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Stephen Colbert Devotes Episode to Racial Controversy

Apr 1, 2014  •  Post A Comment

Stephen Colbert devoted his Comedy Central show Monday night to firing back at the #CancelColbert controversy of last week, when some people urged the cancellation of “The Colbert Report” because of a racially insensitive tweet sent from the show’s Twitter account, The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports.

“The dark forces trying to silence my message of core conservative principles mixed with youth-friendly product placement have been thwarted," Colbert said on Monday’s show.

The tweet, posted March 27, read: “I am willing to show #Asian community I care by introducing the Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever.” The joke, which wasn’t given context, was a reference to his March 26 episode, when Colbert made fun of the Washington Redskins owner for establishing the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation, following criticism of the team’s insensitive name.

But some Twitter users were offended by the "Colbert Report” joke, and started a #CancelColbert campaign.

“‘The Colbert Report’ on Monday opened with a dream sequence featuring news reports of the outcry calling for the show to be canceled, before Colbert — dressed in Washington Redskins garb — was awoken by B.D. Wong,” the story reports. “Later, the satirical late-night news host didn't miss a beat when he addressed the Twitter controversy in a lengthy ‘Who's Attacking Me Now?’ segment, which also included a rant about emojis. Twitter co-founder Biz Stone also appeared at the end of the program to shut down @ColbertReport. (The Twitter page no longer exists.)”

Later, Colbert assured viewers that he is “not a racist,” adding that he understood how people would have been offended by the tweet, if seen without context. “I don't even see race, not even my own. People tell me I'm white and I believe them because I just devoted six minutes to explain how I'm not a racist,” he said.

Here's a clip:

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