Several top media outlets across the US are dropping comics Dilbert after its creator described black people as members of a ‘racist hate group’ during an online video broadcast.
Various media officials denounced the comments of the creator of DilbertScott Adams, as being racist, hateful and discriminatory while claiming that they would no longer provide a platform for his work.
Andrews McMeel Syndication, which distributes Dilbert, did not immediately respond Saturday to requests for comment from Mr. Adams or the underwriting agency about his remarks. Dilbert is a long-running comic 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 by Rasmussen Reports which asked whether people agreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white”.
Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26% of black respondents disagreed and others were unsure.
The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase was popularized in 2017 as a trolling campaign by members of the 4chan chatroom, but later began to be used by some white supremacists.
Mr Adams has 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 distance themselves from blacks.
THE San Antonio Express-Newswhich is part of Hearst Newspapers, said on Saturday it would quit comics Dilbertas of Monday, “due to hateful and discriminatory public comments by its creator.”
The USA Today Network wrote on Twitter on Friday that it would also stop posting. Dilbert “due to recent discriminatory comments by its creator.”
THE Plain Dealer of Cleveland and other publications that are part of Advance Local Media have also announced that they are dropping Dilbert.
“This is a decision based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve,” wrote Chris Quinn, editor of The Plain Dealer. We are not a home for those who espouse racism. We certainly don’t want to provide them with financial support. »
Christopher Kelly, vice president of content for NJ Advance Media, wrote that the news agency believes in “the free and fair exchange of ideas.”
“But when these ideas turn into hate speech, a line must be drawn,” Kelly wrote.