The distributor of the “Dilbert” comic strip, a 1989 cartoon satirizing office life, announced Sunday that he was ending his relationship with cartoon creator Scott Adams because the cartoonist’s comments on race “didn’t consistent with our core values”. The cartoon was also published by many newspapers around the world.
At TwitterAndrews McMeel Universal (AMU) announced the split in a statement on behalf of AMU Chairman Hugh Andrews and the company’s CEO and President, Andy Sareyan.
“As a media and communications company, AMU values freedom of expression. We pride ourselves on encouraging and sharing many different voices and perspectives. But we will never support comments based on discrimination or hate. Scott Adams’ recent comments on race and race relations do not align with our core values as a company,” the statement said.
“Our creator-first approach is fundamental to AMU, and we value our relationships with our creators. However, in the case of Adams, our vision and principles are not compatible.”
What triggered the “Dilbert” blacklash?
The Dilbert creator drew backlash after his recent YouTube episode on February 22, in which he called black Americans a “hate group.”
Adams then shared the results of a Rasmussen Reports poll that asked respondents whether they agreed with the statement, “It’s okay to be white.” The cartoonist points out that 26 percent of black people disagreed, which means for him that African Americans as a “hate group” arise.
“When almost half of all black people disagree with white people… that’s a hate group,” Adams said in the YouTube video. “And I don’t want anything to do with them.”
“I would say, based on the current state of affairs, the best advice I would give to white people is to stay away from black people,” Adams continues. “Just walk away, dammit. Wherever you need to go, just walk away. Because that can’t be repaired. This cannot be repaired.”
The Response: Newspapers around the world publish “Dilbert”
As predicted by the creator, hundreds of newspapers dropped Dilbert. In the US, media giants like the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, USA Today and others will no longer carry the satirical strip.
“In light of Scott Adams’ recent pro-segregation statements, the Washington Post has halted publication of the Dilbert comic,” the newspaper said in a statement.
Another statement from the Los Angeles Times read: “Caricaturist Scott Adams made racist comments on a YouTube live stream [on Feb. 22]offensive remarks that the Times dismisses.”
The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star and Postmedia Papers in Canada also severed ties with Adams.
“While we respect and encourage freedom of expression, his views are not aligned with our editorial or business values as an organization,” the company tweeted.
Cartoonist Scott Adams: ‘I should be mostly canceled by Monday’
“I should usually be canceled by Monday.” So most of my income will be gone by next week,” Adams said of his racist comments. “My reputation for the rest of my life is shattered. You can’t come back from this.”
Twitter CEO Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, defended Adams on his platform, claiming that “the media is racist.”
“For a *very* long time the US media was racist towards non-whites, now it’s racist towards whites and Asians,” he added. “The same thing has happened to elite colleges and high schools in America. Maybe they can try not to be racist,” he tweeted.
Others on social media didn’t have it.
