“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert is facing backlash for a joke he
made about President Donald Trump on Monday night that many are
calling “homophobic.”
During his opening monologue, Colbert went off on Trump over the
President’s treatment of CBS News’ John Dickerson, who saw an
interview with Trump abruptly ended when he asked about the
President’s unproven claims that then-President Obama had wiretapped
Trump and members of his campaign. As Dickerson and Colbert are both
CBS employees, Colbert felt it his duty to say the things Dickerson
himself could not.
https://youtu.be/HaHwlSTqA7s
“Sir, you attract more skinheads than free Rogaine,” Colbert said
near the end of the insult-laden rant. “You have more people
marching against you than cancer. You talk like a sign language
gorilla that got hit in the head. In fact, the only thing your mouth
is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c–k holster.” The final remark
has drawn the internet’s ire, with viewers taking to social media to
declare Colbert is homophobic.The hashtag #FireColbert began
spreading around Twitter, along with calls for people to boycott
sponsors of the late-night show.
CBS did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
Of course, this is not the first time Colbert has been the subject
of a campaign to get him pulled off the air. Back in 2014 when he
was hosting “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central, that show’s
official Twitter account posted a message saying, ““I am willing to
show Asian community I care by introducing the Ching-Chong Ding-Dong
Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever.” The tweet was
meant to satirize Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snider, who
started a charity to benefit Native Americans. Many perceived the
tweet as a racist assault on Asians and Asian-Americans, leading to
the creation of the hashtag #CancelColbert. Colbert reveled in the
controversy, however, even promoting it on future episodes of “The
Colbert Report.”
If and how he will respond to the current firestorm remains to be
seen. Read some of the reactions to Colbert’s joke below.
Waaaaaaay over the line. Needs to issue a formal apology &
go on several weeks of UNPAID leave. Else, #FireColbert.
https://t.co/CcD09EHtvn
— skjult (@skjultster) May 2, 2017
Unfunny show has now become a disgusting show.
Turning off CBS. #FireColbert
— Daniel Doran (@danielktdoran) May 2, 2017
#FireColbert Anti-American. Homophobic. Bigot.
— TheyLIVE (@zsazsagogrl) May 2, 2017
You know, it's time to #FireColbert cos if this was Rush
saying this about Obama his head would roll. It's time to
level the playing field
https://t.co/SwXHHFFb3c
— Jake Taylor (@Number7Catches) May 2, 2017
On one hand, @JimmyKimmelLive tugging at the heartstrings
with genuine feels. On the other, homophobic
@colbertlateshow. #FireColbert
— REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (@muhfeefees) May 2, 2017
#FIRECOLBERT His remarks about our president were
disgusting even for him.
— Claricia Quinn (@ClariciaQ) May 2, 2017
@JackPosobiec @d_seaman That's really out of line. Won't
watch Colbert again. Don't like his show anyway. So
politically correct until it comes 2 this? #FireColbert
— Candy (@Candlest) May 2, 2017
@StephenAtHome
You're a scumbag.
#firecolbert
— Ise Malaka (@ise_malaka) May 2, 2017
@StephenAtHome Totally unacceptable and shameful to speak
of our Commander In Chief that way #FIRECOLBERT
— Dantrell Dawson III (@blkamerican1) May 2, 2017
--
Dems & the media want Trump to be more like Obama, but then he'd
have to audit liberals & wire tap reporters' phones.