Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn Beck, 50 Cent take heat for offensive Japan comments

What is it about a natural disaster that brings out tasteless, insensitive and downright horrifying comments from people in the spotlight? Whether it's incendiary talk show host Glenn Beck, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, rapper 50 Cent or TV writer Alec Sulkin, the inappropriate sound bites about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have been coming fast and furious over the last several days.

The immediacy of Twitter, and its unfiltered, stream-of-consciousness nature, could be to blame for the spread of some of the thoughtless statements so quickly. The churn of a 24-hour news cycle and live TV, where CNBC anchor Larry Kudlow tripped up on Friday, also may take some of the heat.

But at the heart of the matter are the sentiments themselves, said Stuart Fischoff, senior editor of the Journal of Media Psychology, who sees a "reservoir of prejudice" against the Japanese people that's been unearthed by the disaster. See: tweets that reference Pearl Harbor.

"No doubt, there's a mordant sense of humor that comes out in times of stress," Fischoff said. "But in this case it's bringing up culturally accepted prejudice against the Japanese. We didn't see this during Haiti."

The backlash has been as lightning fast as the gaffes, with Gottfried getting fired from his long-time gig as the voice of the Aflac insurance spokescharacter after tweeting jokes about Japan. (These tweets have now been deleted.)

Joan Rivers, who's been known to use the ironic catchphrase, "Too soon?," stuck up for Gottfried via Twitter.

"Oh come on people -- this is outrageous! Gilbert Gottfried was FIRED from Aflac for making jokes about the tsunami in Japan. That's what comedians do!!! We react to tragedy by making jokes to help people in tough times feel better through laughter."

Gottfried apologized on Twitter on Tuesday. "I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my attempt at humor regarding the tragedy in Japan," he tweeted, continuing, "I meant no disrespect, and my thoughts are with the victims and their families."

Beck, a well-known provocateur, called the quake and tsunami a "message from God" on his Monday radio show, and carried on in that vein.

Meanwhile, hip-hop artist 50 Cent made an ill-advised surfing joke, and Sulkin brought up Pearl Harbor. Both have since apologized.

There's a lesson to be learned here about the unedited, real-time world of Twitter, but it's not yet known whether celebrities will take it to heart, Fischoff said.

"When you're on Twitter, you're not talking to a stranger or even just your friends," Fischoff said. "There is no private conversation."

-- T.L. Stanley

Photo: Gilbert Gottfried and the Aflac duck. Credit: Charles Sykes/Associated Press

Comments

[Carol]

50 Cent didn't simply make an "ill advised surfing joke." He used a slur against women as well.

All of the talking heads and surely many more need agents and publicists that insist they take manners classes. Think whatever you want, talk amongst your intimates however you want, but there is a certain, polite way to behave in public.

Have we seen any rioting or looting in Japan? No! There has been nothing but politeness and thoughtfulness as far as has been presented to us, and they are the ones enduring unbearable stress.

[Brenda Summers]

We should find jokes about the Japanese and tsunamis about as funny as we thought 9/11 was. How do you think we would have felt if the Japanese were making fun of us on 9/11? Although it was a tragedy, I don't remember Joan Rivers, 50 Cent or Gottfried making jokes then. What, not as funny? They didn't want to lighten the mood? Death, devastation, loosing loved ones is humorous? Ask any one who has lost a loved one on 9/11 or fighting for your freedom so you can say what you want - funny, I think not.

[Martin Guzman]

I believe that there is a whole lot more going on in this universe than what one can conceive at this point of our existence. Dare I say evolution or evolve? The thing that makes us special as a species is our ability to grow intellectually and become more and more aware of how the universe or the "everything" works. We become enlightened and realize just how insignificant we may be or the great potential we may have to further our existence. I cannot live in a box and believe that one ill-conceived piece of a 2000 year old way of thought was the cause for this disaster in Japan. I can however learn a very important lesson from this. I am amazed at how respectful the Japanese people are of each other as they go through this disaster. No looting, hoarding or taking advantage of each other like selfish beasts. Something we have all been witness to in so many other disasters of late. If there is a god, could it be that this is the lesson that is being taught? Regardless of who we may be as individuals, as a society I am convinced it is this true quality that will further our existence. It is this simple timeless quality that is constantly overlooked or misinterpreted no matter where it is written. So maybe you shouldn’t be worrying about keeping your arms and your legs in the car but how the car is being driven and where it needs to go.

Martin

[Taylor]

Just saw on the news a report that there have been no issues with looting or riots by the japanese people affected by this disaster. The grace and compassion that they are showing for their fellow man should be a lesson to us all. Let's not forget the horrible things that were shown worldwide by the news following Hurricane Katrina such as looting, rioting and rape. Also how the japanese nuclear workers continue to work knowing their fate will most like be fatal. What a culture.

[James Kelly Russell]

Pat Robertson displayed his prejudice against Hatians when they had a earthquake.

[Pappy]

Gilbert Gottfried is not funny anyway. The duck voice gig was about all he could handle. So now that he lost that job, maybe he will just go away and space us his infantile attempts at humor.

[woof-woof]

What Glenn Beck said (which I disagree with) is misrepresented. Please watch the video before forming an opinion. We will be hearing the exact same thing very soon from many more people, mostly from the left, who will say that this is a "message" or a "wake up call" alerting us to the dangers of nuclear power in particular, or to the dangers of our overly technological world in general.

[Sidecar]

People are looking for a chance to take offence at everything. It is okay when a Japanese or Chinese cuts in front of me at the grocery store.. because they feel intitled and that they are better than we are. It is okay for the Blacks to make snide remarks about the Whites.. but not okay for the Whites to say anything about the Blacks.. People just need to stop looking for a place to constantly lay blame on their own misery. We ALL have a right to our own opinions.

[Donald Michael Kraig]

Sidecar wrote: "It is okay when a Japanese or Chinese cuts in front of me at the grocery store.. because they feel intitled and that they are better than we are."

No, it's NOT okay when a PERSON cuts in front of you. It's racist when you equate the action of an individual with an entire group and then invent a reason for the entire group to behave in a way you don't like.

[nick]

Aww cry people thats what comedians do and Gilbert has been known for "ill timed" comments for a while now. he lost his job thats expected but quit crying im sure the japs could care less about what he has to say the only people bitching about it is Americans

["Old" Fong]

Da (the) one thang (thing) 50-cent should (ax) ask himself is why there are no riots in Japan versus Haiti and New Orleans. What is the excluded variable? Come on 50-cent, I'm axing (asking) you a question.

[BOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST GILBERT GOTTFRIED, GLENN BECK]

BOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn BeckBOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn BeckBOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn BeckBOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn BeckBOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn BeckBOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn BeckBOYCOTT 50 CENT, MAKE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AGAINST Gilbert Gottfried, Glenn Beck..the public have our own weapon of choice, YOUTUBE...Nuff said..

[worth 50 cent]

18,000 bodies found dead !!! and still rising !!! how can you make a joke about that??? its so ignorant and no regards at all NO excuse ... this tells me how low this people are ..

[matt]

i liked the new silent film Aflac commercial. all commercials should be that way