Stephen Colbert is one of the best at modern satire, but things got a little out of hand for the comedian on Twitter today. On Wednesday’s episode of The Colbert Report, Colbert made a joke at the expense of Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder involving his reactions to the controversy between his NFL team's name and offended Native American groups. The joke was then tweeted out on the official Colbert Report Twitter page today, stripped of its context. Take a look at the screen grab (via Entertainment Weekly) below:
The tweet was later deleted after people began complaining about its context. Many of them immediately called for Colbert’s job with the hashtag #CancelColbert. For years Colbert has played this over-the-top right-wing character on TV, and for the most part people have gotten the joke. But some viewers think this tweet stepped over the line. Take a look at just a sampling of #CancelColbert tweets:
White people--this isn't a democracy. I know y'all are used to having structural power, but losing one show isn't oppression #CancelColbert
When satire becomes as offensive and hurtful as the thing satirized it is no longer satire. It is simply more injustice. #cancelcolbert
Good humor punches up, at the powerful. Lazy humor relies on racist stereotypes. Apologize and do better. #CancelColbert
Is there a limit to Colbert's satire? Or should people try to either understand or just ignore his offbeat brand of humor? Let us know what you think.
[via Entertainment Weekly]
