The actor who charmed us with his portrayal of the sweet, naively optimistic Matthew on NewsRadio has far less benevolent appeal off-camera. If his lack of tact regarding personal space weren't enough, his big mouth has landed him in hot water a few times too. Two weeks after Michael Richards' infamous racist tirade, Andy Dick was booed during his own stand-up set. During a horribly unfunny send-up, he mimicked Richards' racial slurs, directing them at the audience. He later made a public apology. Having not learned his lesson, however, he was forced to make another apology to Howard Stern after repeatedly calling him a "shallow, money-grubbing Jew" during a 2011 radio show appearance. One might think it difficult to offend the legendarily controversial radio host, but Stern took Dick to task for the anti-semitic remarks, telling him to "get his act together."
When Jon Lovitz joined the cast of NewsRadio following original cast member Phil Hartman's tragic death, Dick was reportedly very unkind to him. Dick's bullying sparked an infamous stand-off with Lovitz which has become the stuff of Hollywood legend. Lovitz fired back, accusing Dick of giving Hartman's wife, a recovering addict, the cocaine that led to her relapse—ultimately leading to the shocking murder-suicide that ended the couple's lives. Though Lovitz later rescinded the remark, Dick further provoked him, telling Lovitz that he "put the Phil Hartman hex on him" and saying he'd be the next to die. The incident ended with Lovitz slamming Dick's head into the bar of the Laugh Factory. Their feud has lasted for years.
