Two writers who say they are of Asian descent published a post at Deadspin, which is owned by Gawker Media. They joined the list of Stephen Colbert defenders, and published the following controversial headline:
Gooks don't get Redskins joke. http://t.co/3bIB5DTEMa
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) March 28, 2014
There was naturally a lot of immediate reaction.
This, on no planet, is OK. pic.twitter.com/iaFu4Y3eKm
— Tina Vasquez (@TheTinaVasquez) March 28, 2014
You can make an argument, not a legit one but an argument that Colbert engaged in satire. You can't make that argument about that Deadspin.
— Amadi says Test, Trace, Isolate, Then Reopen (@amaditalks) March 28, 2014
Deadspin just intentionally pushed out a story with two slurs in the title for no purpose but hype and page views. That's plain racism.
— Amadi says Test, Trace, Isolate, Then Reopen (@amaditalks) March 28, 2014
Deadspin pretty much flat out called @suey_park a slur. They didn't use it in regards to a group, they DIRECTED IT AT AN ACTUAL PERSON.
— head receptionist at antifa (@v_m_phil) March 28, 2014
https://twitter.com/jteeDC/status/449652433913143296
However, there were plenty of comments saying the headline is fine because the authors are of Asian descent:
https://twitter.com/mattomic/status/449657850696957952
https://twitter.com/MollieBly/status/449664191423467520
https://twitter.com/TylerCzerniak/status/449655846054531074
https://twitter.com/TylerCzerniak/status/449650444776648704
Deadspin article w racist headline was written by Asian-Americans, making point about importance of context, and of not reacting without it.
— Michael Scott (@DorkmanScott) March 28, 2014
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Not everybody thought the ethnicity of the authors provided an excuse for using such a slur to defend Colbert’s “satire”:
If your trump card is that the guys who run Deadspin are Asian, you need a better trump card.
— head receptionist at antifa (@v_m_phil) March 28, 2014
So..I guess the co-author is half-Asian…so…that was like the 'it's ok guise' of the Deadspin headline?
— Danie The Degenerate (@daniecal) March 28, 2014
Yup. Amazing. RT @daniecal: So..I guess the co-author is half-Asian…so…that was like the 'it's ok guise' of the Deadspin headline?
— Defund The Police (@ElitatheLibra) March 28, 2014
https://twitter.com/tan_asian/status/449657724612001792
https://twitter.com/azninthesun/status/449659663261630464
What about the Asians who might have been offended regardless of the ethnic background of the authors? That group of people, and many others, are simply being accused of failing to understand Colbert’s “satire.”