to lighten up and realize these are just jokes. I guess it's not so funny when you're the subject of the joke though. Sundra maybe needs to not bare so much family business (especially concerning in-laws) onstage if she wants to keep a relationship with them and peace with her husband who doesn't seem to mind now but probably won't be laughing later when he has to attend family reunions solo. Or maybe her in-laws really do have a problem with black people in which case it's all good. I'd like to hear what hubby, Mark has to say about all this.
I'm Black and I can't stand this Sunda or whatever her name is. I think she's a b!tch. Accusing someone of being racist, when they are not is no joke. I heard her sisters in law have to deal with that racist cloud over them at work. This can affect people's lives you know. If people at work think they are intolerant, that might prevent them from promotions, heading diverse teams etc.
She seems so concern about her "job" and not willing to walk in her in laws' shoes. I think they don't like, because she's a self centered b!tch, not because she's Black. I can't stand her either!
Just b/c your black you are connected with this comedienne? She is black and Swedish...not just black. There is a difference! I think some of her jokes are cute. She is doing what comics do...Jerry Seinfeld b/c a billionaire making fun of all sorts of people...including family members. I think Sunda's inlaws are full of crap!
Where did I say I was connected to her? The only reason I said I'm Black is to make sure she can't accuse me of being racist too, since being Black is her crutch and a license to not take accoutability for her jacked up marriage. She's blaming her inlaws for the grief her kiddings are getting at school, instead dropping her unfunny skids to safe her family. Clueless, self centered b!tch! She should start a reality show with Kate Goslin shot at a remote island with no way out!
Welcome to America , no females , no garbage ,no kotex, no tampons, Adam was a fool in the garden of Eden.Women are so expensive and over sensitive, whatever it is, get over it. Lady's are dime a dozen all over the world. Plenty replacements, like the border wide open,stop complaining and whinning, nobody cares, really.That is not news worthy,people need jobs fool.
She is not funny period! She uses the word black over twenty somethink times in her monologue and most of it in negative stereotype. Granted she is biracial, but she acts as though she deserve some kind of brownie points for coming out that way and though she thinks it's funny to say she looks latin like she should get a medal because in her daffy mind she don't look black, in her dreams! On stage she uses her blackness in a denigrating way while her so called white side is explained in a calm cool and good manner, and for all this she gets maybe two or three nervous laughs
Michelle Obama Attends Beyonce Concert
7 Weird Ways To Bug-Proof Your Picnic
Comments: (19)
Add a comment
By: ooozzzzz on 5/05/2010 4:22PM
Mother-in-law Ruth Zafrin, you are forever stuck with your pregeant daughter-in-law and she ain't goin' nowhere!
Just learn to live & deal with it.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: sharkchops on 5/05/2010 4:54PM
She aint funny. Needs work. She's got the mouth and the attitude but the jokes are weak. She fine though. As for her in-law, well. Mama Z needs to lighten up and realize these are just jokes. I guess it's not so funny when you're the subject of the joke though. Sundra maybe needs to not bare so much family business (especially concerning in-laws) onstage if she wants to keep a relationship with them and peace with her husband who doesn't seem to mind now but probably won't be laughing later when he has to attend family reunions solo. Or maybe her in-laws really do have a problem with black people in which case it's all good. I'd like to hear what hubby, Mark has to say about all this.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Sue on 5/06/2010 9:19AM
I'm Black and I can't stand this Sunda or whatever her name is. I think she's a b!tch. Accusing someone of being racist, when they are not is no joke. I heard her sisters in law have to deal with that racist cloud over them at work. This can affect people's lives you know. If people at work think they are intolerant, that might prevent them from promotions, heading diverse teams etc.
She seems so concern about her "job" and not willing to walk in her in laws' shoes.
I think they don't like, because she's a self centered b!tch, not because she's Black.
I can't stand her either!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: crabcake on 5/06/2010 1:53PM
Just b/c your black you are connected with this comedienne? She is black and Swedish...not just black. There is a difference! I think some of her jokes are cute. She is doing what comics do...Jerry Seinfeld b/c a billionaire making fun of all sorts of people...including family members. I think Sunda's inlaws are full of crap!
Report This
By: Sue on 5/06/2010 5:17PM
Where did I say I was connected to her? The only reason I said I'm Black is to make sure she can't accuse me of being racist too, since being Black is her crutch and a license to not take accoutability for her jacked up marriage.
She's blaming her inlaws for the grief her kiddings are getting at school, instead dropping her unfunny skids to safe her family. Clueless, self centered b!tch!
She should start a reality show with Kate Goslin shot at a remote island with no way out!
Report This
By: sostewar on 5/09/2010 6:49PM
sue, my gut is telling me you're not what you say you are. basing it on five decades of sorting this kind of thing out.
Report This
By: CHIEF on 5/06/2010 9:34AM
Welcome to America , no females , no garbage ,no kotex, no tampons, Adam was a fool in the garden of Eden.Women are so expensive and over sensitive, whatever it is, get over it. Lady's are dime a dozen all over the world. Plenty replacements, like the border wide open,stop complaining and whinning, nobody cares, really.That is not news worthy,people need jobs fool.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: manning barr on 5/06/2010 3:06PM
She is not funny period! She uses the word black over twenty somethink times in her monologue and most of it in negative stereotype. Granted she is biracial, but she acts as though she deserve some kind of brownie points for coming out that way and though she thinks it's funny to say she looks latin like she should get a medal because in her daffy mind she don't look black, in her dreams! On stage she uses her blackness in a denigrating way while her so called white side is explained in a calm cool and good manner, and for all this she gets maybe two or three nervous laughs
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: juana on 5/06/2010 4:30PM
@barr....I concur
Report This
By: Tela on 5/06/2010 6:05PM
I agree with you M Barr, she isn't funny at all. She needs to get a new job.
Report This