Backlash after "racist" Stephen Colbert tweet

[MessiahDecoy123]

The hashtag #CancelColbert started to trend after a tweet from the verified Twitter account for "The Colbert Report" tweeted on Thursday, "I am willing to show the #Asian community I care by introducing the Ching Chong Ding Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever."

The tweet (which has since been deleted) was a riff on a skit Colbert did Wednesday on his Comedy Central show poking fun at Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder's announcement of a foundation to help Native Americans. The team has been at the center of controversy for having a name some deem to be racist.

Colbert's character on his show is ultra-conservative and often makes outrageous statements, including his impression of "Ching Chong Ding Dong," which mocks Asian stereotypes. But without the context of the TV show skit the tweet outraged many.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/28/showbiz/tv/stephen-colbert-racist-tweet/

 

[Teelie]

Out of context you can make anything look the opposite of its true intent. On the internet you don't even have to make an effort.

 

[Doctor Evo]

But without the context of the TV show skit the tweet outraged many.

Makes sense. The campaign is still stupid.

 

[Anita18]

He's made similar "ching chong" jokes before. -shrug- He just made the mistake of tweeting one this time, instead of sticking it randomly into his show. I'm Asian, and it doesn't offend me because I'm very familiar with his show, and it isn't the first time he's made the joke. I'm actually surprised that so many people on Twitter apparently haven't seen his show.

Out of context, most of his schtick is offensive anyway.

 

[NickNitro]

Colbert's soul purpose of his character is to seem like he's completely for some right wing radical movement when he clearly and sarcastically isn't. This is just another reason for people to be angry on the inter webs.

 

[The Apocalypse]

People are so sensitive.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I can only laugh at people's over sensitivity at this point.

 

[Gr0oT]

The social justice warriors really need to get a life when admonishing a satirist for being in character.
Of all the horrible injustices in this world to try and get this man fired is really sad.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I'd say it's understandable when people are outraged when a public figure does something terribly racist but this is a case of people being uninformed and mistaking satire for racism.

If you're going to try to get a popular show taken off the air at least google the context of the joke first.

Sheesh.

 

[NickNitro]

There's no way in hell Comedy Central would shut down The Colbert Report

 

[DarkSovereignty]

One of the articles I read on this had screen grabs of the #cancelcolbert tweets... none of them were Asian.

 

[Teelie]

There's no way in hell Comedy Central would shut down The Colbert Report

If anything they will use this to promote the show.

 

[NickNitro]

Unless Stephen Colbert had an on air breakdown, ripped off his clothes and danced around the audience smearing peanut butter on his body while chanting the national anthem do I see them shutting it down....even then I think the audience would just cheer him on and enjoy every moment of it.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Yea pretty much. I read that and was thinking that would make a good segment.

 

[Teelie]

I'm already envisioning the writers plotting it out.

 

[Ant-manic]

what a non story

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

#CancelColbert was trending for a while so this movement to get Colbert cancelled did gain a little momentum.

 

[Teelie]

I wonder how many jumped on board merely thinking this was a publicity stunt by Colbert.

 

[terry78]

Sarcasm doesn't translate in text. Well, it does but normal people can sense it.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

#CancelColbert was trending for a while so this movement to get Colbert cancelled did gain a little momentum.

Momentum? I doubt it. I'm sure Colbert was never in any sort of even remote danger of being cancelled

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Sarcasm doesn't translate in text. Well, it does but normal people can sense it.

I bet there are people who don't realize The Colbert Show is satire even after they view an episode.

 

[jmc]

Sarcasm doesn't translate in text. Well, it does but normal people can sense it.

We do live in the literal internet.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Stephen Colbert the character has said many homophobic things on his show, and you don't see GLAAD going after him. Oh yeah, because he's playing a fictional character on TV. It's like trying to prosecute Tom Hiddleston for killing all those police officers in The Avengers.

As an Asian person, I cannot stand Asian-American activist groups. There's racism out there, but they always miss the point of everything and go after the wrong targets.

 

[Golgo-13]

bad timing too as Asian Pacific American heritage month starts next week...

 

[Pink Ranger]

bad timing too as Asian Pacific American history month starts next week...

Great, give us the month where we have to compete with both Easter and Passover. The 32 Asian-Americans who either aren't Christians or married into Jewish families will have a great celebration.