Gilbert Gottfried Fired Over Japan Jokes on Twitter

[BRabbiT]

[QUOTE]
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http://cdn.evilbeetgossip.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/photo-of-Gilbert-Gottfrieds-tweets-500x442.png


COLUMBUS, Ga.

[DeronMillsap]

"I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, 'They'll be another one floating by any minute now.'" This one is f--ked up but I loled.

And yeah what a moron because Aflac must have been his biggest paycheck. He might have gotten away with it if he did one but went a little overboard.

[Stuckey]

smh, not surprised that he tried for shock value but mass death is not joke material

[iamgine]

A comedian gotta do what a comedian gotta do. Insensitive jokes in times of sorrow are awesome! :applause:

[Stuckey]

if you cant laugh, then the tsunami wins

[L.Kizzle]

Too soon

[El Kabong]

He was doing the same thing after 9/11. No surprise here.

[Done_And_Done]

Too soon

Co-sign...


And far too much quantity...

[bagelred]

Gottfried is a real comedian. He goes for the jugular before it's acceptable to do so.

This. What happened to our country? He's a comedian. That's what he does. Nothing is off limits. When did everyone get so sensitive in this country? Sometimes when something is so serious, cracking jokes is one way to deal with it the pain.

Not surprised Aflac would fire him, but what is this wagging the finger of all the posters here. "How DARE you. How DAAAAAAAAARE you joke about this":no:

Grow up. They are jokes. It doesn't mean Gilbert really wants Japanese people to suffer. They are jokes.

"Some things you can't joke about. How DAAAAAAAARE you.:no: " :hammerhead:

[code green]

i was watching a david hasselhoff roast last night on comedy central, and gottfried was on it. i know how roasts work, and i've seen a ton of them...but that dude took it to a whole other level. pam anderson looked like she wanted to kill him for repeatedly calling her ****** loose.

[rufuspaul]

Who was it who said comedy is tragedy + time?

[bagelred]

i was watching a david hasselhoff roast last night on comedy central, and gottfried was on it. i know how roasts work, and i've seen a ton of them...but that dude took it to a whole other level. pam anderson looked like she wanted to kill him for repeatedly calling her ****** loose.

I actually remember that and remember Gottfried being on fire. He's one of the true comedians left who won't water down his act for the PC crowd. It's a pleasure.

And btw, his tweets are removed. Wonder if he removed them or if twitter removed them.

[TennesseeFan]

I read all these in his obnoxious voice :oldlol:

[Sarcastic]

Fired? I didn't know he even had a job.

[TennesseeFan]

Fired? I didn't know he even had a job.

He was the aflac duck :oldlol:

[L.Kizzle]

Didn't he tweet some jokes like an hour after Greg Geraldo died?

[DeuceWallaces]

Pretty solid jokes. They should be expected after his daggers following Geraldos death.

[RidonKs]

if you cant laugh, then the tsunami wins
lol


i don't really know how i feel about this. i guess i don't care. sucks for him, sucks for the Japanese, lose lose lose lose, it would seem. i dug the jokes though.


Who was it who said comedy is tragedy + time?
that's a good quote

[Qwyjibo]

Those were good.

It's not like we're happy about what happened to Japan but funny is funny. Can't deny it. The fact that it's so soon after probably makes it even funnier to me.

[PowerGlove]

This dude didnt even let them clean up the shit before making jokes....:oldlol:

[Soul Of Seun]

He overdid it. 1 pr 2 is really pushing it but ten is really overboard. They weren't the worst jokes ever, but they weren't that funny.

[Sarcastic]

This dude didnt even let them clean up the shit before making jokes....:oldlol:

The shit's not even over, let alone clean up.

[SCdac]

haha his jokes are pretty funny... I like.

it's not like he's been shunned by American society or anything (not that I know of at least), so it's not a big deal imo. people at the coffee shop I was at thought his jokes were funny when displayed on the tv.

being the spokesperson for a company, probably have to walk on egg shells when you're the kind of comedian he is, not all that surprising. companies like this are probably looking for reasons to trim payroll anyways.

[vitamink420]

Gilbert Gottfried is the man. One of the few comedians with balls

[JMT]

Pretty irreverent sense of humor myself, and thought Gilbert's lines were funny.

BUT I really do wonder at what point it became acceptable to laugh at those in the darkest hour of a tragedy of epic proportion?

It's a phase of eveolution that, looked at with a purely analytical eye, is a really bad sign for the future.

[macmac]

Apparently it's pronounced Gottfired in japanese...*Rimshot*

[SCdac]

Pretty irreverent sense of humor myself, and thought Gilbert's lines were funny.

BUT I really do wonder at what point it became acceptable to laugh at those in the darkest hour of a tragedy of epic proportion?

It's a phase of eveolution that, looked at with a purely analytical eye, is a really bad sign for the future.

I'm sure being able to look at negative events in positive, even comical, ways has existed in humanity for ages. It's just now, with mass media and social network, one person can more easily broadcast his lone opinion to millions. If he was telling these jokes to just a group of 5-10 would it be significant and news worthy I wonder? Probably not, nobody would care or know, but it would still be just as insensitive right? I don't think making crass jokes about this situation so soon is inherently a "bad" thing in it of itself, but when the Japanese themselves start to see it, it kind of assumes that position.

It's just the more "loud and public" comments become, the more politically correct we all feel compelled to be.... I applaud Gilbert for not being constricted to the social norm of "my heart goes out to Japan" facebook statuses and stuff, and staying true to himself whether people like it or not. That is free will and free speech, which I'm glad to have.

Saying shit like "they deserved it, for this or that reason" I think is much much more offensive than a comedian busting out one-liners.

[oh the horror]

Pretty irreverent sense of humor myself, and thought Gilbert's lines were funny.

BUT I really do wonder at what point it became acceptable to laugh at those in the darkest hour of a tragedy of epic proportion?

It's a phase of eveolution that, looked at with a purely analytical eye, is a really bad sign for the future.


Its not a bad sign for the future. Its about perspective. WE ALL KNOW Gilbert is joking. HE knows he is joking, and on a personal level, im sure he feels for those people with the same level of empathy that any other human has for the situation.



No one is laughing at them directly due to that tragedy, but we can sit back and have a moment of levity for the entire situation.


Reality can stink sometimes without extra added humor along the way.








What gets me is....Aflac had to have known about Gottfried's humor all of these years. They were okay with him roasting a still fresh Greg Giraldo corpse, but they draw the line at something like this? Basically they were looking out for their own asses here. Which is FINE, but seriously, they KNOW what Gilbert's comedy is about.

[niko]

This. What happened to our country? He's a comedian. That's what he does. Nothing is off limits. When did everyone get so sensitive in this country? Sometimes when something is so serious, cracking jokes is one way to deal with it the pain.

Not surprised Aflac would fire him, but what is this wagging the finger of all the posters here. "How DARE you. How DAAAAAAAAARE you joke about this":no:

Grow up. They are jokes. It doesn't mean Gilbert really wants Japanese people to suffer. They are jokes.

"Some things you can't joke about. How DAAAAAAAARE you.:no: " :hammerhead:

I agree. But if you piss off the people paying you, sometimes you get fired. WElcome to the world. I 100% support his right to say what he did. But once you say it, prepare for the backfire.

Was the purpose of him saying the controversial things to get no reaction? Well, he didn't like his reaction. Life is hard.

[Disaprine]

no class at all.

[JMT]

Its not a bad sign for the future. Its about perspective. WE ALL KNOW Gilbert is joking. HE knows he is joking, and on a personal level, im sure he feels for those people with the same level of empathy that any other human has for the situation.

No one is laughing at them directly due to that tragedy, but we can sit back and have a moment of levity for the entire situation.

Reality can stink sometimes without extra added humor along the way.

What gets me is....Aflac had to have known about Gottfried's humor all of these years. They were okay with him roasting a still fresh Greg Giraldo corpse, but they draw the line at something like this? Basically they were looking out for their own asses here. Which is FINE, but seriously, they KNOW what Gilbert's comedy is about.

Appreciate the feedback. I guess, sadly, I do see a society that has steadily moved closer to "laughing directly at" those enduring suffering. It absolutely makes me question some of the things I say or laugh at.

We can make ourselves feel better about it by saying it's not about them directly, but it is. If these people were not going through the worst situation any of us can imagine...a situation far worse that 99.9% of the people here will ever come close to facing...then there are no jokes. So we're joking about them being left dead, injured, homeless. It can be spun a lot of ways, but thems the facts.

In this case, I agree that AFLAC was in a 'buyer beware' situation. As a corporate sponsor, you just hope your spokesperson has enough sense not to make jokes at the expense of the country where you do 75% of your business.

[bagelred]

I agree. But if you piss off the people paying you, sometimes you get fired. WElcome to the world. I 100% support his right to say what he did. But once you say it, prepare for the backfire.

Was the purpose of him saying the controversial things to get no reaction? Well, he didn't like his reaction. Life is hard.

I'm sure Gottfried's said hundreds of worse things in his career. NOW Aflac's offended? :rolleyes: That's probably what Gottfried is thinking.

[JMT]

Grow up. They are jokes. It doesn't mean Gilbert really wants Japanese people to suffer. They are jokes.

:

You're right. The jokes don't indicate that he wants Japanese people to suffer.

The jokes indicate that he thinks...and believes that you will think as well...that the suffering they're enduring is funny.

Is one any better than the other?

[JMT]

I'm sure Gottfried's said hundreds of worse things in his career. NOW Aflac's offended? :rolleyes: That's probably what Gottfried is thinking.

AFLAC derives 75% of their salesz revenues from Japanese companies.

I'm sure Gilbert has told countless tastelee jokes about many topics. But when the topic is a natural disadter of cataclysmic proportion, they probably felt their spokesperson should have been a tad more cautious.

[Penny37]

This. What happened to our country? He's a comedian. That's what he does. Nothing is off limits. When did everyone get so sensitive in this country? Sometimes when something is so serious, cracking jokes is one way to deal with it the pain.

Not surprised Aflac would fire him, but what is this wagging the finger of all the posters here. "How DARE you. How DAAAAAAAAARE you joke about this":no:

Grow up. They are jokes. It doesn't mean Gilbert really wants Japanese people to suffer. They are jokes.

"Some things you can't joke about. How DAAAAAAAARE you.:no: " :hammerhead:
Imagine you're married with a beautiful wife and three beautiful kids.
You spent your whole life working hard so you can buy your own small business and it's finally starting to pick up and all the pieces in your life are coming together.

Now, imagine you lost your business, you're stuck in a new city, and you found out your wife died and your kids are missing. And then, people in Japan are cracking jokes about it and really showing no empathy at all.

Yeah, I'm sure you'd be pretty pissed too. Put yourself in their shoes.

[bagelred]

You're right. The jokes don't indicate that he wants Japanese people to suffer.

The jokes indicate that he thinks...and believes that you will think as well...that the suffering they're enduring is funny.

Is one any better than the other?

You aren't sophisticated mentally enough to understand. Neither Gilbert or I think what they are enduring is funny. It just comedy. comedy is just a way to deal with ridiculous situations. It breaks tension, for one thing.

I bet if Gottfried's own mother died, he'd be cracking jokes about it on twitter that day.

[Penny37]

You aren't sophisticated mentally enough to understand. Neither Gilbert or I think what they are enduring is funny. It just comedy. comedy is just a way to deal with ridiculous situations. It breaks tension, for one thing.

I bet if Gottfried's own mother died, he'd be cracking jokes about it on twitter that day.
We all understand that. However, there is a time and place for jokes.
You don't crack jokes at someone's funeral. You don't crack jokes to a mother when her son is missing. There's a time and place, and just because we don't know the people of Japan directly doesn't mean we can crack jokes now.

Out of sight out of mind should not apply.

[bagelred]

There's a time and place, and just because we don't know the people of Japan directly doesn't mean we can crack jokes now.



Says who? You? The PC Police?

Part of the reason, actually alot of the reason Gottfried cracks these jokes is to get a rise out of people, just like the people on this board. It's so easy offending you people. That's really the comedy of it. It's so easy to push your buttons. :lol

And yes, I've cracked jokes at funerals many times. Good way to break the tension.

[SCdac]

anything can be portrayed as funny... some of the worst acts of all time, like the holocaust, have spawned probably hundreds of jokes... Yet, I don't think people on a collective unconscious level think any less of that genocide. I think the bottom line is, we don't live in utopia, where every public opinion should be happy and endearing and appropriate, nor have we ever.

[macmac]

Imagine you're married with a beautiful wife and three beautiful kids.
You spent your whole life working hard so you can buy your own small business and it's finally starting to pick up and all the pieces in your life are coming together.

Now, imagine you lost your business, you're stuck in a new city, and you found out your wife died and your kids are missing. And then, people in Japan are cracking jokes about it and really showing no empathy at all.

Yeah, I'm sure you'd be pretty pissed too. Put yourself in their shoes.

That is possibly, not 100% sure but possibly, the dumbest comparison I've witnessed so far in 2011...I can't even begin to describe how stupid and unnecessary it is

[JerrySteakhouse]

Way too soon, what a ****ing idiot.

[Rockets(T-mac)]

I don't get how these kind of jokes, makes a positive out of negative. What, it made you feel better? Well guess what you didn't just goes what Japan did, so you probably don't need to feel better anyways. Go tell that joke to the Japanese people and see if anyone laughs. The joke is in bad taste, sure he doesn't wish ill on those people, but it is still insenitive, and he comes off as a douche. And before someone says it, yes I know he doesn't care how he comes off as.

[JMT]

You aren't sophisticated mentally enough to understand. Neither Gilbert or I think what they are enduring is funny. It just comedy. comedy is just a way to deal with ridiculous situations. It breaks tension, for one thing.

I bet if Gottfried's own mother died, he'd be cracking jokes about it on twitter that day.

You want to comment on someone else's mentality, then hide behind "it's just a way to deal with ridiculous situations".

Great. When the Japanese guy who has had to deal with the situation wants to make jokes about it, I'm all for it.

But Gilbert doesn't have to deal with the situation. Neither do you. It has no more of an impact on your life than what happens on General Hospital today. It's just something you're watching on tv.

If Gilbert wants to joke at his mom's funeral, great. Same for you at your moms. Bet you wouldn't feel the same if it was me making the jokes at your mom's funeral.

[macmac]

You want to comment on someone else's mentality, then hide behind "it's just a way to deal with ridiculous situations".

Great. When the Japanese guy who has had to deal with the situation wants to make jokes about it, I'm all for it.

But Gilbert doesn't have to deal with the situation. Neither do you. It has no more of an impact on your life than what happens on General Hospital today. It's just something you're watching on tv.

If Gilbert wants to joke at his mom's funeral, great. Same for you at your moms. Bet you wouldn't feel the same if it was me making the jokes at your mom's funeral.

The difference is, Gilbert isn't attending anyones funeral, he's in the comfort of his own home making jokes on twitter where his followers can read about it...he's not flying over the coast of Japan in a helicopter and a speakerphone making fun of the japs while they get washed away...If you don't like his type of humor, don't tune in...now the company had to protect its interests, sure, but what the fukk are you so offended about?

[JMT]

The difference is, Gilbert isn't attending anyones funeral, he's in the comfort of his own home making jokes on twitter where his followers can read about it...he's not flying over the coast of Japan in a helicopter and a speakerphone making fun of the japs while they get washed away...If you don't like his type of humor, don't tune in...now the company had to protect its interests, sure, but what the fukk are you so offended about?


Offended? Only by those,, like yourself, with poor reading comprehension.

So tell me. What do you find funny about a nation of people enduring unspeakable tragedy?

That's where my participation in the thread began. When did this become ok, and why do people find it funny?

[bagelred]

Offended? Only by those,, like yourself, with poor reading comprehension.

So tell me. What do you find funny about a nation of people enduring unspeakable tragedy?

That's where my participation in the thread began. When did this become ok, and why do people find it funny?

The comedy is in people like you. Gottfried pushes your buttons and the comedy is watching YOU react. THAT's what's funny.:oldlol:

[ihatetimthomas]

Afflac is a business and Godfried represents them. Why is anyone surprised he got fired? It's a very big deal in Japan now, and to be insensitive to the people living there is def. not good for the company. I know he is a comedian and this is what they do, but how dumb can you be to say shyt like that when you are employed for one of the biggest insurance companies in the nation where you are the voice of the company? It's way toooo soon to punch jabs, especially with the damage and nuclear problems rising as we speak. Any biz would have fired his ass

[SCdac]

its the JOKES themselves that are funny, not the tragedy... the one about Japan being advanced was funny to me... but really, it could be applied to any country and any disaster, I don't think it's specific hatred toward the Japanese. Just like an impersonation of George Bush (or whoever) can be funny, it's not necessarily laughing at Bush, it's laughing at the caricature, the exaggeration, the cleverness within the impersonation, etc.

[ihatetimthomas]

I'm sure Gottfried's said hundreds of worse things in his career. NOW Aflac's offended? :rolleyes: That's probably what Gottfried is thinking.

Dude, they are not offended. All they are thinking about is what this looks like for the company image. It's not like all the damage is already done. The nuke plants are still in limbo. At a time where the crisis in Japan is huge, having the voice for your primary advertisement for your company making jokes like that is terrible for company image. It doesn't matter what he has said in the past. Obviously their PR team see's how bad this can be for sales.

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

The shit's not even over, let alone clean up.
exactly..wtf..

[macmac]

Offended? Only by those,, like yourself, with poor reading comprehension.

So tell me. What do you find funny about a nation of people enduring unspeakable tragedy?

That's where my participation in the thread began. When did this become ok, and why do people find it funny?

When was this not okay?

The point of humour is to lighten the mood a bit. Gottfried is not a politician, he's a friggin comedian.

Remember, this is the same guy that busted the Aristocrats joke at a 9/11 fundraiser. At the time, it was viewed with the same type of disgust by uptight citizens like you, although his peers in the comic field appreciated the humour for what it was. They understood what he was trying to do, which was cut the politically correct tension in the room.

Comedy is there for your Id, not your superego, there is no going too far when it comes to humour, unless your a whiny lil biitch with his panties in a knot

[ihatetimthomas]

When was this not okay?

The point of humour is to lighten the mood a bit. Gottfried is not a politician, he's a friggin comedian.

Remember, this is the same guy that busted the Aristocrats joke at a 9/11 fundraiser. At the time, it was viewed with the same type of disgust by uptight citizens like you, although his peers in the comic field appreciated the humour for what it was. They understood what he was trying to do, which was cut the politically correct tension in the room.

Comedy is there for your Id, not your superego, there is no going too far when it comes to humour, unless your a whiny lil biitch with his panties in a knot

would you feel the same way if your family or friends were directly affected or perhaps died by the tsunami?

[RidonKs]

touchy subject. i'm all for inappropriate jokes at the expense of victims of tragedy... sometimes. but you've got to question the morality of making wisecracks that you sure as sh*t wouldn't make with a victim of your subject matter standing a few feet away. and if you question that, then you might also want to question somebody thousands of miles away reading a joke that you've written and getting offended, pissed off, and emotionally distraught as a result.

it's probably better to air on the side of caution, use tact, and wait until enough time has passed before gauging the atmosphere to ensure that you're comfortable cracking your jokes. though obviously that doesn't work for everybody, because some of us are perfectly comfortable making the jokes whenever the f*ck they want, and for others, it takes a whole lot longer to 'get over it'.

still, by that logic, i'm pretty comfortable condemning Gil for being an insensitive prick stain without a feeling bone in his puny disfigured body, even if i appreciate his wit.

[gigantes]

This. What happened to our country? He's a comedian. That's what he does. Nothing is off limits. When did everyone get so sensitive in this country? Sometimes when something is so serious, cracking jokes is one way to deal with it the pain.
"when did everyone get so sensitive in this country?" say what?

can you tell me exactly -when- in US history something like this wouldn't have caused a backlash or repurcussions?


EDIT: ridonks- great post; well said. you summed it up perfectly IMO.

[macmac]

would you feel the same way if your family or friends were directly affected or perhaps died by the tsunami?

Would I appreciate these particular set of jokes the same way? No, but i wouldn't go on a crusade to crucify him either. It would obviously pain me to read them because I'd be in a state of mourning and whatever reminded me of the incident would hurt. But I think that's irrelevant. There is always information out there that can bother my psyche, but I dont actively pursue it, I filter it, and if I do come across it, I don't get all indignant and holier than thou about it.

[oh the horror]

At the end of the day, this isnt a question of morals or ethics or anything.



Its business, and Aflac is covering their own asses just in case.



And as his employer, they have every right to do that. It is what it is. Business.

[RidonKs]

Would I appreciate these particular set of jokes the same way? No, but i wouldn't go on a crusade to crucify him either. It would obviously pain me to read them because I'd be in a state of mourning and whatever reminded me of the incident would hurt. But I think that's irrelevant. There is always information out there that can bother my psyche, but I dont actively pursue it, I filter it, and if I do come across it, I don't get all indignant and holier than thou about it.
i think there's something to be said for keeping the feelings of your fellow primates in mind. maybe it's not the most important or binding moral obligation, but it still counts, and it's one of the easier ones to bear in mind. if the options are cracking the joke or not cracking the joke, you shouldn't crack the joke. and if as a judge of the joke cracker, the options are condemn, remain ambivalent, or condone, you shouldn't condemn. feelings aren't nothing, they can be hurt, and we should bear that in mind before we go about slinging wisecracks in the direction of people who just lost their entire livelihood.

and as i type that out, every holocaust joke i've ever told springs back to mind...

[macmac]

touchy subject. i'm all for inappropriate jokes at the expense of victims of tragedy... sometimes. but you've got to question the morality of making wisecracks that you sure as sh*t wouldn't make with a victim of your subject matter standing a few feet away. and if you question that, then you might also want to question somebody thousands of miles away reading a joke that you've written and getting offended, pissed off, and emotionally distraught as a result.

it's probably better to air on the side of caution, use tact, and wait until enough time has passed before gauging the atmosphere to ensure that you're comfortable cracking your jokes. though obviously that doesn't work for everybody, because some of us are perfectly comfortable making the jokes whenever the f*ck they want, and for others, it takes a whole lot longer to 'get over it'.

still, by that logic, i'm pretty comfortable condemning Gil for being an insensitive prick stain without a feeling bone in his puny disfigured body, even if i appreciate his wit.

99% of the time I'll agree with you donks, unless you're wrong, like in this case. I think that whole paragraph I highlighted is hypocritical. Mainstream comedy sure, but real comedians don't sit there and think, hey, will my audience be perfectly comfortable with my material here? No, quite the opposite, his comedy is there to ostracize and shock the viewers, not give them something they can easily digest and numb them.

And it's err on the side of caution, unless you made a pun about the radioactive nature of the japanese atmosphere in which case, HOW DARE YOU??

[RidonKs]

And as his employer, they have every right to do that. It is what it is. Business.
yeah, i don't think anybody in this thread has questioned that. they were well within their legal right to do what they did, and it was a perfectly sensible business move.

[boozehound]

his entire career has been based on him saying shit that was over the top, insensitive and shocking. Not sure why people act like they should expect better of him. Afflac did the right thing by firing him though, from a PR perspective.

[RidonKs]

99% of the time I'll agree with you donks, unless you're wrong, like in this case. I think that whole paragraph I highlighted is hypocritical. Mainstream comedy sure, but real comedians don't sit there and think, hey, will my audience be perfectly comfortable with my material here? No, quite the opposite, his comedy is there to ostracize and shock the viewers, not give them something they can easily digest and numb them.

And it's err on the side of caution, unless you made a pun about the radioactive nature of the japanese atmosphere in which case, HOW DARE YOU??
yeah, i know. i'm fencing with this issue. such a bulk of my life revolves around comedy that it pains me to even consider self censorship, but on the other hand, i'm a sensitive little ninny who flat out refuses to hurt feelings in a serious way if it can be helped. like i said, touchy issue.


edit: lol, 'air' on the side of caution... oops

[ihatetimthomas]

Would I appreciate these particular set of jokes the same way? No, but i wouldn't go on a crusade to crucify him either. It would obviously pain me to read them because I'd be in a state of mourning and whatever reminded me of the incident would hurt. But I think that's irrelevant. There is always information out there that can bother my psyche, but I dont actively pursue it, I filter it, and if I do come across it, I don't get all indignant and holier than thou about it.

just saying, you wouldn't be advocating your thoughts on comedy and how "there is no going too far with comedy" if you were directly affected. And you yourself said you wouldn't appreciate it. Imagine if you were making your argument about comedy to someone who was directly affected by the tsunami. Do you realize how much of an insensitive jackass you would come off as? And consider it the opposite way as well

I just see this all the time. People have no problem with insensitive jokes as long as it doesn't affect them. Not saying this is you, but I have encountered many people like this

[Penny37]

That is possibly, not 100% sure but possibly, the dumbest comparison I've witnessed so far in 2011...I can't even begin to describe how stupid and unnecessary it is
How is that a dumb comparison?
You know that EXACT description I wrote is applying to thousands if not millions of Japanese people right now?

[PHX_Phan]

Mainstream comedy sure, but real comedians don't sit there and think, hey, will my audience be perfectly comfortable with my material here? No, quite the opposite, his comedy is there to ostracize and shock the viewers, not give them something they can easily digest and numb them.

+1

[JMT]

When was this not okay?

The point of humour is to lighten the mood a bit. Gottfried is not a politician, he's a friggin comedian.

Remember, this is the same guy that busted the Aristocrats joke at a 9/11 fundraiser. At the time, it was viewed with the same type of disgust by uptight citizens like you, although his peers in the comic field appreciated the humour for what it was. They understood what he was trying to do, which was cut the politically correct tension in the room.

Comedy is there for your Id, not your superego, there is no going too far when it comes to humour, unless your a whiny lil biitch with his panties in a knot

The Aristocrats joke, in a room full of people affected by 9/11, serves the point of defusing the tension of a situation. One of the great things comedy, irreverent or otherwise, provides.

How do tweets belittling the level of suffering in Japan, sent from his living room in LA, accomplish the same? Accomplish anything?

[JMT]

The comedy is in people like you. Gottfried pushes your buttons and the comedy is watching YOU react. THAT's what's funny.:oldlol:


Oh, NOW I get it!

Gilbert gets fired from his best paying gig so he can see my reaction.

Well played.

[MeloMike]

I lol'd at a few of them... The beach one. But I felt bad after. Don't really blame them for firing him.

[niko]

I'm sure Gottfried's said hundreds of worse things in his career. NOW Aflac's offended? :rolleyes: That's probably what Gottfried is thinking.
He doesn't get to decide that. Wait, i did the wrong thing before and you didn't punish me. so how dare you punish me now?

its a bizarre thing aflac hired him to begin with.

[Jailblazers7]

I don't have a problem with him making the jokes because that is what he does. But anyone who thinks Aflac shouldnt have fired him or are wrong for doing so is an idiot. They have to protect their brand image in their biggest market and I'm sure his comments pissed off more than a few execs in the company and they were completely right to fire him.

[pete's montreux]

I don't have a problem with him making the jokes because that is what he does. But anyone who thinks Aflac shouldnt have fired him or are wrong for doing so is an idiot. They have to protect their brand image in their biggest market and I'm sure his comments pissed off more than a few execs in the company and they were completely right to fire him.
Couldn't have said it better myself. He did his job, he made jokes, funny ones, too. But he paid the price and there's really nothing he can say about it. You make your bed, you gotta lay in it.

[RidonKs]

eigen schuld, dikke bult

[JEFFERSON MONEY]

Bob Saget RAPED and KILLED a girl in 1990.

[boozehound]

Bob Saget RAPED and KILLED a girl in 1990.
and?

[macmac]

Bob Saget RAPED and KILLED a girl in 1990.

I think it's justified as long as its in the name of comedy

[ihatetimthomas]

and?

gottfried said that in a roast to bob sagat

[Jasper]

there is a time and a place when it should be considered exceptable.

_________________________________ :oldlol:

Put your joke in the blank line about all the people that were killed in 9/11.

Is it REALLY funny.

IS it worth a laugh , and at who's expense.

This was not a war , it was a natural disaster... sorry Gottfried ****ed himself and even that isn't a joke.

[bagelred]

Bob Saget RAPED and KILLED a girl in 1990.

lol i saw that

[bagelred]

He doesn't get to decide that. Wait, i did the wrong thing before and you didn't punish me. so how dare you punish me now?

its a bizarre thing aflac hired him to begin with.

i'm not saying that. all i'm saying is all the jokes Gottfried has done in his life and NOW Aflac decides to be offended by a joke? :lol Gottfried is probably laughing about it.......

It's not even Gottfried!!! He's the voice of a duck!!!! :roll:

[kentatm]

i'm not saying that. all i'm saying is all the jokes Gottfried has done in his life and NOW Aflac decides to be offended by a joke? :lol Gottfried is probably laughing about it.......

It's not even Gottfried!!! He's the voice of a duck!!!! :roll:

Aflac got pissed now b/c a very large portion of their business is from Japan

its pretty simple.

[bagelred]

Aflac got pissed now b/c a very large portion of their business is from Japan

its pretty simple.

I'm sure Gottfried being fired improved their situation dramatically. At least they feel better.

AFLAC!!!!!

[kentatm]

I'm sure Gottfried being fired improved their situation dramatically. At least they feel better.

AFLAC!!!!!


come on now. you are smarter than this.

[Jailblazers7]

come on now. you are smarter than this.

I'm having serious doubts about that.

[Jackass18]

This. What happened to our country? He's a comedian. That's what he does. Nothing is off limits. When did everyone get so sensitive in this country? Sometimes when something is so serious, cracking jokes is one way to deal with it the pain.

So comedians are people who can't feel compassion towards other people and only live to ridicule the misery of others?


The comedy is in people like you. Gottfried pushes your buttons and the comedy is watching YOU react. THAT's what's funny.

OK, so I can go murder your family and pets, and laugh in your face the entire time and it's funny because I'm pushing your buttons, right? The comedy is in watching you react!

[Scholar]

OK, so I can go murder your family and pets, and laugh in your face the entire time and it's funny because I'm pushing your buttons, right? The comedy is in watching you react!

Terrible example. Try again later.

[Skywalker]

I cant imagine being around that guy often... so fckin annoying.

[Godzuki]

I thought he was great as the parakeet in Aladin

[ihatetimthomas]

I cant imagine being around that guy often... so fckin annoying.

If you are referring to his voice, thats not his real voice. He just talks like that all the time to promote himself.

His real voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdbElWMnkyY

[bagelred]

So comedians are people who can't feel compassion towards other people and only live to ridicule the misery of others?



OK, so I can go murder your family and pets, and laugh in your face the entire time and it's funny because I'm pushing your buttons, right? The comedy is in watching you react!

LOL you people are so simpleminded.

[bagelred]

I thought he was great as the parakeet in Aladin

Disney has immediately changed the parakeet's voice for all Alladin movies to family friendly Betty White.

I know I feel better.

[Jackass18]

Terrible example. Try again later.

I mistakenly forgot about putting in the part where I crack jokes along the way, which makes it fine in the name of comedy! It's funny because I would be making light of the situation, right? Or, maybe, to make it more comparable for you, I should say that I wouldn't be murdering his family and instead his family would be dying in a horrible house fire while I sit there and crack jokes about 'how hot his mother is'.

[BRabbiT]

Aflac got pissed now b/c a very large portion of their business is from Japan

its pretty simple.




this.

[Jackass18]

LOL you people are so simpleminded.

I'm not the one that's getting off on a cheap form of comedy, Beavis. It's not intelligent type humor, though there might be a bit of wittiness in there. But, most of it is based on shock value, which is cheap. I don't mindlessly laugh at jokes because they're shocking and think that it has to be funny because someone's treading in a touchy, kind of taboo area that not many are willing to. There's a reason why most people don't tread in that area, it's because you often come off as an insensitive prick that seems to lack compassion or you come off as a douche that's desperately seeking attention.

I know about the 'life sucks, so **** it, let's make fun of everything regardless of how heartless it may come off as' way of thinking, but I think it crosses the line at times. Really, who are his jokes benefiting? People who find humor in the misery of others? Awesome. There are times where it is hard to find humor and looking for it in the misery of others?

[Mark Madsen]

what a ******

[Bosnian Sajo]

thats ****ed up, but i love the mans sense of humor lol

[gigantes]

come on now. you are smarter than this.

I'm having serious doubts about that.
this reminds me of my reaction to a couple of yesterday's posts in the "top ten... nets" thread: is it possible that some people devolve, rather than evolve?

it doesn't seem possible, and yet the evidence, the evidence...

[niko]

There's nothing wrong with him joking like this. But i'm at a loss as to how people are arguing de facto he should not be fired. You can get fired for something the company deems goes against what they expect from you. That's how life works. Aflact didn't hire him to make jokes about tragedies. Any company using you for advertising takes into account things like this.