Gilbert Gottfried Fired as Aflac Duck Voice Following Shocking Japan Tsunami Jokes on Twitter

By Dennis Romero Tue., Mar. 15 2011 at 2:07 PM

Gilbert Gottfried.

Updated after the jump: Gottfried apologizes.

In the Department of Too Soon we bring you comedian and longtime Hollywood actor Gilbert Gottfriend, never one to let taboos, ethnicity or tragedy get in the way of what he thinks is a good joke

He was a star of the dirtiest-joke-in-the-world documentary The Aristocrats, and even ardent fans at his stand-up sessions can sometimes be heard gasping.

The documentary shows him telling the dirtiest joke only weeks after Sept. 11, during a roast of Hugh Hefner.

So this wasn't a big surprise:

Gottfried tweeted several outrageous jokes about the Japanese tsunami over the weekend.

Among the one liners, since taken down:

-Japan is really advanced. They don't go to the beach. The beach comes to them.
-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.'

Another, about the dead, we can't even repeat here.

TMZ reported there were 12 in all.

And now Gottfried is out of a job as the voice of the Aflac Insurance duck.

Company senior V.P. Michael Zuna:

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. Aflac Japan - and, by extension, Japan itself - is part of the Aflac family, and there is no place for anything but compassion and concern during these difficult times.

Aflac noted it has pledged 100 million yen to the relief effort in Japan. And it said the search is on for a new duck voice.

We're sure Gottfried will get over it. Maybe he'll even relish it as another trophy from the over-the-line club. But man, this is the very definition of too soon.

Update: Gottfried apologized Tuesday via Twitter:

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.

First posted at 8:06 a.m.

Tags:

Aflac, earthquake, Gilbert Gottfried, Japan, Japan earthquake, tsunami

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Caterwauling Ostrogoth

The Pearl Harbor Payback era is now over. AFLAC does a lot of business in Japan and was right to fire Gottfried. It's all water under the biridge now.Or over the levees. Whatever.

It depends on who is making the jokes. We have a small cul-de-sac in Atlanta which has been home to a number of Holocaust survivors for many years. They had spent time in the same "work camp"--not quite a concentration camp but an awful place to be.I had taken a few of them to court for housing code violations on old rental properties. I mentioned that one of their friends had shown me the number tatooed on his arm.

He said,"Charlie's not too bright. That was probably his locker combination." It wouldn't have been funny from someone else. It's not funny at all when I repeat it. But I had to laugh and admire the strength of someone who could find humor in that much horror.

Of course,if he got drunk at a party and put a lamp shade on his head,it would be sick and disgusting and not funny at all. But if Michael Richards,Gilbert Gottfried or Glenn Beck need some new material, go right ahead. Shoah me the money.

Jjuan

Humor helps people to deal with tragedy if they are the ones suffering it. Not some famewhore comedian twitting comfortably at home. He can make any jokes he wants, just deal with people not "getting over it" as fast as you want.

Babbs0128

Humor to deal with tragedy is something a lot of people use to cope. I am sorry that some people don't understand. Ask people who deal with the dark side of life how they keep their sanity. A lot of them will say humor. So I say to any of you & AFLAC. Lighten up. In a couple of months there will be more tsunami jokes.

Matt

Humor to who? Americans or Japanese? After 9/11, no humor, light or otherwise could quence the heartache of this country's citizens. Holocast jokes are still inappropriate, no matter how long ago the tragedy occurred. Gottfried wouldn't like these either, every Jewish person I meet still hurt from the barbaric acts suffered by their kindred.

Djwalker

Gilbert Gottfried is funny and has been like that from the start. Get over it, he is out of a job, but is still famous. Aflac is just mad cuz of all the insurance money they have to pay.

yup.

"I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my attempt at humor regarding the tragedy in Japan." FAIL.how can you even try to attempt a humor at a tragedy?as an comedian.. he should work toward bringing smiles to people who are put down by tragedy. I just feel sorry for people like him. sympathy is all i feel for a such guy.

Runladyrun

Another heartless " " (even the worse words are not worth saying) . Timing - no, professionalism - no, out of a job - YES! I so wonder why? Did you attend UCLA too? Oops, did I step over the line with that first amendment comment?

Jimmy James

No mention of WHY Gottfried told his version of The Aristocrats to a shocked audience a few weeks after 9/11? He told a joke about an event that some people thought was too soon. Sloppy, sloppy work.