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Japan Disaster Brings a Spate of Inappropriate Comments, Verbal Gaffes in the Media

Mar 16, 2011  •  Post A Comment

Gilbert Gottfrield isn’t the only celebrity who has made ill-advised jokes or comments about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Los Angeles Times ‘ Show Tracker blog reports. Glenn Beck, 50 Cent and TV writer Alec Sulkin have also made inappropriate remarks, the story says.

Beck called the disaster "a message from God" on his Monday show, while hip-hop artist 50 Cent made a surfing joke, the story notes. Sulkin, who writes for "Family Guy" and "The Cleveland Show," brought up Pearl Harbor, the story says.

Other media figures have simply struggled with their words and have wound up accidentally saying the wrong thing–a problem exacerbated by live TV and the 24-hour news cycle. One example was CNBC anchor Larry Kudlow, who said we should be “grateful” that the human toll of the disaster has been greater than the financial toll.

The piece cites Stuart Fischoff, senior editor of the Journal of Media Psychology, as noting that some of the comments may reveal a "reservoir of prejudice" against the Japanese people that has been revealed by the disaster. The article also reports that Joan Rivers stuck up for Gottfried on Twitter, noting that comedians "react to tragedy by making jokes to help people in tough times feel better through laughter."

One Comment

  1. When I was a kid I lived in Utah, and the Boy Scouts was taken over by Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church). This, so called religion, practices underage polygamy, they send the boy s off on missions to divide the underage sisters among the dirty old men of the clan. Now when these underage girls get pregnant, these same dirty old men, send them to the state to get their welfare checks . You should see some of the palace homes that are paid with welfare checks (not on just one of course). By the way this is the newest religion that was created right here in United States of America, I guess their also in AZ, CA, NM, TX, NV, CO, OK. When someone hides behind religion to do or say something that is wrong we should stand up and point it out (right the wrong). Someone should ask Glenn Beck about it, he seems to have all the answers.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iisl-xH3Xs

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