The status quo goes: comedian says a joke that upsets one guy in Idaho, comedian is forced to apologize for the joke that upset one guy in Idaho, even if said comedian doesn’t mean it. It’s a tragic, boring cycle, so it’s refreshing to see that Natasha Leggero is refusing to take back what she said on New Year’s Eve.
To recap: the Burning Love star co-hosted New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly on NBC. For some reason, the conversation turned to SpaghettiO’s Pearl Harbor tweet, and Leggero said, “It sucks that the only survivors of Pearl Harbor are being mocked by the only food they can still chew,” which is a pretty good line. Needless to say, this joke upset one guy in Idaho, and thousands of others, many of whom have shared their opinion of Leggero on Twitter. Let’s just say the C-word has been brought up once or twice, and it ain’t comedian.
Here’s when most people would issue their half-assed apology. Instead, Leggero published this:
I wish I could apologize, but do you really want another insincere apology that you know is just an attempt at damage control and not a real admission of guilt? Let me just try instead to be honest.
I’m not sorry. I don’t think the amazing courage of American veterans and specifically those who survived Pearl Harbor is in any way diminished by a comedian making a joke about dentures on television. Do we really believe that the people who fought and defended our freedom against Nazis and the Axis powers will find a joke about Spaghetti O’s too much to bear? Sorry, I have more respect for Veterans than to think their honor can be impugned by a glamorous, charming comedian in a fur hat.
That’s not to say I don’t think comedians are a problem in this country, they are a financial drain on the people who date them and talk far too much about themselves. I’m thrilled to see how passionate (death threats against a five foot tall woman are always the height of passion!) people are about our country and our Veterans. I am too. My own father lost his hearing in the Vietnam War so the issue is pretty close to me too. So rather than apologize, let me offer another perspective.
On the one hand you have me, making a joke about how old people can’t chew tough foods very well.
On the other hand you have Veterans who receive inadequate care upon their return from active duty, rampant sexual assault against female soldiers, staggering rates of suicide, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, substance abuse and depression among soldiers and political gridlock that prevents these problems from getting solved quickly.
Where do you think your outrage and action would be better served, calling me a cunt or doing something about the above problems?
For those of you that are currently doing both: Kudos!
To our vets: I love you. I truly hope you know that.
To Spaghetti O’s: Let’s do lunch.
To the Elderly: Chew!
To @nealrscott: It’s spelled Human Excrement not Increatment.
To those looking for an active way to address the above problems, do what I’ve decided to do instead of apologize: Make a donation to the Disabled American Veterans foundation.
Ever Yours,
Natasha Leggero
Meawhile, Guy in Idaho went back to the YouTube comments section, to find someone else to be offended by.
(Pics via Getty Image, via Natasha Leggero)
