Gilbert Gottfried Apologizes for Offensive Japan Tweets

By Elizabeth Yun Posted Mar 15th 2011 04:00PM

While Japan is still reeling from the tragic aftermath of one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history, comedian Gilbert Gottfried took time to crack jokes about the tragedy on Twitter.

During the weekend, he tweeted a stream of questionable jokes, including, "I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, 'They'll be another one floating by any minute now,'" and "Japan is really advanced. They don't go to the beach. The beach comes to them." He followed up later with, "Japan called me. They said 'maybe those jokes are a hit in the US, but over here, they're all sinking.'"

There was an immediate backlash from both the Twitter community and the media for his inappropriate remarks, but the hardest hit came from Aflac. Gottfried has been a spokesman for the insurance company since 2000, voicing the iconic Aflac Duck. According to TMZ, the company cut ties with Gottfried yesterday following the explosive tweets. They released a statement that read, "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. ... Aflac will immediately set plans in motion to conduct a nationwide casting call to find a new voice of the iconic Aflac Duck."

Gottfried has since removed the tweets and issued an apology via Twitter today.

Gottfried isn't the only star taking heat for comments he made about Japan over Twitter. Rapper 50 Cent was criticized for tweeting, "Look this is very serious people I had to evacuate all my hoe's from LA, Hawaii and Japan. I had to do it. Lol." He backtracked soon after, saying, "Nah this is nuts but what can anyone do about it. Let's pray for anyone who has lost someone." He continued, "Some of my tweets are ignorant I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. I'm cool either way 50cent."

The northeast coast of Japan was rocked by a 9.0-magnitude quake, the fourth largest in history, and a massive 30-foot tsunami on Friday. The disaster left at least 6,000 confirmed dead or missing, but officials estimate that the number will likely surpass 10,000. There is also a mounting nuclear crisis as reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant were severely damaged and began to release radioactive chemicals into the air.

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Tags: gilbert gottfried

Comments

(25)

Tuesday 15 March

By Polar Patrol

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So sick of these dumb celebritards "tweeting" something stupid and then "tweeting" an apology the next day.
This crap from Gottfried and Stupid Cent takes the cake, though. You know if their precious LaLaWood was hit by a tsunami they wouldn't be making jokes about it.

By stu

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he & .50 should write out a BIG check & all will be forgotten.

By Steve

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Gilbert didn't mean any harm. His apology should be accepted. Just move forward.

By bobrav

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You must be his agent.

By Chevy

You must be his agent...and it must be payday.

By BarbG

What an idiot. The jokes were not only stupid, but not funny. When most people are feeling pain and sorrow for the people of Japan, this crackpot is making jokes. I'll never watch him again.

My heart and prayers go out to all the people in Japan, I can't even imagine how hard it must be and when I see the children, it makes me cry!

By steeb

Your way too overemotional. I feel bad for the boys on the ships that were hit by kamakazis.

By don

Steeb, you are a sick fug. I guess USA made no mistakes huh? Can you say slavery? we are still paying for that. THese are innocent people.

By joan

What Gottfried did was stupid, but at least he has apologized. I wish more people would learn to do that. Unfortunately we are living in a society with Facebook and Twitter where people don't realize what they say is read all over and can be read by those who are in a position to do something about it. Putting offensive words where they can be read when there has been a disaster or anything is wrong, wrong, wrong.

By observer

If you think before you tweet, then there is nothing to apologize for after the tweet hits the air. Problem is some people say something before they realize that what they have said is offensive. Moral lesson: Think before you speak not think after you have spoken!!

By sickoo

Gottfried never had any talent except being the Aflec duck. I never saw the guy as being funny, and obviously he's still not funny.

By loveyouhotmiley

He was even on Hannah Montana before and I think he is usually pretty funny, but this was wrong.

By Gary Cangemi

I'll be interested to see what they do with the duck's voice. They can't have someone imitate Gilbert's voice or he might sue, right? So how else do you say "AFLAC!" without sounding like Gottfried?

By WminPhoenix

It would be interesting if these people who are defending Japan asked a US soldier who was forced by Japanese soldiers to go on the Baatan "death march" or the hundreds of thousands of Manchurian people who hade relatives raped, tortured and murdered by the Japanese occupiers during WW2. In any country that was occupied by Japan in WW2, hatred of the Japanese is still prevalant.

Wednesday 16 March

By soanah3000

Gilbert got what he deserved. If you make money from what you say then maybe you should stop making money for what you say.

By elysummers

He got exactly what he deserved.

I can't dislike him just for this....I never liked him before this.

By mj

POLITICAL CORRECTNEES REARS ITS UGLY HEAD ONCE AGAIN ...... GIVE ME A BREAK

By golf342345

Exactly...It seems you are an outcast in this country anymore if you are not "Politically Correct" or a superior "Role Model". Two phrases that are ruining this country. People have no right to express a personal opinion anymore without being villified by the P/C R/M police.

By Jackie H.

This is so stupid. He's a funny man and I'm sure he didn't mean anything by what he said. If there is no Gilbert, there's is no duck. Forget it and hire him back.

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