Samuel L. Jackson is not Laurence Fishburne and he wants to make sure everyone knows it–especially a news reporter who interviewed him and confused him with the Matrix star. The interview was taking place via satellite and was intended to promote Jackson’s role in the upcoming RoboCop remake. Reporter Sam Rubin’s mistake came when he asked the actor about his Super Bowl commercial.

“What Super Bowl commercial?” he asked, clearly understanding that the reporter had him confused with Fishburne.

“See, you’re as crazy as the people on Twitter – I’m not Laurence Fishburne!” he added.

Laurence Fishburne appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for Kia.

Sam Rubin, of course, was mortified.

“It’s my fault, I know that, that was my fault, my mistake,” he said following the embarrassing interview.

“We don’t all look alike. We may be all black and famous but we don’t all look alike,” added Jackson.

Oh, dear–can you imagine how Rubin felt then? Samuel L. Jackson basically accused him of thinking all black people look just the same.

Jackson went on to name a number of black actors and the products and services they promote in TV ads. By this point Sam Rubin must have wanted to throw himself on the floor and slither away like a snake.

The two went on with the interview–very gingerly on Rubin’s behalf–and chatted about RoboCop and the film’s cast which includes Michael Keaton and Gary Oldman. Following the interview Sam Rubin apologized profusely to his viewers as well.

“I really pride myself on the fact that unlike a lot of people who do this kind of work, more often than not I really do know what I’m talking about,” he said. “But I didn’t 30 minutes ago and I’m really embarrassed about it, and I very much apologize to Samuel L Jackson and anyone else who was offended for what was a very amateur mistake.”

Do you think Samuel L. Jackson came down a bit hard on Sam Rubin? Couldn’t he have laughed it off and explained the reporter’s mistake in more polite terms? Of course Jackson is known for speaking his mind–loudly and not so politely at times–so it really isn’t all that surprising to hear how he reacted.

What would you have done following that interview if you were Sam Rubin?

Image via Wikimedia Commons