WHY CRIPPLED KIDS CHARITY KICKED JERRY TO CURB

Egomaniac Lewis got too big for his britches

COMIC legend Jerry Lewis was suddenly ousted from his gig hosting the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon in 2011 after the egocrazed funnyman exploded in a spit-flying rage and threatened the charity's president over program cuts and control of the popular TV fundraiser.

In a bombshell revelation, GLOBE sources finally rip the lid off one of TV's longest-held secrets to reveal how frazzled Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) bigwigs finally showed Jerry the door after he'd hosted the telethon that made him a household name ― because they for 45 years were fed up with his bizarre antics, embarrassing gaffes and "mean-spirited" behavior out of sight of the cameras.

"Jerry was very angry because the new president of the MDA made decisions without his input," says Rick Saphire, author of the explosive new book The Real Jerry Lewis Story.

"They cut the time of the telethon without conferring with him and Jerry got into a heated battle with the president and said, 'You, and not the kids, belong in a f***ing wheelchair,' before he stormed out of the office.

"Right after that they gave Jerry his walking papers."