May 23rd 2024.
Actor Giancarlo Esposito recently took a trip down memory lane as he recreated the iconic Jordan shoe scuff scene from the 1989 film "Do the Right Thing," 35 years after its initial release. Best known for his role as Gus Fring in "Breaking Bad," Esposito joined forces with NBA Shooting Coach Chris "Lethal Shooter" Matthews to bring back one of the most beloved scenes from Spike Lee's cult classic.
In the scene, Esposito's character "Buggin' Out" is seen confronting a young man who accidentally steps on his new Air Jordans with his bicycle. With the help of Matthews, Esposito perfectly embodied the fiery and passionate Buggin' Out, reminding a new generation why the scene was so memorable.
The recreation of the scene was not only a tribute to the film and its impact, but also a gesture of appreciation for Esposito's 40+ years of acting and his ability to resonate with diverse audiences. Matthews even took to Twitter to express his admiration for Esposito, calling him a "living legend" and stating that he deserves more recognition.
Esposito was quick to respond, tweeting back, "YO! Still mad about that guy scuffing my Jordans. Always a blast with you brother @LethalShooter__." The two-time Critics Choice Award winner flawlessly recited every line of the scene, including Buggin' Out's famous "YO" and "You stepped on my brand new white Air Jordans that I just bought!"
The comical scene was a nod to the original one filmed 35 years ago, which tackled the issue of gentrification in Brooklyn, New York. In the original scene, Esposito's Buggin' Out confronts a white male, played by John Savage, who destroys his Air Jordans with his bicycle. After telling the man to "go back to Massachusetts," the Jordan scuffer reveals that he was actually born and raised in Brooklyn, causing Buggin' Out and his crew to exclaim, "Awwwwwwww."
Despite the decades that have passed since his role in "Do the Right Thing," Esposito still remembers the impact the film had on him. In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, he shared, "My background is half-Italian and in those days, being a lighter-skinned Black man, I couldn't get cast as a white person or a Black person. So I was playing Spanish roles." However, Spike Lee gave him the opportunity to play a Black character, and it was a defining moment in his career.
Esposito continued, "During the scene with John Savage, when he steps on my new sneakers, Spike said, 'It's good, but you talk too fast; you gotta slow it down a little.' I said, 'Buggin' Out talks fast!' I got the vote of confidence from Spike to do the role how I wanted to." That confidence from Lee has stayed with Esposito throughout his career, and he has continued to make memorable and impactful appearances in various projects.
As fans eagerly await Esposito's upcoming projects, including his possible involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Professor X, this recreation of the Jordan scuff scene serves as a reminder of his incredible talent and the enduring impact of "Do the Right Thing."
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