General Discussion

Gorp

(716 posts)

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

Mon Feb 25, 2013, 03:43 PM

Feb 2013

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.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

118 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The Onion apologizes [View all] HarveyDarkey Feb 2013 OP

Uh, sorry Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #1

Why? demwing Feb 2013 #12

responsibility also rests with the person who set this shitstorm in motion SemperEadem Mar 2013 #109

What good would that do? Orrex Feb 2013 #13

i have the opposite attitude toward apologies Enrique Feb 2013 #15

The apology needs to come from both Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #17

How do you know the writer hasn't been fired already? AtheistCrusader Feb 2013 #67

I don't, but hopefully he has, Kelvin Mace Feb 2013 #93

because the ceo said SemperEadem Mar 2013 #110

That one may be scribbled on the back of a blank unemployment application Brother Buzz Feb 2013 #18

Likely the Writer is to busy packing his stuff up since he most probably got canned. Katashi_itto Feb 2013 #28

This message was self-deleted by its author alp227 Feb 2013 #36

Lol, he didn't kill anyone. WTF is wrong with you? n-t Logical Feb 2013 #37

Actually, if I were QW's mama or agent I would make sure she never knew this happened... Hekate Feb 2013 #63

It was a fucking tweet, not a physical assault. nt Codeine Feb 2013 #100

it was verbal assault against a 9 yr old innocent CHILD SemperEadem Mar 2013 #111

I can see it now. "I want you to apologize before I fire you." Not sure the apology rhett o rick Feb 2013 #105

Good apology, not the usual, "if anyone was offended" crap. Laurian Feb 2013 #2

I agree HarveyDarkey Feb 2013 #21

Absolutely agree.... truebrit71 Feb 2013 #34

I think that's an excellent apology. Well done, Onion. Brickbat Feb 2013 #3

Yep, that's what a real apology looks like Taverner Feb 2013 #14

He was just kidding. kysrsoze Feb 2013 #20

clarification please. Who are you saying was "just kidding"? n/t BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2013 #104

What did they tweet last night? JustAnotherGen Feb 2013 #4

Someone called Quvenzhan� Wallis the "c" word. hedgehog Feb 2013 #9

They called a 9yr old girl the c word???! JaneyVee Feb 2013 #11

Yes, they did. n/t MicaelS Feb 2013 #22

WOW. Classy apology at least. It seems like any of the writers probably have access to their Twitter JaneyVee Feb 2013 #33

wwwwhat? ! Whisp Feb 2013 #30

Article about it ButterflyBlood Feb 2013 #35

oooo. what the? Whisp Feb 2013 #48

I hadn't heard about this. How disgusting! October Feb 2013 #65

Wow.. was that ever evil Stupid. Cha Feb 2013 #95

Ouch! Yeah, that's pretty well over the top. nt Deep13 Feb 2013 #59

Anyone know the context of the tweet? JaneyVee Feb 2013 #5

They were trying to be ironic Taverner Feb 2013 #16

MAJOR Fail! JaneyVee Feb 2013 #31

If I didn't know any better, I would guess the writer was drunk Taverner Feb 2013 #96

Didn't see it, but apparently there was a musical number that pulled a word switch... JHB Feb 2013 #32

Which makes it surprising they apologised to the Academy as well muriel_volestrangler Feb 2013 #40

I think it's fine. Leave the Academy to do its own apologizing for thinking the bit was clever... JHB Feb 2013 #70

Very good apology. When I saw that 1st post I thought accidently gotten on Breitbart.com Katashi_itto Feb 2013 #6

That's what an apology sounds like! hedgehog Feb 2013 #7

Excellent. K&R n/t OneGrassRoot Feb 2013 #8

i was sure they had been hacked ProdigalJunkMail Feb 2013 #10

I appreciate this apology. That tweet was a horrible thing to say to a child, or to anyone for myrna minx Feb 2013 #19

I gotta say, this groveling is kind of funny to watch RZM Feb 2013 #23

It would be interesting to find out if they've ever apologized for anything before. HarveyDarkey Feb 2013 #25

I don't know. I'm not aware of them doing so RZM Feb 2013 #27

I've never heard of them doing so either nxylas Feb 2013 #62

I think the apology stems from it being a two-fer offense: intheflow Feb 2013 #44

I think you're right. It's a double whammy n/t RZM Feb 2013 #78

Now, where's McFarlane's apology for being generally unfunny and mean-spirited? n/t TroglodyteScholar Feb 2013 #24

Seth is an awesome progressive ButterflyBlood Feb 2013 #29

Yep, he makes all of us look great, for sure. TroglodyteScholar Feb 2013 #98

I Bet Kate Winslet Cracked Up otohara Feb 2013 #101

Good apology...nt SidDithers Feb 2013 #26

But it's from the Onion Leslie Valley Feb 2013 #39

I know it isn't. The on-line edition two weeks after 9-11 is a good example. Gorp Feb 2013 #69

Bunk! Duer 157099 Feb 2013 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #41

Read the thread; nobody fits your description. WinkyDink Feb 2013 #43

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #49

And? RZM Feb 2013 #81

I haven't seen it on DU Renew Deal Feb 2013 #77

Who's defending it? HarveyDarkey Feb 2013 #47

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #50

It was vile. And it stood for an hour, until the complaints couldn't be ignored. WinkyDink Feb 2013 #42

It probably stood for an hour before it reached the CEO intheflow Feb 2013 #45

The responses on The Onion's fb page are bizarre. intheflow Feb 2013 #46

I thought it was funny. FreeBC Feb 2013 #51

haha. it was just a joke. cali Feb 2013 #52

yes, if done well. FreeBC Feb 2013 #66

I read the link. I didn't find an example of anyone calling a woman morningfog Feb 2013 #71

It was a "gas chamber" joke oberliner Feb 2013 #97

In this case it's a REAL 9-year old girl who is by all accounts a sweetheart ButterflyBlood Feb 2013 #54

that's the point FreeBC Feb 2013 #57

Is it then funny if I state "you have a great sense of humor..."? LanternWaste Feb 2013 #103

you are a sick puppy. Whisp Feb 2013 #108

it takes a certain kind of a mind SemperEadem Mar 2013 #112

9 or 99 it makes me shudder at the crudity of modern society aint_no_life_nowhere Feb 2013 #72

Post removed Post removed Feb 2013 #56

My mom just passed away last month. FreeBC Feb 2013 #58

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #60

Post removed Post removed Feb 2013 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #64

I am your humble admirer! SemperEadem Mar 2013 #114

well played SemperEadem Mar 2013 #113

The jury results aren't back yet LadyHawkAZ Feb 2013 #84

The Onion engages in satire.... the tweet was not satire. LanternWaste Feb 2013 #102

meh, just silliness all round quinnox Feb 2013 #53

Nobody claims it's the end of the world or sufrommich Feb 2013 #73

the reason I mentioned it quinnox Feb 2013 #74

The 1st amendment only applies if the government sufrommich Feb 2013 #75

I disagree quinnox Feb 2013 #76

It's still not a first amendment issue. Ironically sufrommich Feb 2013 #79

If he was doing it as part of his job, then that is different quinnox Feb 2013 #82

How about the guy who slapped the African American exboyfil Feb 2013 #107

I wouldn't be surprised if the onion is an "at will" employer SemperEadem Mar 2013 #116

The first amendment doesn't protect employment madville Feb 2013 #80

sure, but that sounds like it could result in a very juicy lawsuit quinnox Feb 2013 #83

no, but for using company media accounts to express their salacious opinions, yes they can. SemperEadem Mar 2013 #117

What does the first amendment have to do with anything being discussed? nt. NCTraveler Feb 2013 #85

maybe you missed the post quinnox Feb 2013 #86

I didn't miss the post, and the question still stands. NCTraveler Feb 2013 #87

so, what penalties do you think this person should face? quinnox Feb 2013 #88

Why would he face jail time, a misdemeanor, or anything like that? NCTraveler Feb 2013 #90

tell me what you think the first amendment means quinnox Feb 2013 #91

At this point I am confident you aren't being serious. nt. NCTraveler Feb 2013 #92

ok, but I will continue to bring up the first amendment when I feel like it quinnox Feb 2013 #94

the first amendment SemperEadem Mar 2013 #115

Hey, tweeter, leave the kids alone! yurbud Feb 2013 #55

Dear Repubs SCVDem Feb 2013 #68

Fuck you Steve Hannah Crabby Appleton Feb 2013 #89

That tweet was monumentally stupid. jsr Feb 2013 #99

No surprise. LWolf Feb 2013 #106

I know I'm late to the party but K&R Number23 Mar 2013 #118