# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/81 "2011-03-27T22:25:56Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I started seeing that commercial last week and it got me thinking that it was almost too soon after Gottfried’s “firing” to make any sense. Has he actually said he was fired or is this all Internet heresay? Because that commercial was put together fast, almost as if it had nothing to do with the tsunami. It’s not hearsay and Aflac made the announcement: [Story here.](http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/14/gilbert-gottfriend-aflc-cut-ties/) > [@](#): > > “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 press 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.” As for the commercial itself, it may have been shot in advance, but it wouldn’t have taken any time to insert a card at the end announcing the search for a new voice. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/82 "2011-03-27T22:28:43Z")
AFLAC put out a [press release](http://www.aflac.com/aboutaflac/pressroom/pressreleasestory.aspx?rid=1539090) on March 14th that Gottfried was toast because of his remarks. They began inviting people to audition to replace him at 6:00am on March 15th, on one of their Facebook [marketing pages.](http://www.facebook.com/aflacduck?sk=wall) The new “Silent Movie” ad used footage from a serendipitously-produced [commercial](http://www.bestads.tv/view/1914/aflac-silent-movie/) from 2006. The new material is just the bit with the duck being hit by the train and the title card, both elements which could be knocked together in a couple hours. This seems like a perfectly reasonable timeline for a multinational corporation in full-on damage control mode. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/83 "2011-03-27T22:45:05Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > The new material is just the bit with the duck being hit by the train and the title card, both elements which could be knocked together in a couple hours. This seems like a perfectly reasonable timeline for a multinational corporation in full-on damage control mode. I predict a major disaster involving the Japanese High Speed Rail System shortly. Likely involving an impact with a duck as the initial cause. ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/84 "2011-03-28T01:49:41Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/85 "2011-03-28T14:56:33Z")
I thought it was brilliant. Everyone knows AFLAC’s fired the actor who voices their corporate mascot, but has no plans to rebrand with a different mascot. So what do they do? A silent movie. One that shows the mascot run over by a train. And then announces a search for a replacement voice actor. They might as well have ended with a giant raised middle finger, followed by a sign reading, “What? Too soon?” ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/86 "2011-03-28T15:02:29Z")
> [@SuperNelson](#): > > I thought it was brilliant. Everyone knows AFLAC’s fired the actor who voices their corporate mascot, but has no plans to rebrand with a different mascot. So what do they do? A silent movie. One that shows the mascot run over by a train. And then announces a search for a replacement voice actor. They might as well have ended with a giant raised middle finger, followed by a sign reading, “What? Too soon?” Too subtle. They should have had the duck washed away by a tsunami. THEN they could have used a “Too soon?” sign. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/87 "2011-03-28T15:11:32Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Aww…Gilbert will get over this. It’ll be like water off a duck’s back. Yeah, he has that glow around him. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/88 "2013-09-06T01:57:36Z")
I’m bumping this old thread because I went to see Gilbert Gottfried tonight. He walks out and without any introduction starts talking in an amazed voice about how the Japanese took time out from fleeing a tsunami to check the internet for tweets from Gilbert Gottfried. And then had to spend time translating the tweets into Japanese. For the rest of his act he veers off into surreal offensiveness that is so far over-the-top offensive that it becomes a satire on the concept of offense. People are howling. The most offensive joke is also the funniest. And suddenly he mentions that he lives in New York and was there at the time of Hurricane Sandy. The city is going dark around him. He knows people whose houses are being destroyed. Then he gets a phone call from the Prime Minister of Japan. “Not so funny now, is it?” A brilliant original. He made me laugh out loud more than any other comedian in many years. He’s that good. If you haven’t seen him, he does shows every weekend. Find someplace near you and go. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/89 "2013-09-06T18:25:29Z")
So is that his attempt at apologizing? Because my entire problem with the guy has been that he refused to apologize. He didn’t have to apologize for the joke itself, just state that he didn’t mean to offend. By refusing to do so, you are telling the people involved that they understood your intent perfectly. I do not buy the bullshit about comedians not needing to apologize–I think its their humanity that lets us know they are truly just kidding. And I don’t see how being over-the-top offensive is funny. You need something more than that. Anyone can just come up with the most offensive things to say. The question is, is he anything like Carlin or Pryor or even Chappelle? Is there an underlying joke or meaning to what he is saying? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/90 "2013-09-06T18:37:41Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I’m bumping this old thread because I went to see Gilbert Gottfried tonight. > > He walks out and without any introduction starts talking in an amazed voice about how the Japanese took time out from fleeing a tsunami to check the internet for tweets from Gilbert Gottfried. And then had to spend time translating the tweets into Japanese. > > For the rest of his act he veers off into surreal offensiveness that is so far over-the-top offensive that it becomes a satire on the concept of offense. People are howling. The most offensive joke is also the funniest. And suddenly he mentions that he lives in New York and was there at the time of Hurricane Sandy. The city is going dark around him. He knows people whose houses are being destroyed. Then he gets a phone call from the Prime Minister of Japan. “Not so funny now, is it?” > > A brilliant original. He made me laugh out loud more than any other comedian in many years. He’s that good. If you haven’t seen him, he does shows every weekend. Find someplace near you and go. Wow, that’s a ringing endorsement. As a lover of stand-up, I’m going to take your advice. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/91 "2013-09-06T18:37:45Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I don’t see how being over-the-top offensive is funny. Then don’t watch/listen. The Aristocrats!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/92 "2013-09-06T18:45:26Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > So is that his attempt at apologizing? No. In no way does it even resemble something that could be construed as an apology by anyone, no matter how drunk or confused. It looks like he’s making a joke about the pointlessness of being offended by his jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/93 "2013-09-06T18:47:30Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > So is that his attempt at apologizing? Because my entire problem with the guy has been that he refused to apologize. He didn’t have to apologize for the joke itself, just state that he didn’t mean to offend. By refusing to do so, you are telling the people involved that they understood your intent perfectly. I do not buy the bullshit about comedians not needing to apologize–I think its their humanity that lets us know they are truly just kidding. :rolleyes: [Gilbert Gottfried Apologizes for Offensive Japan Tweets](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gilbert-gottfried-apologizes-offensive-japan-167767) > [@](#): > > And I don’t see how being over-the-top offensive is funny. You need something more than that. Anyone can just come up with the most offensive things to say. The question is, is he anything like Carlin or Pryor or even Chappelle? Is there an underlying joke or meaning to what he is saying? Since I said so specifically, there probably is. Thanks for the careful reading. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/94 "2013-09-06T18:55:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > So is that his attempt at apologizing? Because my entire problem with the guy has been that he refused to apologize. He didn’t have to apologize for the joke itself, just state that he didn’t mean to offend. By refusing to do so, you are telling the people involved that they understood your intent perfectly. I do not buy the bullshit about comedians not needing to apologize–I think its their humanity that lets us know they are truly just kidding. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > :rolleyes: [Gilbert Gottfried Apologizes for Offensive Japan Tweets](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gilbert-gottfried-apologizes-offensive-japan-167767) > [@](#): > > A day after he was fired Refused? He apologized immediately. Way to get it wrong, **BigT**. And yeah, GG is freaking hilarious live. Did he do the dinner-plates-as-mouse-ears bit? I love that one. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/95 "2013-09-06T19:03:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No. In no way does it even resemble something that could be construed as an apology by anyone, no matter how drunk or confused. It looks like he’s making a joke about the pointlessness of being offended by his jokes. Actually- that’s not totally true. It’s about the pointlessness of being offended but it does sound like a surreal joke at his own expense, too. But not an apology. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/96 "2013-09-06T19:07:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > So is that his attempt at apologizing? Because my entire problem with the guy has been that he refused to apologize. He didn’t have to apologize for the joke itself, just state that he didn’t mean to offend. By refusing to do so, you are telling the people involved that they understood your intent perfectly. I do not buy the bullshit about comedians not needing to apologize–I think its their humanity that lets us know they are truly just kidding. This is so wrong that it’s difficult to know where to begin. I have rarely seen such a misread on anything in my life. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/97 "2013-09-06T19:07:40Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And I don’t see how being over-the-top offensive is funny. NewsFlash: Different people have different senses of humor. I would love to see him live someday. He’s hilarious, and usually the funniest one, in the Comedy Central Roasts. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/98 "2013-09-06T22:37:54Z")
I’m surprised that Aflack used him in the first place. Same with Disney and the parrot in Aladdin. Even on television his act has to be mostly bleeped out. He is stunningly offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/99 "2013-09-06T23:04:12Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > I’m surprised that Aflack used him in the first place. Same with Disney and the parrot in Aladdin. Even on television his act has to be mostly bleeped out. He is stunningly offensive. His reputation was a part of his value to AFLAC. A certain percentage of potential customers WOULD have been aware that Gottfried has long had a reputation as being an unconstrained-by-convention, un-corporate kind of guy. This lends a certain aura of “authenticity”—a nebulous, yet highly prized, quality that all advertisers aspire to. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731/100 "2013-09-07T01:16:51Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > His reputation was a part of his value to AFLAC. :dubious: > [@Sherrerd](#): > > A certain percentage of potential customers WOULD have been aware that Gottfried has long had a reputation as being an unconstrained-by-convention, un-corporate kind of guy. This lends a certain aura of “authenticity”—a nebulous, yet highly prized, quality that all advertisers aspire to. :rolleyes: That certain percentage being more than zero but less than 0.00000000001% of the population of the planet. Still, I find your ideas almost as intriguing as a certain percentage of potential customers and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-out-as-aflac-duck-due-to-japan-related-tweets/574731.md?page=6)