The Supreme Court on Monday struck down Texas House Bill 2, giving a big victory to pro-choice advocates. Not surprisingly, those who believe in a women’s right to choose and a women’s right not to have to travel hundreds of miles for an abortion were in a celebratory mood.
But the Daily Show, in an attempt to mix comedy with its customarily center-left slant, might have gone too far.
Celebrate the #SCOTUS ruling! Go knock someone up in Texas!
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 27, 2016
The tweet was sent out in the middle of the afternoon, hours after the Supreme Court released its 5-3 decision, and much of the internet exploded in protest of the Daily Show.
From someone who was a guest on your show (and treated fairly): This was in exceptionally poor taste.
— Nick Vlahos (@VlahosNick) June 27, 2016
When SCOTUS overturned the DC concealed-carry ban, did you tweet “Celebrate! Go shoot someone in Washington!”?
— Nick Vlahos (@VlahosNick) June 27, 2016
.@TheDailyShow This tweet is so vile.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 27, 2016
I’m all for offending someone for the sake of real humor. This? It’s like the O’Douls of bad taste.
— David Simon (@AoDespair) June 27, 2016
@TheDailyShow pic.twitter.com/F4TStE2Oh6
— Mark Gongloff (@markgongloff) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/keithlaw/status/747520443423195137
On and on it went. Even pro-choice liberals decried the tweet—probably because it was in poor taste, which perhaps would have been mitigated slightly if it was actually humorous—and less than 90 minutes later, the Daily Show issued another tweet.
Friends, we’re certainly not promoting abortions. Just excited about #SCOTUS reaffirming right to choose.
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) June 27, 2016
But unsurprisingly, not everybody was convinced the Daily Show truly meant it.
