Many major media outlets across America are abandoning comics Dilbert After its creator described black people as members of a ‘racist hate group’ during an online video broadcast.
Various media officials condemned the creator’s comment DilbertScott Adams says he will no longer provide a platform for his work, calling it racist, hateful and discriminatory.
Andrews McMeel Syndication, which distributes Dilbert, Mr. Adams or the underwriting agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday. Dilbert is a long-running comedy that pokes fun at office culture.
The backlash began following an episode last week of the YouTube show “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.” Among other topics, Mr Adams referred to a survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports, which asked people whether they agreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white”.
Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26% of black respondents disagreed and the rest weren’t sure.
The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase was popularized as a trolling campaign by members of the 4chan chat room in 2017, but has since been used by some white supremacists.
Mr Adams repeatedly called black people members of a ‘hate group’ or a ‘racist hate group’ and said he would ‘no longer help black Americans’. He urged whites to separate themselves from blacks.
The San Antonio Express-NewsHearst, which is part of Newspapers, said Saturday it would divest from comics DilbertAs of Monday, “because of the hateful and discriminatory public comments made by its creator.”
The USA Today Network wrote on Friday that it would stop posting on Twitter. Dilbert “Due to recent prejudiced comments by its creator.”
The Ordinary trader Cleveland’s and other publications that are part of Advance Local Media have also announced the drop Dilbert.
“This decision was made based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve,” wrote Chris Quinn. Plain Dealer. We are not a home for racists. We definitely don’t want to give them financial support. »
Christopher Kelly, NJ Advance Media’s vice president of content, wrote that the news agency believes in the “free and fair exchange of ideas.”
“But when these comments turn into hate speech, a line must be drawn,” Kelly wrote.
“Pop culture practitioner. Award-winning tv junkie. Creator. Devoted food geek. Twitter lover. Beer enthusiast.”