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Is Earthquake A Sign From God That Celebrities Should STFU?
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 15, 2011
Modified Mar 15, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 15, 2011
Modified Mar 15, 2011
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Yesterday comedian Gilbert Gottfried lost his lucrative voice-over contract with the insurance company Aflac because of a string of revoltingly unfunny Twitter "jokes" about Japanese tsunami and earthquake victims. Gottfried, who can probably relate to feeling washed up, was fired for making such remarks as "I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, 'They'll be another one floating by any minute now.' " (He later apologized "to anyone who was offended by my attempt at humor regarding the tragedy in Japan.") And he's not the only one displaying a sickening disregard for victims of the catastrophe. A rapper, a WNBA player, and a Fox news pundit have all used the tsunami as an opportunity to share their warped worldview.
Just one day after the tsunami, New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter tweeted, "What if God was tired of the way they treated their own people in there own country! Idk guys he makes no mistakes." This was followed up with, "u just never knw! They did pearl harbor so u can't expect anything less." And then she dropped the term "jap" in reference to someone who criticized her comments. Yesterday she apologized, telling fans:
The least thing I wanted was to hurt or offend anyone so again I truly apologize. If you've lost respect for me that's totally fine but please don't let me or my words lose the respect of u the WNBA and what it stands for. I'm very strong woman evn strong enough 2 admit an apologize when I'm wrong. Twitter is a voice and wth tht I wanna apologize again.
"Cappie Pondexter's words show the endurance of long-held bigoted and prejudiced attitudes toward the Japanese, even from young Americans in today's society whose only knowledge of the Second World War comes from history books and popular culture," Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham H. Foxman told ESPN. Team Liberty has declined to comment other than to say that Pondexter apologized and their discussions with the player would remain internal.
Earlier, rapper 50 Cent tweeted, "Look this is very serious people I had to evacuate all my hoe's from LA, Hawaii and Japan. I had to do it. Lol." He later added, "Some of my tweets are ignorant I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. I'm cool either way." SO cool, but not as cool as Glenn Beck, who told radio listeners yesterday, "What God does is God's business, I have no idea. But I'll tell you this—whether you call it Gaia or whether you call it Jesus, there's a message being sent. And that is, 'Hey you know that stuff we're doing? Not really working out real well. Maybe we should stop doing some of it.' " He then laughed his simpering white man devil laugh and added, "I'm just saying."
Tagged
50 cent
Cappie Pondexter
glenn beck
Japan Earthquake
japan nuclear plant
japan tsumani
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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