The popular comic strip “Dilbert” has been dropped by newspapers across the country after its author, Scott Adams, made controversial remarks about Black Americans. Adams had suggested that Black Americans were “genetically predisposed” to be less intelligent than other races.
The comments sparked outrage among readers and prompted newspapers to drop the comic strip. The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and The New York Times were among the publications that removed the strip from their pages.
In response to the controversy, tech billionaire Elon Musk accused the media of racism. Musk tweeted that the media was “trying to cancel Dilbert for expressing an opinion that they don’t like, while giving a pass to people who express opinions they do like.”
Musk’s comments have been met with both support and criticism. Some have argued that the media is indeed biased against certain opinions, while others have argued that Adams’ comments were offensive and should not be tolerated.
The controversy has also raised questions about the role of the media in society. Should the media be a platform for free speech, even if it means allowing offensive opinions to be expressed? Or should the media be more selective in what it allows to be published?
The debate is likely to continue as the media grapples with how to handle controversial opinions. In the meantime, Adams has apologized for his comments and has said that he will no longer make such remarks.
Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it is clear that the media has a responsibility to ensure that offensive opinions are not given a platform. The decision to drop “Dilbert” from newspapers across the country is a reminder of this responsibility.