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'Dilbert' CANCELLED! Scott Adam's shocking comments prompt newspapers to bin comic strip

The creator called Black people a 'hate group' and advised white people to 'get the f**k away'

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA: Scott Adams’ long-running ‘Dilbert’ comic strip has been canceled by multiple newspapers after a recent racist rant. The 65-year-old creator called Black people a “hate group” and advised white people to “get the f**k away” from them in a YouTube video. The comments were widely criticized by netizens with many newspapers announcing that they would immediately stop publishing the cartoon following the racist remarks.

On his YouTube channel 'Real Coffee with Scott Adams' on Wednesday, February 22, Adams, who first published 'Dilbert' in 1989, pointed out a survey that stated half of Black people do not agree with “it’s okay to be white.” To which, he said, "Based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people. Just get the f**k away. Wherever you have to go, just get away. Because there’s no fixing this. This can’t be fixed. So I don’t think it makes any sense as a white citizen of America to try to help Black citizens anymore. It doesn’t make sense. There’s no longer a rational impulse. So I’m going to back off on being helpful to Black America because it doesn’t seem like it pays off,” quotes Variety.

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Earlier in the day, Adams appeared to ask a similar question on Twitter, “Is it racist to avoid racists who are the same race as each other? Or is it only racist if the racists you are avoiding are white?” he tweeted. Twitter CEO Elon Musk responded to Adams, writing “simultaneously, an interesting question and a tongue twister!”

One of many pointed out, "Scott Adams going full racist. Wonder how many newspapers will be running Dilbert comics on Sunday?" Another wrote, "This is how it’s supposed to work: you cross the line into open racism and hate speech, and you get bounced from polite society. Letting these poisonous resentments coexist peacefully among us legitimates them, and ultimately spreads them. More of this."

Dilbert canceled by multiple newspapers

Following Adams' statements, Gannett Co, the largest newspaper publisher in US, said in a statement on Saturday, February 25, "Recent discriminatory comments by the creator, Scott Adams, have influenced our decision to discontinue publishing his comic. While we respect and encourage free speech, his views do not align with our editorial or business values as an organization. At Gannett, we lead with inclusion and strive to maintain a respectful and equitable environment for the diverse communities we serve nationwide,” as per New York Post. It said USA Today Network will stop publishing 'Dilbert' immediately. The USA Today Network includes USA Today and local media outlets in 43 states, reports Variety. The move was applauded by many as one wrote, "BOOM! This action by the @USATODAY Network means that racist Scott Adam’s “Dilbert” comic strip will no longer appear in more than 200 newspapers across the country."

'Staggering string of statements'

Cleveland Plain Dealer editor Chris Quinn, in a letter to readers, described Adams’ comments as “mostly hateful and racist” and said that it was “not a difficult decision” to drop the cartoon. He said, “It’s a staggering string of statements, all but certain to result in the loss of his livelihood. I hate to quote him at all, but I do so to dissuade responses that this is a ‘cancel culture’ decision." And added, "No, this is a decision based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve. We are not a home for those who espouse racism. We certainly do not want to provide them with financial support.”

The Los Angeles Times said that Dilbert will be discontinued in most editions and that its final run in the Sunday comics, which are printed in advance, will be March 12, states The Porterville Recorder. While the San Antonio Express-News said that it will drop the Dilbert comic strip from Monday, February 27, “because of hateful and discriminatory public comments by its creator.” 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.