I think Samantha Bee should be fired.

[NightWatcher]

First, she used a slur against someone a day after another person with a tv show used a slur against someone else...and was fired for doing so? What did she think would happen?

ABC fired Roseanne and I suspect TBS will have to fire Sam Bee. She couldn't have called Ivanka a name at a worse time. It was a stupid move.

Samantha Bee also gave ammunition to the right's favorite argument that "both sides do it".

When responding to the news, don't become the news. Now Samantha Bee is getting a shit ton of face time on fox news

Samantha Bee made several unforced errors and completely brought this on herself.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

(Puts on flamesuit) Flame away.

[DURHAM D]

1. .

I like Samantha Bee a lot, but she is flat wrong to call Ivanka a cunt.

Cunts are powerful, beautiful, nurturing and honest.

— Sally Field (@sally_field) May 31, 2018

[NightWatcher]

2. And Ivanka also lacks warmth and depth.

[Paladin]

3. So trump and his thugs get to say or do anything they please.....

....but we liberals have to play by some outdated good conduct rules?

Same shit, different day. Enjoy your sportsmanship ribbon.

[cynatnite]

4. I'm on the fence...

I've always liked Samantha Bee and she's been daring on her show. A lot of truth to power.

She doesn't have a history quite like Roseanne's, but the RW Fake Noise machine will make a lot of hay out of everything Bee has ever said publicly throughout her career.

I wouldn't be surprised if it happens, to be honest.

[shanny]

51. 4 powerful women.

One, using foul language, called the second out for her own actions/inaction; another called the fourth an animal and terrorist.

Not equivalent.

[VMA131Marine]

5. There's a big difference between calling a political figure a name

(because that's what Ivanka Trump is) and making an obvious racial slur (because that's what Roseanne did). They are not equal in implication, or in consequence. And if the White House is successful in getting Sam Bee fired it does have First Amendment implications that ABC firing Roseanne did not. Besides, have you watched Sam Bee's show? I don't see how this crosses a line she hasn't crossed before.

[billh58]

6. One is out and out racism and hatred

and the other is a vulgar slur. There is a difference.

[DURHAM D]

9. and the slur was about Ivanka's support of

separating children of immigrants from their families

[RandomAccess]

53. No, that wasn't the "slur" that was the criticism or

complaint.

The slur, a gender slur, was the C word.

[mythology]

34. I don't rank a difference between being a racist and being a sexist

[billh58]

87. Is saying Trump

is a dickhead make me a sexist?

[guillaumeb]

7. Bee was speaking to one particular person.

Barr was attacking based on color. Discrimination is illegal, vulgarity is not.

[mythology]

36. So was Barr

Unless you think Valerie Jarrett is multiple people. And Bee was attacking based on gender. She didn't call Donald that name.

I suspect if Donald Trump called a woman that you wouldn't take the same position.

[guillaumeb]

37. Barr was repeating an insult that the GOP directed at Obama for 8 years.

An insult that I have heard white people use about non-whites for many years.

So it is well established that calling certain people monkeys is a well used and well known racist term.

As to the word that Ms. Bee used, I would not use it.

[dameatball]

8. From a practical standpoint, why give an enemy that thrives on distraction a reason to distract?

[trixie2]

14. I agree with you

She taped the show and could have re-thought the term and edited it out.

In my book the word is the worst word one woman can call another. I have a neighbor that I was friendly with for 16 years and she called me that word. I have never spoken to her again, ever. To me she is a piece of garbage.

I like the Obama rule of stay high when they go low. With that being said, I am not sure she should be fired. It is a cable channel after all and not aired during prime time when kids could watch.

[Pathwalker]

29. I upended my dining room table full of food into my brother's lap

one night when he called me by that word. My husband and son's knew me well enough to quickly move away so they didn't get any food on them. My brother got an earful of my anger, and I asked him to move out of our home, where he'd been living for four months. Rent free. He was on the bus back to Arizona the next day. So, as you can see, I HATE that word. I also thought it tawdry that Ted Nugent got invited to the Oval Office to see Trump after repeatedly using it to describe Hillary throughout 2016. The right excels in double standards.

[trixie2]

48. Wow! I completely agree with you too

Your brother? Wow, just wow. How do you come back from that? I just can't imagine.

[Pathwalker]

57. We never saw each other again. He was as mysogynistic

as they come, and was angry that he couldn't turn my family against me. He also called them pu$$y-whipped for being loyal to me, so they were on my side in the matter. He died years later, mentally ill, and totally alone. I felt bad for him, but not enough to ever want to deal with him again.

[dameatball]

38. I agree she should not be fired. We need her. Was it wise...not so sure.

[Bleacher Creature]

10. Please don't lose sight of what got Samantha Bee so worked up.

Separating kids from their parents to make a point about immigration is as vile as it gets. I don't condone her choice of words, but I get it.

Roseanne was just playing the usual "pity me I'm a conservative" game. The two aren't comparable.

[RhodeIslandOne]

47. This

Despite being a white woman calling a black woman that, can someone explain to me what Valerie Jarret did in the last week that was so angering to lardass Blowsanne?

Ivanka’s a fucking troll and the “Whatdidshedowrong?” bullshit has been flowing here the last few days.

[Quixote1818]

52. Bingo! nt

[RandomAccess]

54. No one is criticizing that she called Ivanka out --

it was the gender slur she used. Wasn't necessary at all, didn't help but instead detracted.

[kcr]

86. The only ones detracting are the ones propping up Trump and Ivanka

by protecting their pure little feelings. They should be ignored along with Trump and Ivanka, but here we are.

[DURHAM D]

11. Samantha has only been a US citizen since 2014.

Perhaps Ivanka can get that rescinded. Would you like that?

[lunatica]

12. Using a disgusting racial slur is not a minor thing

For example, in spite of being of the same race and gender as Ivanka I know full well Samantha wasn’t including me in her insult.

On the other hand to say a black woman is the
product of a terrorist mating with an ape is an insult to all Blacks and all Muslims.

There is no real measure of equality.

I disagree with you and I’m not even flaming you. Just disagreeing

[NightWatcher]

16. Would you say that Bee acted wisely by making the comment?

I'm not arguing the merits of her argument, just her timing and choice of words. She has to expect that it'd get her fired.

[lunatica]

28. No she didn't act wisely and she apologized in the correct way

which is to admit she did something wrong, not that she was sorry if what she said offended someone.

To her credit Roseanne also apologized in the correct way, but Samantha doesn’t have a history of racial insults against Black and Jewish and Muslim people.

My question is should a male entertainer (or female for that matter) be fired for calling another man a prick? Almost everyone except the purists would say no. But if a white man said a Black man is the offspring of a terrorist and an ape, then the answer would be to fire him.

[manor321]

13. Weak kneed liberals

This is why we lose. Their president freely pardons criminals with abandon and weak-kneed liberals get all verklempt over a comedian.

We need fighters and not this weak shit.

[kcr]

79. I think assuming they're liberals is being generous

Sorry, but I'm tired of giving people the benefit of the doubt, and Trump defense is bad.

[RobinA]

83. Name Calling Is Not

being a fighter. It's kind of the opposite. As a weapon in a fight it's kind of a water pistol.

[unblock]

15. no, we don't have to sacrifice one of our own just because one of their self-destructed.

there was no point in roseanne's hatetweeting other than to spew hate. it was so devoid of merit that it was unacceptable even in today's environment when racists are more comfortable barely concealing their hate. it wasn't the mere use of the word, it was a message of pure hate.

samantha bee used a bad word, but she had a far more complex point to make, and was insulting ivanka not for mere femaleness, but for enabling a toxic male oaf and perpetuating patriarchy.


if we want to fire people for using a bad word, regardless of context, then let's just go back to the days of t.v. censors and let everyone know up front what the rules are.

as a matter of process, it's pretty stupid to let people make career-ending mistakes that could have easily been stopped up front by someone from standards and practices.


then again, maybe we shouldn't let any single word give us the vapors.

[NightWatcher]

19. My argument is that we have to be smarter and not play into their hands.

[unblock]

26. I completely reject the notion that we have to be some kind of perfect

And by the way, the c-word gets used or alluded to all over the place, especially for comedians. It's not at all the same as what Roseanne did.

[womanofthehills]

65. You say Samantha Bee should be fired when Trump is on tape saying "grab them by the pussy"

Are we just supposed to f**king roll over.

[kcr]

80. Making stupid false equivalencies is not being smarter.

It's quite the opposite.

[vercetti2021]

17. No

Fuck playing nice, she apologized. Good enough.

[MontanaMama]

61. +1

Even IF it was an error in judgment, and I’m not saying it was, we all make mistakes and her use of the word is in no way comparable to what RB tweeted on many occasions. We do not need to play into the hands of the “both sides do it” party.

[grantcart]

18. I agree

Her material and delivery is not well suited for broadcast.

She is better suited for HBO or Netflix.

If she stays her sponsors will become targets

[still_one]

31. You are absolutely right

[Pathwalker]

32. TBS is broadcast? I thought it was cable.

n/t

[DURHAM D]

43. You are correct.

TBS vs. ABC hummmh

[grantcart]

44. I also meant basic cable.

[bettyellen]

58. It's after hours on cable. Nugent gets invited to the WH after saying it, Maher is as bad

Lots of other comedians have said worse on cable.

[grantcart]

62. Maher is not on basic which is as ubiquitous as broadcast

As I said she belongs on HBO or netflix

[bettyellen]

63. She's a late night show w curse words, not a BFD.

[grantcart]

66. The women in my family would disagree, there are common 'curse' words

And words that are very vulgar, but to each to his/her own.

I find it to be a highly vulgar and misogynistic. She didn't use it for its comedic value but for its extreme vulgarity.

It shouldn't be normalized. In her outrage, which is understandable, she went too far. I am sure she agrees and I know her sponsors do.

She would be better placed placed on media without sponsors, where she will soon be heading.

[bettyellen]

67. I find it different when used by the in group, same as I do for racial stuff. Punching up isn't

Anything at all similar to punching down. Ivanka is an abomination.

[PJMcK]

20. No, she should not be fired

Let the free market decide her fate. If her intemperate remark offended enough people, it will be reflected in her ratings. If the ratings go down significantly, her show will be cancelled.

Of course, we're each encouraged to form our own opinions of Ms. Bee.

[Sherman A1]

21. I agree

I have no use whatsoever for Ivanka and her family, but Ms Bee needs to go and quickly.

[LiberalLovinLug]

22. I wasn't sure if you were just being sarcastic but I guess not

So I guess Colbert should have been fired for saying Trump's mouth is good at being Vladimir Putin's c*** holster.

The thing is, Bee's and Colbert's comments perhaps SHOULD have gotten them in trouble in normal times. But we have the POTUS saying things just as bad. Part of their shctick is to use language like that to highlight the state of deterioration of discourse starting at the top. It is to throw back into deplorables faces, Trump voters, and even I-don't-vote dumbasses, the hypocrisy of any outrage that is to come out of it by Trump supporters.

I love it. Every time there is an outrage about some librul comedian saying or doing something deemed indecent, it opens up yet another opportunity for Sarah Sucksalot and the other Trumpundits to feign shock and horror. And all that does is underscore how much this President has gotten away with in his own vile boorish garbage he has spewn. It reveals, at least for one second, the big orange elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. Especially those on the right. In this case, the right want to run away from their usual "both sides do it", but they can't. Its great.

[RobinA]

85. It's Not Great

"Part of their shctick is to use language like that to highlight the state of deterioration of discourse starting at the top. It is to throw back into deplorables faces, Trump voters, and even I-don't-vote dumbasses, the hypocrisy of any outrage that is to come out of it by Trump supporters."

Their using language like that just adds to the deterioration of discourse. AND deplorables hear it as validation, not it being thrown back in their faces. Completely counterproductive.

[LiberalLovinLug]

93. We'll disagree

If there was a record of turning the other cheek working in recent past, then I'd be on board. But those days are gone. Its not by our choice, but nonetheless they are gone.

Yes, using the same rude language does add to the deterioration of discourse. And I don't think that is the only type of discourse we should be using, in fact it should not be the primary kind of discourse. But....because it is they that have dragged it down to the sewer, starting from the person at the top, it can't get any worse. Not attacking back with the same arsenal is like handing them a gun while we clutch our knives. They in fact, and the people in their circles that they influence, actually respect the pushback more than the wimpy cheek turning. They are sometimes surprised because they are expecting the usual presentation of the other cheek.

I do not see deplorables as hearing it as a validation. For one, they don't need 'libtards' validation for anything. They have already dipped into that bucket of crap and call it "locker room talk". That's part of the strategy. Calling one of them a c*** only highlights how rude and obscene THEY are, especially their commander in chief when they try and criticize it without addressing the orange elephant. It puts an extra spotlight on their hypocrisy. Especially the Christian Right. Because we liberals have never claimed to be puritans, especially in regards to our comedians. But those that claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, one would think, would put themselves to a higher standard. So every time this happens it highlights more their hypocrisy than our "bad" behaviour.

[shanny]

23. Nope.

[Mike Nelson]

24. I think...

… her comment was vulgar - and not something I support saying. But, all I know of Samantha Bee is that people comment about her here. Never saw her show - unless it was a clip and I didn't know who she was. Rosanne, I know. She has a show on ABC and they would have had a big problem, had they kept her... it was the correct business decision. Now, Samantha Bee's job should depend on her employment. If she has a show like Bill Maher, she should keep her job and keep the vulgar language. If she has a show like Rosanne, the advertisers and audience might force her off the air.

[Liberalhammer]

25. I think you should just give up

Take the bait, become a right wing troll.

[ooky]

27. Then I think you will be disappointed.

Only my opinion, of course, but the two situations aren't the same. Bad choice of word, yes, but not a firing offense for a comic on a comedy show. Not in this age of television. If all Roseanne Barr had done was let that one word slip she would still be employed. The people calling for SB to be fired are calling for it more as a tit for tat for the Roseanne cancellation.

[LiberalLovinLug]

40. How much do you want to bet she'll not be unemployed long?

I can see Trump appointing her Entertainment Czar or some such title.

[superpatriotman]

30. No

100% wrong.

[hatrack]

33. Good Heavens! It's the Marquess of Queensbury!!!

Give an inch to these Trumpazoid splooge sponges and they'll take a fucking mile.

They don't want gentility or compromise or understanding. They want an excuse for tribal howling, preferably while pissing off "Libtards" - or pissing on them.

Oh, and in case you've forgotten, Princess Grifty Sof-Tone is a public figure, a senior WH aide, and if she can't take the heat, she can GTFO.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

50. Right on.

You go. If the shoe fits.

[samnsara]

35. I feel what Roseanne said was way worse

Racism carries deadly real life consequences

[RandomAccess]

56. SO DOES SEXISM / MISOGYNY

Good GOD. 3 women a day die at the hands of their mates. Domestic Violence is one of the leading causes of injury to women. Do you not think they get called cunt and bitch somewhere along the line? Those dehumanizing words give PERMISSION to men to treat them as less-than-human.

We're fighting month after month for reproductive rights. The Supreme Court validated our right to abortion in 1972 -- and we've had to fight to keep those rights ever since. we'[re still paid less than 80 cents on the dollar for the same work men do. On and on and fucking on.

Do you not think these dehumanizing words make it all the easier for the mostly MEN who make these decisions to decide against us for these life and death real life consequences?

[NanceGreggs]

39. Ain't buying.

Roseanne attacked Valerie Jarrette on the basis of race – and it’s not the first time she’s done so.

Samantha Bee called Ivanka a “cunt” based on her own behaviour.

I realize that many people find that word extremely offensive. Personally, I don’t. It’s a term I have used myself – infrequently, but I have done so – because it describes a certain type of female, in the same way calling a man a “prick” describes a certain type of male.

Regardless of what words are used, there is a vast difference between promoting the idea that AAs are monkeys or apes and calling out a specific individual’s own appalling actions and attitudes.

Bee did not let loose on all women, or all white women, or all rich women, or all Republican women, or all Jewish women, or all females who support Trump. She aimed her remarks solely at Ivanka Trump – and I personally have no problem with what she said, and how she said it.

I realize that mileage may vary for many here – and that’s fine. We all have our own opinions as to what constitutes “going too far”, “crossing a line”, and what particular words we find too offensive for common use.

But the fact remains that there is a world of difference between using words – offensive or otherwise – that target people based on race and targeting an individual whose own actions have earned her a descriptor that, albeit offensive to some, is nonetheless an accurate summation of her character.

[dalton99a]

49. +1

[still_one]

41. Was it inappropriate for Samantha Bee to use that word? During the 2016

election there were some trying to justify the use of that word against Hillary. The arguments they used were anything from it is widely accepted usage in the UK, it was an expression of frustration, to "comedians use it all the time"


The fact still remains that the "c" word is a sexist slur.


Some may argue that because a woman said it "makes it ok"


That is a similar argument some have used with the "n" word, rationalizing that it is "ok" if an African American uses that word

Is there a double standard, or are there times that the use of racist and sexist terms are justifiable?

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

42. Who cares?

Sam has LATE NIGHT comedy show. She's entitled to say what she wants.

[Exotica]

45. I could not disagree more

[Snackshack]

46. I do not think...

She should be fired. Maybe vacation for a few days but not fired. What she said was certainly wrong and the apology was necessary. No woman should ever be called that. I also I don’t think a comparison can/should be made between Samantha did and what Roseanne did. There is not a straight line connection there. What Roseanne said was blatantly racist and she has a long track record of such behavior (the pics of Roseanne in front of the oven dressed as she was...). I don’t view what Samantha said as racist, clearly it was poor judgment and an apology was necessary but firing her is not how it should be handled. Unfortunately as the OP mentioned this plays right into the hands of the right and they will push for firing and they might be successful, they have been pretty successful at doing this lately.

[Trust Buster]

55. Perfect analysis. The "C-word" should NEVER be accepted on television IMO.

[Ferrets are Cool]

59. I'm really, really happy that the decision isn't yours to make . nt

[akbacchus_BC]

60. No, she should not be fired. The problem with some democrats is always playing nice!

Samantha Bee is saying how it is. Please do not advocate for her to be fired. Typical shit with Dems and they forget who the enemy is, the frigging republicans!

[meadowlander]

64. I think you have to judge comments like this in context.

Sam Bee has spent 15 years on air establishing her feminist credentials and working her ass off to progress the status of women around the world. She has also busted down another glass ceiling - the first female late night comedy host.

I think calling Ivanka the c word showed very poor judgement but I'm willing to see it as an aberration in the context of her whole body of work, provided she sincerely apologises for it and acknowledges that it is not consistent with her values. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes.

Roseanne Barr has not spent the 38 years of her professional career establishing herself as an advocate for the rights of African Americans and Muslims. In fact, the contrary. She has shown a pattern of racist thoughts, language and beliefs. And it took her less than 24 hours to walk back the apology that ABC's PR team worked so hard on.

I don't, as a general rule, think that people with a good employment record should be fired only because of one dumbass thing they say (unless it is an extremely, earthshatteringly, irredeemably dumbass thing to say or coupled with an action that is likely to harm other people). People should be given an opportunity to acknowledge that what they said was wrong, that it is not how they want to behave and that they will do better in the future. It's only when a pattern of unacceptable behaviour emerges that people should stop being given additional chances.

[MFM008]

68. First of all she's not a racist

Barr's whole deal is about racism .
I don't think Bee's going anywhere.
Maggot should keep his ugly fat mouth shut.

[MrsCoffee]

69. Why? It's not like she said "wypipo".

Now that would outrage some folks here.

[Tavarious Jackson]

70. Trump has callled many women that nasty word and Ivanka stayed silent nt

[OnDoutside]

71. I was never a fan of hers, and this comes as no surprise. Well timed and not over used vulgarity

does have a place in some areas of comedy, but she set herself up badly with this. If she gets fired, not that I think she should (it's similar to Colbert's cock holster jibe at Trump), it will be because of where we are now...worse in times of Roseanne getting the boot, which encourages the Right to go after her.

[ProfessorGAC]

72. Don't Like Your Reasoning

The use of the word "feckless" was a qualifier, and i see a huge difference between a woman with known feminist credentials using that word regarding another "feckless" woman, who is a total fraud, and a white woman using a slur against a person of color.

The comparison doesn't exist.

And, the notion that because it will be on Faux and gives "ammunition" is silly. They don't need ammunition. If this didn't happen, they would just make something up. They do it all the time.

[Orsino]

73. What were the other unforced errors? n/t

[bigtree]

74. do recognize the difference between a racial slur and a general insult?

...one is responsible for financial and physical threats to certain members of the population. Historically used to oppress an entire class of people.

The other offends sensibilities.

[DrDan]

75. I'd fire her

If a comedian addressed Michelle Obama like that, their head would be called for here. The target shouldn't make a difference.

[samnsara]

76. i agree that the timing of what she did was stupid...

...but nothing she said even compares to the hate filled speech of Rosanne... what Rosanne did and said is what has led to many deaths throughout history. What Samantha did led to Ivankas feefees getting hurt

[Loki Liesmith]

77. I can't imagine caring what happens to her

[Nonhlanhla]

78. No

What she said was rude. And the word itself is a sexist slur, which means that a man using it against a woman would have been the equivalent of a white person using a racist term, like Roseanne did. But a woman using it is different, just like the n-word can be used by African Americans in certain contexts, but NEVER by whites.

Sam Bee's language was crude, and it borrowed from traditional sexist wordage, but within context she was not denigrating women as a group in the process. Roseanne's language was not only insulting to Valerie Jarret, but was also denigrating to black people as a group.

[MariaCSR]

81. That's interesting, because so does Trump.

Link to tweet

[betsuni]

82. Indeed!

It's very interesting. But expected.

[Tarc]

84. One was a crass and vulgar comment, the other was virulent racism

The two are not equal.

You can condemn both without falling into the alt-right talking points and whataboutism.

[brooklynite]

88. The two don't have to be equal...they just have to be unacceptable

[Tarc]

97. Shoplifting and murder are also unacceptable, yet we can have different levels of punishment

[Proud Liberal Dem]

89. I don't know if she should be fired or not

Attacking the first daughter would normally seem to be out-of-bounds but Ivanka is more or less a member of his (mis-)Administration, which is questionable in and of itself. I don't agree with the language she used but she did apologize and I suppose that TBS will have to decide what to do at this point. Trump injecting himself into the matter and demanding her firing has no doubt put TBS in a difficult spot because if they choose ultimately to fire her, their decision could look tainted and may appear as though they fired her due to political pressure from the WH, which would send an awful precedent for other situations where networks have shows where the President and/or members of his (mis-)Administration are attacked by their talent.

[MountCleaners]

90. Two good things about what she said

Regardless of what you think of her using the "c" word, two good things have come from it:

-It gives us the opportunity to point out the hypocrisy of the right regarding sexist slurs

-I don't have to read about Roseanne anymore

[Gidney N Cloyd]

91. Practically speaking, the show's not live. TBS surely has a Standards and Practices dept that...

...could have edited her. They didn't, so they're on the hook for this as much as Sam Bee. How would they justify firing her if they're arguably half responsible?

[Gothmog]

92. From MLK's daughter

Link to tweet

[Downtown Hound]

94. And it's that complete surrender mentality which is why the right keeps winning

They stand by Trump no matter what. We throw our own under the bus for minor infractions.

Good on you for helping the right silence one of our best voices.

[Iggo]

95. You want her fired for using that word? Fine. That's your opinion and I respect it.

You want her fired because Roseanne got fired? That's weak.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

96. Trashing this thread

Trump is a government official. What is it about the first amendment you don't understand?