Several newspapers, including the USA Today network, announced that they would stop running the widely syndicated comic strip Dilbert after the producer described black people as part of a “hate group” causing white people to ” must go away”.
Scott Adams, creator of the strip that pokes fun at office culture that debuted in 1989, received a backlash from comments he made Wednesday on his YouTube channel “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.”
As news organizations announced they were pulling the comic strip because of Adams’ comments, the comic strip creator continued to defend his comments.
What did Scott Adams say?
The backlash against Adams began on Wednesday after he referenced a Rasmussen Reports poll that asked whether people agreed with the statement “it’s okay to be white.”
Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26% of black respondents disagreed and others were not sure.
The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase was popularized in 2017 by members of the discussion forum 4chan as part of a trolling campaign, but then began to be used by some white supremacists.
Adams, who is white, repeatedly referred to black people as members of “hate groups” or “racist hate groups” and said he would no longer “help black Americans.”
Adams said, “Based on the way things are going, the best advice I would give white people is to get the hell away from black people.”
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Newspapers drag Dilbert, condemn Adams’ comments
The USA Today Network, which includes USA Today and other Gannett-owned newspapers, such as The Arizona Republic and Detroit Free Press, announced Friday that it was suspending publication of Dilbert “due to recent discriminatory comments by its creator.” will shut down
Other news organizations did the same:
- Andrews McMichael Universal Chairman Hugh Andrews and CEO and President Andy Sarian said in a joint statement on Sunday that syndication company “was severing our relationship” with Adams.
- Los Angeles Times where is saturday This would kick off Dilbert Monday “in most editions”, as it would last appear on March 12 as Sunday comics are already printed.
- the new York Times said sunday It would no longer publish the comic strip. Danielle Rhodes Ha, a spokeswoman for The New York Times, said that the comic appeared only in the international print edition, not in the outlet’s US edition or online.
- Washington Post where is saturday This “closed publication” of Dilbert. A spokeswoman said it was too late to stop the strip from running in upcoming print editions, including Sunday.
- plain dealer in cleveland and Other publications that are part of Advance Local Media announced They were pulling Dilbert. Chris Quinn, editor of The Plain Dealer, said it was “not a difficult decision” because the outlet “does not house those who support racism.”
- San Antonio Express-Newspart of Hearst Newspapers, where is saturday It will remove the Dilbert comic strip, effective Monday, “due to hateful and discriminatory public comments made by its creator.”
Scott Adams defends comments
In another episode of his online show on Saturday, Adams said he was emphasizing that “everyone should be treated as a person” without discrimination and “whenever it is to your advantage Then you absolutely must be racist.”
“But you should avoid any group that doesn’t respect you, even if there are people within the group who are fine,” Adams said.
Adams also continued to defend his remarks on Twitter, noting that he was being “canceled”.
Elon Musk tweeted in support of Adams
Meanwhile, the CEOs of Tesla, Twitter and Space X tweeted in support of Adams.
“For too long, the American media was racist against non-white people; now they are racist against whites and Asians.” Musk tweeted. “That’s what happened to elite colleges and high schools in America. Maybe they can try not to be racist.”
musk later agreed Adams’ comments were “not nice” but contained an “element of truth” with a tweet.
Contributing: Natalie Nessa Alund, USA TODAY; associated Press
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5,
