Gilbert Gottfried Fired As Aflac Duck After Japanese Tsunami Tweets

UPDATE: Gottfrield issued a statement of apology for his offensive tweets (via People):

"I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my attempt at humor regarding the tragedy in Japan. I meant no disrespect, and my thoughts are with the victims and their families."

PREVIOUSLY:
With some wildly inappropriate tweets, the quack has been silenced.

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried sent out a slate of offensive twitter missives about the tragic Japanese earthquake and tsunami, and instead of drawing laughs, it cost him his job. The longtime voice of the iconic Aflac Duck, Gottfried was fired by the insurance company on Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"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," the company, which does 75% of its business in Japan, said in a statement. "There is no place for anything but compassion and concern during these difficult times."

Gottfried's tweets certainly didn't show compassion. Buzzfeed compiled screen captures of the tweets, which were later deleted from the comedian's feed. Amongst the worst:

"I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, "They'll be another one floating by any minute now."

"I was talking to my Japanese real estate agent. I said 'is there a school in this area.' She said 'not now, but just wait.'"

There were many more, some of which were graphic in nature. Click over to Buzzfeed to read the rest.

Rapper 50 Cent also received heat for his tweets about the earthquake.

Comments

[printertocall]

10:42 PM on 04/17/2011

"new voice of aflac, Michael Murdter" that's what i hope i hear in a few days! MRM

[RE Mant]

09:54 PM on 04/05/2011

Gottfried's shtick is a little weird and these jokes seem anything but funny, still I didn't know he was the voice of the duck, or had forgotten. He did appear in at least one of the ads, now that I think about it. However, I think the Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Life Assurance Company just shot themselves in their politically correct syndactyl digits. A simple reprimand would likely have been sufficient. I always wondered who actually bought their insurance. Do those ads air in Japanese over there?

[Dakotadude]

09:21 AM on 03/20/2011

I just hope he still has insurance.

[Shutup Man]

04:23 AM on 03/19/2011

WOW! A comedian dared to make jokes about a bad situation?
What is this world coming to????

[Crushedknee]

04:42 PM on 03/17/2011

Gallows humor is reserved for those who are facing death first hand.

[Leto II]

04:09 PM on 03/17/2011

Maybe they'll hire that blonde UCLA student as their next spokesman.

[Jamal Alexander]

09:52 AM on 03/17/2011

I know that comedians cannot be expected to be politcally correct, but what Gottfried said what completely out of line.

[gypsynomad]

07:50 AM on 03/17/2011

This man is disgusting, good riddence. Now you tell me he is the voice of Aflac ? Ugh..

[butchcliff]

07:41 AM on 03/17/2011

Article says Aflac does 75% of its business in Japan. Would think Gottfrield would know that.
Appropriate dismissal. Apology too late.

[cliffhammond]

06:03 AM on 03/17/2011

When Gilbert did the "Aristocrats Joke" at Hugh Hefner's roast, to this day, for the punchline, I wish he had said, "The Fabulous Bush Family". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGVL_reIuJM

[triplettam]

03:56 AM on 03/17/2011

Offensive or not, why would anyone even think of making jokes about this tragedy? What gets into people? Sheesh! You know, I never realized Gilbert was the voice of "The Duck." I see it now. I always liked the Duck. But Gilbert is one of the most irritating comedians I've ever seen. His whole schtick was being irritating. The Duck will live. Gilbert won't be missed.

[firstrax]

01:06 AM on 03/17/2011

I"m not a fan of Gilbert, though i did like him in Beverly Hills Cops, but he's a comedian not a politician. He gets paid to make tasteless jokes. Lighten up people.

[earthboy]

11:16 PM on 03/16/2011

AFLAC. A smarmy insurance company. The last paragraph says it all.........

http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2011/03/jokes-that-didnt-get-gilbert-gottfried-fired-from-aflac

[jdrourke]

11:08 PM on 03/16/2011

Good for AFLAC! Can't say I blame them...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/to-those-who-think-the-idea-of-dead-asians-is-funny/

[toolward stern]

10:22 PM on 03/16/2011

I'm not a comedian, I'm a computer programmer. I thought I would challenge myself to rephrase his tweet using only 3 minutes thought.. My criteria was that it had to be "Godfreyesque" yet not at the expense of so many people. here is what I came up with:

I just dumped my girlfriend.. but as the Japanese say.. "If you're feeling overexposed it's time to get out".

[toolward stern]

10:25 PM on 03/16/2011

It wasn't that hard.

[cliffhammond]

06:20 AM on 03/17/2011

"I just got dumped by my girlfriend who ran off with a guy from Austria. But as the Germans say, 'It was a gas while it lasted.'"