# Gilbert Gottfried out as AFLAC duck due to Japan-related tweets **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731 "2011-03-15T01:49:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/21 "2011-03-15T03:39:48Z")
I always like the fact that GG was fearless in his comedy. He was probably the first person I heard make a joke about 9/11 (not that I endorse that, but it is evidence of his fearlessness). I am sure he always knew something he said would cost him this gig sooner or later. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/22 "2011-03-15T04:09:53Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Ah, they’ll find a replacement for GG. Probably one of the new wave comedians. I’m looking at you, Russell Brand. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/23 "2011-03-15T04:10:17Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > CBS says Aflac does 75% of all its business in Japan One article I read pointed out that GG does _not_ do the duck voice in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/24 "2011-03-15T04:31:56Z")
damn!!! Someone got their feathers ruffled. 😃 Step back from the twitter account or the duck dies. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/25 "2011-03-15T04:51:50Z")
Certainly an _insurance company_ does not want its corporate symbol being heard joking about the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. This is the time when they want to project the whole caring, we’re-there-for-you face to the world. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/26 "2011-03-15T05:05:13Z")
An Aflac commercial spawned [a hit song in Japan](http://makebelievemelodies.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/afflac-advertisement-song-manekineko-duck-no-uta-movin-up-the-charts/), so…yeah, they’re kinda big there… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/27 "2011-03-15T05:14:30Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Ah, they’ll find a replacement for GG. Probably one of the new wave comedians. I’m figuring it’ll be a race between Bobcat Goldthwait and Fran Drescher. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/28 "2011-03-15T08:39:16Z")
I’ve always wondered why they kept him on. Sure, his voice is his trademark, but plenty of people can pull of a similarly annoying voice, without it being their natural voice. For example, I’ve heard that Fran Drescher sounds perfectly normal now. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/29 "2011-03-15T09:32:52Z")
I hope the next AFLAC commercial shows the duck eating what looks to be some sort of talking salamander. After that the duck suddenly he gets a cultured, smooth-timbred voice which doesn’t go away. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/30 "2011-03-15T09:38:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > This is clearly a major shake up for Aflac. I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but following your insensitive joke regarding the recent earthquake in Japan and the tragic firing of Gilbert Gottfried we’re going to have to let you go as spokesman for the Straight Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/31 "2011-03-15T11:53:40Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > CBS says Aflac does 75% of all its business in Japan Thanks. I heard a story on NPR and couldn’t remember if it was 2/3 or 3/4 so I went with the smaller number. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/32 "2011-03-15T12:28:57Z")
Clearly, this is the early stages of a complete meltdown… ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/33 "2011-03-15T12:54:19Z")
Chalk up another point for [Mayhem](http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/4/8/6/5/mayhem-is-coming-allstate.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/34 "2011-03-15T12:57:28Z")
Gottfried tweets insensitive jokes about current tragedies all the time. When Greg Giraldo died a few months back he was making jokes about it before a lot of people had even heard he died. Funny to think how technology like twitter has make the process of making “too soon” jokes so much easier. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/35 "2011-03-15T13:08:51Z")
So… Gilbert Gottfried is an asshole? THERE’S a surprise! I think I’m gonna have a heart attack and DIE from not surprise! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/36 "2011-03-15T13:16:02Z")
AFLAC is treating him like he’s radioactive after their efforts at containment failed. At least he’s responding to the tidal wave of criticism without ducking his responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/37 "2011-03-15T13:31:23Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Funny to think how technology like twitter has make the process of making “too soon” jokes so much easier. Just wait till that time machine app comes out. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/38 "2011-03-15T13:38:58Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Granted, his joke was in bad taste, but I remember MANY jokes about American tragedies that came along right away, including Waco (“How do you pick up women in Waco? With a Dustbuster.”) and the Challenger explosion (“How do they know Christa McAulliff had dandruff? They found her head and shoulders on the beach.”). I wouldn’t continue to employ somebody, as a face or voice of my company, who made those jokes publicly, either. And Japan’s disaster is literally thousands of times worse than those incidents. ETA: Also, I’m always surprised that nominal adults find any of the sort of jokes referenced (or attempted) in this thread to be funny. I remember hearing some of the Challenger ones as a _kid_ and snerking a little, but I’ve seen a lot of real life since then. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/39 "2011-03-15T13:47:18Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > One article I read pointed out that GG does _not_ do the duck voice in Japan. That makes sense. They’d have to pay him for a second session to record the voice of the AFRAC duck. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/40 "2011-03-15T13:54:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I’ve always wondered why they kept him on. Sure, his voice is his trademark, but plenty of people can pull of a similarly annoying voice, without it being their natural voice. It’s not Gottfried’s natural voice either. I don`t think I was ever aware it was Gottfried doing the duck, personally. So I think it was a waste of money for them if my experience is common. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731.md?page=3)