‘Dilbert’ dropped by major newspapers, including The Times, after creator’s ‘hate group’ remark
The creator of the “Dilbert” comic faced a backlash of cancellations on Saturday as he defended comments describing people who are black as members of “a hate group” that whites “should get out of.”
Several US media outlets denounced the comments of “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams as racist, hateful and discriminatory, saying they would no longer provide a platform for his work.
Andrews McMeel Syndication, which distributes “Dilbert,” did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday. But Adams took to social media to defend himself against those he said “Hate me and cancel me.”
“Dilbert” is a long-running comic that pokes fun at office culture at work.
The backlash began this week after an episode of the YouTube show “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.” Among other things, Adams referred to a Rasmussen Reports survey that asked if people agreed with the statement “It’s okay to be white.”
Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26% of black respondents disagreed and others were unsure.
The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase was popularized in 2017 as a trolling campaign by members of the discussion forum 4chan and adopted by some white supremacists.
Adams, who is white, repeatedly referred to people who are black as members of a “hate group” or a “racist hate group” and said he would no longer “help black Americans.”
“Based on the current state of affairs, the best advice I would give white people is to get the hell away from black people,” Adams said on his show on Wednesday.
In another episode of his online show on Saturday, Adams said he had pointed out that “everyone should be treated as an individual” without discrimination.
“But you also need to avoid any group that disrespects you, even if there are people in the group who are doing well,” Adams said.
The Los Angeles Times quoted Adams’ “racist remarks” as announcing Saturday that “Dilbert” will be discontinued in most editions Monday and that the last run in the Sunday comics – which are printed ahead of time – will be March 12.
The San Antonio Express-News, part of Hearst Newspapers, said Saturday it will drop the “Dilbert” strip effective Monday, “due to hateful and discriminatory public comments made by its creator.”
The USA Today Network tweeted Friday that it will also stop publishing “Dilbert” “due to recent discriminatory comments from its creator.”
The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and other publications that are part of Advance Local media also announced that they are dropping “Dilbert”.
“This is a decision based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve,” wrote Chris Quinn, editor of the Plain Dealer. “We are not a home for those who espouse racism. We certainly do not want to support them financially.”
Christopher Kelly, vice president of content for NJ Advance Media, wrote that the news organization believes in “the free and fair exchange of ideas.”
“But when those ideas turn into hate speech, a line has to be drawn,” Kelly wrote.