On Friday, three storm chasers were killed while pursuing a tornado in Oklahoma. As Twitchy reported, one member of the chase team detailed the ominous storm in a haunting final tweet.
Whenever there’s a tragedy involving a loss of life, we can always count on somebody to “go there.” Today that person was comedian Ralphie May, who is big in physical size but small in the area of sensitivity:
Stars of the Weather Channel's 'Storm Chasers' were killed in a tornado in Oklahoma. Sometimes God just cleans the gene pool up.
— Ralphie May (@Ralphie_May) June 2, 2013
Reaction to May’s tweet, some of it from people who otherwise describe themselves as fans of his comedy, was mostly critical:
@Ralphie_May you're a good dude but those who died chasing storms were doing great work for science. Father/son team that died + researcher
— Edward Shook (@ed_shook) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May Not the best joke. Also, I thought they were pretty cool. F the were hiding under you they would still be alive. #KubaHidin'
— Tim (@Tim_Swiney) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May Unblock me and take it like a man, Ralphie. Don't be a bitch.
— Tim (@Tim_Swiney) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May they put their lives at risk to learn more about tornados so that folks like you and me could live. They weren't there for fun
— Edward Shook (@ed_shook) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May you growing up in Arkansas I thought you might respect what these guy were trying to do…guess not
— Edward Shook (@ed_shook) June 2, 2013
@JamAmbs @ByronFever @Ralphie_May jokes are jokes, but these guys were our friends and colleagues.
— Mike Scantlin (@StormChaseTV) June 2, 2013
True. No tornado can pick Ralphie off the ground. @strmchaser31 @Ralphie_May All 3 of those men accomplished more than you ever will.
— Jasper Mallis (@JasperMallis) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May jokes are fine just not at the expense and death of others. especially when those others are good people with families.
— Scott Slack (@SS_RKC) June 2, 2013
Insensitive asshole….. RT @Ralphie_May Stars of TWCs 'Storm Chasers' killed in a tornado in OK. Sometimes God just cleans the gene pool up
— Amy M. (@AmyMack74) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May Only if they forgot a snorkel while hiding under that country you call an ass. Do you own stock in KFC?
— Tim (@Tim_Swiney) June 2, 2013
Not that May didn’t have his defenders:
@Ralphie_May Fascinated by the responses. Chase a tornado and catch one..what did they think would happen then? Didn't think that far?
— Greg Scott (@GregScott04) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May Chasing a tornado is ridiculous. Does anyone ever feel bad for the guy who gets bitten after sticking his arm in a crocs mouth?
— Vance Smith (@VanceSmithJr) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May Why's everyone getting pissed, they didn't ALL personally know him…or the fact that driving INTO a tornado is retarded…
— theothervoices (@theothervoices) June 2, 2013
@Ralphie_May .It's just a joke guys, calm down…learn to respect the craft #wontseemyassdrivingtowardatornado #shakethehatersoffralphie
— Atheist Bruce Lee (@atheistbrucelee) June 2, 2013
@MastaMp3 @Ralphie_May I didn't say you had to respect him. Respect the craft of comedy. You throw jokes against the wall to see what sticks
— Atheist Bruce Lee (@atheistbrucelee) June 2, 2013
May threw it at Twitter, and it didn’t stick.
Update: The original version of this post misidentified the storm chasers as Weather Channel employees. Twitchy regrets the error.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member