Gilbert Gottfried on Japanese earthquake

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http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/g ... lac-167382
Oh, COME ON! He's just a comedian. They're just jokes! Calm down!

Last edited by DarthMetaKnight on 15 Mar 2011, 5:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

He is a funny funny man, anyone who can't seperate comedy from tragedy needs to get a bubble wrap suit.

I'm not surprised that people are defending his joke. Not that I'm extremely outraged but given the huge amount of trolling and jokes in regard to this tragedy, the racial double standard has reared its ugly head in the worst way possible. No one in Hollywood would dare make a joke (or even a serious negative opinion) about Haiti after that earthquake without having a death-wish on their hands, but when it comes to Japan, it's all "come on, can't you take a joke?" I swear I've seen this double-standard treatment towards Asians...mainly orientals...more than any other group I know. It's ridiculous, callous, and immature. And I can't stand all this trolling being done by people using this as an opportunity to mock the religious right. If this were any other time, I can find the humor in it, but not after thousands of people and hundreds of towns have been destroyed and the world is on the brink of a nuclear crisis.

The joke itself I think was just poor taste. I don't think most people were tremendously offended, but 75% Aflac's customers are in Japan. It was a wise business decision on their part. Besides, it's probably time for him to be moving away from the duck anyway.

The company that employed him, Aflack, makes 70% of its revenue fom Japan. Funny is relative to proximity - it may be funny in Hollywood but it ain't gonna fly in Tokyo.

The people that say he has no compassion. These people must understand what a joke is. A person with no compassion is one of those people who believe it is Karma from Pearl Harbour. A comedian may not hold the views shown by the joke he shares. Lying, fibbing, impersonations... these are all part of comedy. If you treat all jokes quite literally then you will have trouble finding many jokes funny.

"I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, 'They'll be another one floating by any minute now.’”

It is funny because it may as well be true. Is it insulting any particular person? Is it derogatory? Is this racist? (are the Japanese in this joke able to be substituted for another ethnic group if a major flood hits the news again?)

I believe this man is morally correct. But then morals differ from person to person. there is no such thing as a correct moral. Yet his is more accurate than the people saying the disaster is payback karma for pearl harbour.

I don't think he should have been fired because of it .. but he could have been more inconsiderate.

I don't think he should have been fired because of it .. but he could have been more considerate.

You made me laugh. No sarcasm.
Even though appeal to emotion is a fallacy, it is important to appeal to emotion due to the circumstances he is involved in. The consumerist and democratic ideals in our society require a great deal of popularity; therefor, appealing to emotion is a strategy used for survival in our "civilized society".

I fully agree with you, this is something I've noticed as well. Racism towards Asians is completely fine and acceptable, it's not a problem if you do "chinky eyes" and make fun of their pronunciation of l

I think that the jokes were apalling and this person deserved to be sacked, because I just simply cannot comprehend how people find things like these funny. On top of all the "ahaha it's payback for Pearl harbor" idiocy that I've seen all over the internet this is just sick and very worrying. Thousands of people are dead, the country is in shambles (go see any of the numerous picture galleries on the web and if your first response is "lol" then you're a psycho) and people are suffering so much. And it's funny because it's true?! I think this person is in dire need of attention and just messes with people by spewing crap for shock value

I agree, Bleu!

Besides, weren't Hiroshima and Nagasaki payback for Pearl Harbor enough?! NO ONE deserves what Japan is suffering right now. I wouldn't wish this even on our worst enemies. Japan has been nothing but our staunchest supporter in modern times. I'd personally like to see any and all people making light of the situation sent to Sendai to help dig bodies out of the rubble. A dose of reality is definitely in order and there is nothing funny about it.

I notice the report says the comedian also made a joke around 9/11 and was booed by the audience.I'd be interested to know if the
Americans who are defending his jokes about Japan would also defend his 9/11 joke.

I don't deny that in some cases laughter can help in tragic situations,however there are lines that shouldn't be crossed.

The Japanese people have reacted with great dignity and humanity to the devastation,as did the families of those killed in 9/11.
I'm sure Gilbert Gottfried is a decent guy and didn't realise the outcry he would cause,but I think the company were correct to sack him because in the business world you definitely can't make such disrespectful comments.

Oriental is a type of rug.
***
He deserved to be fired. First, someone that works for Aflac should know where their company does most of its business dealings with. Second, the joke was just in bad taste. Who makes jokes about other people's pain and suffering? Apparently to Gottfried its okay to poke fun at another country's misfortune. I'd like to see everyone's reaction if he had made a joke about 911 or Katrina.

What an a**hole. He deserved to be fired.

Karma for PH......if you mean the atomic bombs they dropped on them during WW2 then yes.

Just like school on Saturday, NO CLASS.