Gilbert Gottfried Quacks Jokes About Japan and Loses AFLAC Gig...

[KharmaTrain]

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_news/water_cooler/aflac-fires-gilbert-gottfried-after-he-tweeted-tsunami-jokes

Aflac has fired actor Gilbert Gottfried, voice of the Aflac duck, for offensive remarks about the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on Twitter.

@RealGilbert tweeted, "Japan is really advanced. They don't go to the beach. The beach comes to them." Another tweet said, "I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, They'll be another one floating by any minute now."

“Gilbert’s recent comments about the crisis in Japan were lacking in humor and certainly do not represent the thoughts and feelings of anyone at Aflac,” Aflac Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Zuna said in a written release. “Aflac Japan – and, by extension, Japan itself – is part of the Aflac family, and there is no place for anything but compassion and concern during these difficult times.”

Aflac is one of the biggest insurers in Japan and has pledged 100 million yen to the International Red Cross to help earthquake and tsunami victims.

They say comedy is all in the timing...Gilbert didn't have it.

Discuss...

[provis99]

1. Gilbert Gottfried is a comedian?

I just thought he was a weird jerk.

[JHB]

4. He'll eventually get another gig as some kind of bird.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Charlie Sheen Will Hire Him...

or there's always his pal Jay Leno...

[Puregonzo1188]

14. That's true he seems to have been type casted.

[Faygo Kid]

2. I could go the rest of my life without hearing from or about Gilbert Gottfried.

Hopefully, this will make that happen.

[rfranklin]

3. I found those jokes amusing...

It's gallows humor.

[CakeGrrl]

7. It is gallows humor, but there's a time and place for it.

If you're among people who share your sense of humor, you can get away with it.

But when you represent a public company? Not a good idea to broadcast it far and wide.

[KharmaTrain]

10. It's Called Twitter Turrets

The inclination to hit the send key before being in one's right mind...a way too common malady these days.

[rfranklin]

17. They can do what they want...I'm sure it was in the contract...

Though he has a well documented track record of being grossly inappropriate so they shouldn't be surprised.

[CakeGrrl]

5. Some people don't know when to shut up and be tactful. Twitter doesn't help.

Brain farts can be texted to the world in seconds.

:crazy:

[Zax2me]

8. GOOD

Not that he wrote those things - rather the most annoying commercial campaign EVER is ending.

[Common Sense Party]

12. Not necessarily -- they could get a new voice.

Like it or hate it, it's amazingly successful from an advertising/brand-building standpoint.

AFLAC went from being a company nobody had ever heard of, to a company that EVERYONE has heard of, and many people actually know what they do.

[rrneck]

9. I guess he won't be able to

shift over to The Aristocrats and save it this time.

[Common Sense Party]

11. What is his DU screen name?

I've seen some attempts at dark humor around here lately that were just as pathetic.

[hatrack]

13. Maybe he and 50 Cent can take their new act on the road

They could call it the "I'm An Asshole Tour 2011" - with special guest Larry Kudlow.

[malaise]

15. Fox will hire him

:puke:

[Peregrine Took]

16. He's a sicko.

[HEyHEY]

18. Not much to discuss. He's an asshole.