Gilbert Gottfried Fired For Offensive Japan Jokes
Comedian Gilbert Gottfried has been fired from his job as the voice of the duck for Aflac Insurance after he tweeted inappropriate and insensitive Japan Tsunami jokes on March 12 and 13th.
The insurance company released a statement:
“Gilbert’s recent comments about the crisis in Japan were lacking in humor and certainly do not represent the thoughts and feelings of anyone at Aflac,” the company, which does 75% of its business in Japan, said in a statement. “There is no place for anything but compassion and concern during these difficult times.”
He has deleted the insensitive jokes but you can be completely offended by them if you visit BuzzFeed where they have captured screen shots of the worst ten.
The 8.9 earthquake and subsequent Tsunami is so devestating that it’s impossible to see the humour in it, but especially not this soon. Mind you, I don’t think ever.
What do you think? Gilbert just doing his job as a comedian or much too offensive regardless?
Photos courtesy of Huffington Post
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I find these so-called “jokes” by Godfrey deplorable to say the least. What an insensitive FOOL. If I ever see this fool on my TV it will be immediately turned off or switched to another channel. How would Mr Godfrey, who is Jewish like to hear jokes regarding the Holocaust. I am Jewish and am extremely ashamed of him. He should apologize profusely then go live under a rock somewhere, NEVER to be HIRED, seen or heard of again.
I love Gilbert and would defend him strongly on free speech grounds but, quite apart from the “issue,” the jokes are not funny and certainly not up to Gilbert at his best. I’d be more supportive if the jokes had actually been MORE tasteless. When I heard he’d been fired, I was expecting far better, or far worse (depending on your point of view).
I thought the one about the beach was hilarious.
Gilbert Godfreys the man ! at least someone said it the earthquake is just a sign that to many people live there
Godfrey may have been doing his job as a comedian; as ‘spokesduck’ for AFLAC, he was begging to get fired.
No one who has posted has donated or sent aid to Japan.
You don’t realy care, your just jumping on the “point a finger” bandwagon.
Text RED CROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to Japan relief efforts, I’ve sent 5, yourself?
Gilbert jokes about japan disaters are insensitve. Only a sick mind could joke a thousands of lives lost and homeless from a earth quake.
There is freedom of speech. but when a person say some egregious Like Gilbert, the should be ready to accept the consquenences.
That why he was fired.
Sorry,but theyare knida funny….a little to soon yes, but in two weeks you might change your mind.
Come on “the beach come’s to them” you know you snickered a little…
The jokes are completely stupid. I think it was right for him to get fired. There are people who loose their lives in that earthquake AND tsunami.
its funny how people take things so seriously, yes the event was tragic and everyone is supporting japan blah blah blah but people are always going to joke about disasters because that is their way of easing the pain. and as far as him getting fired that was totally unnessessary. the only reason he was fired is because of what the media would make of him and it is absolutely ridiculous. of course everyone is sympathetic
i found the first one funny the second it not funny at all. but i have a dark sense of humor. either way that’s a joke you say between your like minded friends not to the world via twitter.
Those were funny, insensitive yes, but still funny. Not sure what the problem is here. As far as his voice as the duck, I did not even realize it was his voice…. seriously, who cares. People complain about the dumbest stuff.
Wow, the reactions to this are completely out of control. Truthfully, it’s not that big of a deal. People make jokes all the time. Just because you don’t like the joke doesn’t mean you can hate the person who said them.
Besides, I love how no one cares about Japan until they’re hit by an earthquake.
This is crazy, people need to get a grip. I am not at all saying that the catastrophy in Japan isn’t a horrible event or it’s funny. I am saying that it’s a comics job to make us laugh by pushing boundaries. Well, I will say that Aflac has totally turned me off and I think what they are doing is a huge disappointment.
These jokes are hilarious! The man is hilarious! People need to stop finding crap to complain about!
What happened in Japan is horrible, comics often deal with tragedy through humor. America seems to be getting too sensitive to things lately, we r stronger then this. Lool at what happens during any tragedy of almost any country, USA is right there, strong as steel! so what’s a few words??? GG has 2 deal with the humility of posting such weak material, that he may be asked “is that all u got?” My main concern is, what r we goin 2 do about the voiceless Aflac duck?!? I mean a “silent film” commercial? Man, I like that little duck and his crazy voice…best times in my life right there!! Have fun, live life!
get a sense of humor people, it’s not like they didnt know what kind of humor this guy did before they hired him. This really isnt out of character for Gilbert Godfreid. I think it’s sad that people want to PC the humor out of comedians, most comedy comes from pointing out peoples differences or commenting on topics that most would consider taboo, lighten up!
You are all fools. A joke is a joke. Get the f*** over it. Was the “tragedy” sad? Sure. But, shut up and stop whining if he can find humor in a “bad” situation. Yay for population control, boo-hoo for the rise in the cost sushi. And, thank the heavens for the amazing swells we had for surfing.
Good day weak over-opinionated folks that have done nothing in your boring lives to even earn the right to voice said opinion. Turn your TV off and walk outside for a bit. Worry about the things going on around you instead of what’s going on everywhere that’s a better place for having your absence.
Gilbert Godfrey is a funny man. Yes, I agree the jokes were insensitive, but maybe he was trying to get a few laughs out of people to cheer them up about this world-wide tragedy? Come on, they were kinda funny.
Most of you people need to get over yourselves, chill out and quit being so quick to judge. Clutching your pearls, gasping and acting shocked over situations like this is just stupid – but mostly a religious response. I honestly doubt Gilbert dislikes Japanese nor wishes them further pain. He’s a comedian. Incidents like Jimmy the Greek in the past, that’s another issue and more motivated in a different way. So lighten up people.
You the man Gilbert! Funny as hell!