Mark Meckler
So this happened:
ESPN pulled Asian announcer Robert Lee off the UVa home opener to avoid offending viewers: https://t.co/2Oz22i4Vpx
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 22, 2017
ESPN later made an official statement about removing Lee. “We collectively made the decision with Robert to switch games as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name. In that moment it felt right to all parties,” they wrote. “It’s a shame that this is even a topic of conversation and we regret that who calls play by play for a football game has become an issue.”
No, this wasn’t some sort of parody in The Onion, this was legitimate — and I think it’s freaking hilarious.
Just imagine the conversation.
“Uh…Robert… you’re a great guy and all, but people are going to think you commanded the Confederate Army.”
“But it’s 2017.”
“Yes, and people get offended these days.”
“But the Civil War was in 1861.”
“Right and we don’t want people to think we endorse slavery. So you, a young Asian man, might be seen as a symbol of support for slavery. I’m sure you understand, right?”
“Not really.”
“I mean…we’re not discriminating against you because you’re named Lee or anything. It’s just that, your name… Well, we hate to say it, but it’s inherently racist. You might want to consider changing it to something like Washington. Oh wait… That’s definitely not right. How about White? Wait…That won’t work either. How about Smith? Wait…people might think we support Adam Smith…the capitalist. That won’t work. How about you change your name to Mr. X? Then people will think of Malcolm X…and they’ll know we’re woke.”
I just can’t believe it. So a network is basically saying, “Instead of seeming racist, let’s actually be racists…then no one will think we’re racist.”
This is what extreme political correctness does to people, to networks, to organizations, to countries. Because there’s no end to the insanity, it just keeps getting loonier and loonier.
Twitter, of course, had a field day with this. Here are some of the best:
Deliberately discriminating against a qualified Asian-American to placate SJW mobs. What does ESPN think it is, a college admissions office?
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) August 23, 2017
ESPN announcer Robert Lee leaving Bristol, CT after his meeting with ESPN executives this morning. pic.twitter.com/omACL3TlrR
— rob (@robbiebliny) August 23, 2017
Everyone thinks ESPN made a dumb move like this is an isolated event and not the direction we’ve been headed in for years.
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) August 23, 2017
ESPN didn’t err on the side of caution! @espn erred on the side of racism.
ALL RACISM IS WRONG!
Including the racism of the left#RobertLee pic.twitter.com/YkZOk1JqFj— Doug Sides (@DougSides) August 23, 2017
BREAKING NEWS!! ESPN announces UVA game will be announced by Ulysses S. Grant not #RobertLee. pic.twitter.com/GEtR7IhxcN
— TRUMP Plumbers Unit (@thefoolsholiday) August 23, 2017
Image Credit: Algorhythm Labs on Flickr
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