The Onion apologizes

[HarveyDarkey]

Posted on Facebook:

Dear Readers,

On behalf of The Onion, I offer my personal apology to Quvenzhané Wallis and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the tweet that was circulated last night during the Oscars. It was crude and offensive—not to mention inconsistent with The Onion’s commitment to parody and satire, however biting.

No person should be subjected to such a senseless, humorless comment masquerading as satire.

The tweet was taken down within an hour of publication. We have instituted new and tighter Twitter procedures to ensure that this kind of mistake does not occur again.

In addition, we are taking immediate steps to discipline those individuals responsible.

Miss Wallis, you are young and talented and deserve better. All of us at The Onion are deeply sorry.

Sincerely,

Steve Hannah
CEO
The Onion

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Uh, sorry

The apology needs to come from the guy who wrote the post.

[demwing]

12. Why?

Responsibility ultimately rests at the top, and this was a sincere effort by the Onion to right a wrong for which they were responsible.

[SemperEadem]

109. responsibility also rests with the person who set this shitstorm in motion

why should he be protected by anonymity?

If he's grown enough to do it, then he's grown enough to take his asswhippin' for it.

[Orrex]

13. What good would that do?

I'd rather have a buck-stops-here apology from someone higher up the chain than from some asshole who clearly has no sense of what constitutes acceptable communication.

[Enrique]

15. i have the opposite attitude toward apologies

if the low-level tweeter had apologized, i might have said "sorry, I want to hear from the CEO".

[Kelvin Mace]

17. The apology needs to come from both

people. And the writer needs to be fired.

[AtheistCrusader]

67. How do you know the writer hasn't been fired already?

[Kelvin Mace]

93. I don't, but hopefully he has,

in which case The Onion has done everything that could be expected of it.

[SemperEadem]

110. because the ceo said

they were 'disciplined', not 'terminated'.

plenty of companies have no problem saying the employee was fired: the Applebee's manager said their fired the waitress who posted the receipt of that tip dodging preacher; the owner of the store in Ny that falsely accused and frisked Forest Whitaker said that employee was fired.

The way that letter is written, it doesn't make it sound like anyone lost their job for this. And they should have.

[Brother Buzz]

18. That one may be scribbled on the back of a blank unemployment application

All of us at The Onion are deeply sorry.

[Katashi_itto]

28. Likely the Writer is to busy packing his stuff up since he most probably got canned.

[Logical]

37. Lol, he didn't kill anyone. WTF is wrong with you? n-t

[Hekate]

63. Actually, if I were QW's mama or agent I would make sure she never knew this happened...

... out there in the world of supposedly mature adults. No way would I subject her to the "apology" of some random adult jerk. As her mama I would hope to stand between her and the uglier aspects of fame for a few more years.

Just sayin'.

[Codeine]

100. It was a fucking tweet, not a physical assault. nt

[SemperEadem]

111. it was verbal assault against a 9 yr old innocent CHILD

unless verbally assaulting a child is fair game to you...

it'd be bad enough if it was done to a grown woman, but a CHILD?

[rhett o rick]

105. I can see it now. "I want you to apologize before I fire you." Not sure the apology

would be sincere.

[Laurian]

2. Good apology, not the usual, "if anyone was offended" crap.

I think the apology is sincere. It should be as I think that tweet did a lot of damage to The Onion's reputation. I know that as a fan of The Onion, I was taken aback.

[HarveyDarkey]

21. I agree

that's what an apology should sound like, whether written or verbal.

[truebrit71]

34. Absolutely agree....

...none of the usual "sorry if we offended anyone" bullshit...

[Brickbat]

3. I think that's an excellent apology. Well done, Onion.

[Taverner]

14. Yep, that's what a real apology looks like

Taking responsibility, swift action, and policy change

[kysrsoze]

20. He was just kidding.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

104. clarification please. Who are you saying was "just kidding"? n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

4. What did they tweet last night?

[hedgehog]

9. Someone called Quvenzhané Wallis the "c" word.

[JaneyVee]

11. They called a 9yr old girl the c word???!

[MicaelS]

22. Yes, they did. n/t

[JaneyVee]

33. WOW. Classy apology at least. It seems like any of the writers probably have access to their Twitter

Maybe they'll moderate it from now on.

[Whisp]

30. wwwwhat? !

[ButterflyBlood]

35. Article about it

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57571025-93/the-onion-deletes-offensive-tweet-about-child-oscar-nominee

The other problem beyond it being so offensive is that it's also not even the slightest bit funny.

[Whisp]

48. oooo. what the?

the guy/gal who wrote that must have been drunk or something.

that is way way way over the line. gawd!

thanks for the link.

[October]

65. I hadn't heard about this. How disgusting!

I'm speechless...


I thought a lot of last night's show was offensive and mainly, NOT funny, but this is completely wrong.

[Cha]

95. Wow.. was that ever evil Stupid.

[Deep13]

59. Ouch! Yeah, that's pretty well over the top. nt

[JaneyVee]

5. Anyone know the context of the tweet?

[Taverner]

16. They were trying to be ironic

FAIL at that

[JaneyVee]

31. MAJOR Fail!

[Taverner]

96. If I didn't know any better, I would guess the writer was drunk

That seems like the kind of bad idea that only alcohol can inspire

[JHB]

32. Didn't see it, but apparently there was a musical number that pulled a word switch...

...i.e. a lyric that pointed to something that would have rhymed with (Helen) "Hunt", but was intentionally flipped to "adorable".

Looks like twit tweeting for The Onion went for the "uncensored" version.

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. Which makes it surprising they apologised to the Academy as well

since the Academy had laid the bait for the insult. I think the Academy could do with joining in the apology.

[JHB]

70. I think it's fine. Leave the Academy to do its own apologizing for thinking the bit was clever...

For the Onion, after the lowest of tweets the only route to take was the high road. Glad they did take it.

[Katashi_itto]

6. Very good apology. When I saw that 1st post I thought accidently gotten on Breitbart.com

Last edited Mon Feb 25, 2013, 01:35 PM - Edit history (1)

[hedgehog]

7. That's what an apology sounds like!

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Excellent. K&R n/t

[ProdigalJunkMail]

10. i was sure they had been hacked

that was way off base... even for them.

sP

[myrna minx]

19. I appreciate this apology. That tweet was a horrible thing to say to a child, or to anyone for

that matter.

[RZM]

23. I gotta say, this groveling is kind of funny to watch

I think the tweet was wrong. Nobody should ever insult a child that way, ever. I don't care if it's satire or not.

But at the same time, The Onion has been around for quite a long time and they've pulled a lot of shit. I find it amusing that this is what makes them finally beg for forgiveness.

It would be interesting to see what the reaction would have been if they had mocked Trig Palin's Down Syndrome. Lisa Lampanelli did that at the Donald Trump Roast a couple years ago and it brought the house down. AFAIK, her career didn't suffer one bit.

It's fun trying to figure out where the lines are and what constitutes crossing them. It's interesting how quickly satirical humor and reactions to it can turn on a dime.

[HarveyDarkey]

25. It would be interesting to find out if they've ever apologized for anything before.

[RZM]

27. I don't know. I'm not aware of them doing so

I'd guess they have once or twice, but I don't know.

[nxylas]

62. I've never heard of them doing so either

They've posted far more offensive stuff than that in the past, and not only have they not apologized, but anyone calling them out on it on Facebook or Twitter is usually barraged by their legion of sycophants saying "It's the Onion, stupid! The Onion can do no wrong! Having a functioning moral compass is so gay!" Or words to that effect.

[intheflow]

44. I think the apology stems from it being a two-fer offense:

1) using the "c" word, and
2) directing it at a minor.

If it had been a joke about the kid's dress or something it would probably would have gone unnoticed. If they'd used the "c" word toward Anne Hathaway or Halle Berry or whatever famous adult actress was on stage, it would have stirred some controversy because the "c" word is always controversial, but it probably wouldn't have elicited a retraction and apology. It was the potent combo affront to societal sensibilities that brought about this public apology from The Onion's CEO.

[RZM]

78. I think you're right. It's a double whammy n/t

[TroglodyteScholar]

24. Now, where's McFarlane's apology for being generally unfunny and mean-spirited? n/t

[ButterflyBlood]

29. Seth is an awesome progressive

He skewers right wingers all the time, and quite deservedly.

[TroglodyteScholar]

98. Yep, he makes all of us look great, for sure.

Progressive or not, he's still unfunny and mean-spirited.

[otohara]

101. I Bet Kate Winslet Cracked Up

when she heard the boobs song!

[SidDithers]

26. Good apology...nt

Sid

[Leslie Valley]

39. But it's from the Onion

How do we know it isn't sarcasm?

[Gorp]

69. I know it isn't. The on-line edition two weeks after 9-11 is a good example.

The lead headline was "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" with a picture of the towers burning. It also had a direct personal editorial from whoever was the CEO at the time explaining why they had been quiet for so long and why they eventually decided they had to parody the event.

In essence, it made it very clear that they in no way intended to belittle the event, but as parody is what they do, the choice was either to avoid all such events forever or continue doing what they do best and write a piece on it. It is exceptionally rare for The Onion to comment in such a way and this current apology is both warranted and sincere, as was the message in 2001.

There was no satire or humor in the comment currently in question - it was simply wrong. That's exactly what the apology says and without any "if" qualifiers. Your question is a good one and I'm sure it is difficult for anyone at The Onion to come off sounding sincere given what they do.

[Duer 157099]

38. Bunk!

Wendell Pierce Wendell Pierce ‏@WendellPierce

@TheOnion Identify the writer. Let him defend that abhorrent verbal attack of a child. You call it humor I call it horrendous.

[WinkyDink]

43. Read the thread; nobody fits your description.

[RZM]

81. And?

I really have no idea what you're getting at. And I guess I never will, because you got bounced from the thread for . . .

Using the c-word.

Is there a lesson in here somewhere? I think there is.

[Renew Deal]

77. I haven't seen it on DU

I saw some defenders on Twitter last night.

[HarveyDarkey]

47. Who's defending it?

Certainly no one on this thread.

[WinkyDink]

42. It was vile. And it stood for an hour, until the complaints couldn't be ignored.

[intheflow]

45. It probably stood for an hour before it reached the CEO

or other person higher up the food chain than the imbecile employee who tweeted it. I think an hour is a remarkably short turn-around time for twitter (or any web site) moderation to happen - especially on a Sunday night.

[intheflow]

46. The responses on The Onion's fb page are bizarre.

Half are people who refuse the apology and the other half are people calling Steve Hannah a wuss for offering an apology.

[FreeBC]

51. I thought it was funny.

The joke was the absurdity of calling a 9-year old a c***

lighten up people, it's the onion.

[cali]

52. haha. it was just a joke.

nothing funny about calling girls or women that- particularly 9 year old.

I bet you think gas chamber jokes are just a hoot.

[FreeBC]

66. yes, if done well.

example:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/did-six-million-really-visit-the-holocaust-museum,10814/

[morningfog]

71. I read the link. I didn't find an example of anyone calling a woman

of an age "c***", done well or otherwise.

[oberliner]

97. It was a "gas chamber" joke

Which apparently is ok?

[ButterflyBlood]

54. In this case it's a REAL 9-year old girl who is by all accounts a sweetheart

Most of The Onion's biting satire involves adult politicians or fictional people. Hurling such a vile insult at a sweet 9-year old is NOT the same thing.

[FreeBC]

57. that's the point

It wouldn't have been funny if was an adult. It would have been taken as an insult. It's only funny if you say it about someone where the idea of calling them that is completely absurd.

[LanternWaste]

103. Is it then funny if I state "you have a great sense of humor..."?

"It's only funny if you say it about someone where the idea of calling them that is completely absurd....

Is it then funny if I state "you have a great sense of humor..."?

[Whisp]

108. you are a sick puppy.

[SemperEadem]

112. it takes a certain kind of a mind

to think attacking the honor of an innocent child is funny and then goes to idiotic extremes to defend their indefensible position.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

72. 9 or 99 it makes me shudder at the crudity of modern society

Maybe I'm looking at the past through rose-colored glasses, and I know there were many things wrong with the society of my baby-boom generation, but it just jars my geezer sensitivities when I think that any person, child, adult, male, or female would be subjected to that kind of vile insult, whether it's funny or not. Using that kind of language is an unwarranted attack on someone who has done nothing to deserve it and seems more designed to shock the senses. You can be witty and funny without becoming uncivilized and without human decency.

[FreeBC]

58. My mom just passed away last month.

She was actually very nice and that was very hurtful.

[SemperEadem]

114. I am your humble admirer!

[SemperEadem]

113. well played

[LadyHawkAZ]

84. The jury results aren't back yet

but whatever they turn out to be, I just thought you should know I was one of the votes to hide.

Enjoy your stay, and do try the pizza.

[LanternWaste]

102. The Onion engages in satire.... the tweet was not satire.

The Onion engages in satire.... the tweet was not satire.

Smarten up people... it's common sense.

[quinnox]

53. meh, just silliness all round

The tweet was in bad taste, but it is not the end of the world. Jeezus. It is very trivial in the scheme of things. (also, the tweeter is within his first amendment rights, of course)

I love how this is being blown up from nothing into something Very Very Important.

[sufrommich]

73. Nobody claims it's the end of the world or

that it's "very,very important" in the grand scheme of things or that he had no first amendment right to say it.God, that 1st amendment argument is dumb.

[quinnox]

74. the reason I mentioned it

is upthread there were people saying he should be penalized in some way, one suggestion was losing his job, just because he used a vulgar word and made a joke in bad taste. I think it is a good thing sometimes to remind people of the first amendment, which is one of the key foundations of our country.

[sufrommich]

75. The 1st amendment only applies if the government

becomes involved in trying to punish him for his tweet, it's got nothing to do with suffering the consequences of an employer punishing him for the tweet.

[quinnox]

76. I disagree

If someone on their free time was punished by being fired by saying something like that by an employer who heard about it, I would say it is a first amendment issue.

[sufrommich]

79. It's still not a first amendment issue. Ironically

it would probably be federal privacy laws that might protect you from being fired for such a reason. This guy was on company time though and as such, they have a right to apologize for his bad attempt at humor and to punish him in some way for making a bad decision, just like any other job. The first amendment is pretty specific about who it's protecting you from, and it's protecting you from the government.

[quinnox]

82. If he was doing it as part of his job, then that is different

I'm saying if someone tweets things on their own free time, then I don't think employers should have a right to fire them for something like this. If that were the case, then we would all have to be very mindful of how we speak when off work, for fear of the employer hearing about it.

[exboyfil]

107. How about the guy who slapped the African American

infant and called her the n word on a flight to Atlanta? He lost his job with his company. He was not representing his company at the time. Would the employer have been justified in termination if he had not slapped the infant but only called it the n word?

[SemperEadem]

116. I wouldn't be surprised if the onion is an "at will" employer

which means they can fire anyone "at will", especially if they do something as stupid and foolish as this on the company's public twitter account that has been seen by millions.

If they're signed in on the company account, then they're not on free time. Duh.

[madville]

80. The first amendment doesn't protect employment

An employer, private or government, has every right in most cases to fire employees for expressing opinions if they chose too.

[quinnox]

83. sure, but that sounds like it could result in a very juicy lawsuit

for the person being fired. You really think employers can and should get away for firing someone for their opinions?

[SemperEadem]

117. no, but for using company media accounts to express their salacious opinions, yes they can.

The onion is most likely at "at will" employer, so they can fire "at will", especially when they're using company resources to
say extremely offensive things about an innocent 9 yr old child.

[NCTraveler]

85. What does the first amendment have to do with anything being discussed? nt.

[quinnox]

86. maybe you missed the post

I said I think its a good thing to remind people of the first amendment, because some upthread were saying this person should be penalized in some way for saying what he said.

[NCTraveler]

87. I didn't miss the post, and the question still stands.

"I said I think its a good thing to remind people of the first amendment, because some upthread were saying this person should be penalized in some way for saying what he said."

People are penalized for the things they say every day in this country. People are held to account for the things they say. I don't think the first amendment means what you think it does.

[quinnox]

88. so, what penalties do you think this person should face?

Jail time? A misdemeanor? A fine? What exactly. He did say a joke in bad taste and a vulgar word, I will admit to that evidence.

[NCTraveler]

90. Why would he face jail time, a misdemeanor, or anything like that?

Point me to the person here claiming that?

[quinnox]

91. tell me what you think the first amendment means

You are the one saying that people every day are penalized by what they say. So if you don't mean criminal penalties, what do you mean?

[NCTraveler]

92. At this point I am confident you aren't being serious. nt.

[quinnox]

94. ok, but I will continue to bring up the first amendment when I feel like it

Hope you don't mind...

[SemperEadem]

115. the first amendment

applies only to government infringing upon it, not social media

[yurbud]

55. Hey, tweeter, leave the kids alone!

except maybe Honey Boo Boo.

[SCVDem]

68. Dear Repubs

This is how to apologize!

Notice it does not include the phrase "If I offended anyone..."!

[Crabby Appleton]

89. Fuck you Steve Hannah

Fuck you the onion

[jsr]

99. That tweet was monumentally stupid.

Unbelievable.

[LWolf]

106. No surprise.

I expected them to issue an apology. I think this is a good one.

[Number23]

118. I know I'm late to the party but K&R

This is the first I've seen of this thread. The fact that the Onion could make such a vile, thoughtless comment is almost as nauseating as the number of people who "defended" it.

No person should be subjected to such a senseless, humorless comment masquerading as satire.

Exactly.