On Thursday, Al Sharpton and hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the New York Post headquarters to protest Wednesday’s cartoon that outraged many people.
On Thursday evening, the NY Post issued a half-apology for the cartoon.
Although editor Col Allan defended the cartoon, calling it “a clear parody of a current news event” in a statement Wednesday and claiming Al Sharpton was “nothing more than a publicity opportunist”, Thursday’s apology maintains his response to other critics: “To them, no apology is due.” Read the entire apology below:
Wednesday’s Page Six cartoon – caricaturing Monday’s police shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut – has created considerable controversy.
It shows two police officers standing over the chimp’s body: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill,” one officer says.
It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill.
Period.
But it has been taken as something else – as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism.
This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we apologize.
However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past – and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback.
To them, no apology is due.
Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon – even as the opportunists seek to make it something else.
JOHN LEGENDS OPEN LETTER TO THE NY POST
John Legend is one of many outraged by Wednesday’s NY Post cartoon.
So he wrote a letter calling for an apology “acknowledging that this cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed.”
In his letter, John explains:
“I’m well aware of our country’s history of racism and violence, but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don’t need the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new administration and put black folks in our place.
Please feel free to criticize and honestly evaluate our new President, but do so without the incendiary images and rhetoric.”
Be sure to read John’s letter in its entirety.
You know what? I’m tired of people talking out the sides of their necks being rude, disrespectful and downright racist. Then come with a half-azz apology and think everything is cool. There is no way he thought this wouldn’t go over as being racist. He should be suspended without pay, and do a formal public apology. And save all those explanations and excuses for his damn mama. I’m tired.
I don’t know how to feel exactly about the post in a direct manner, I don’t think that its intentions was bad… They could have used a bit more wisdom though using the chimp, knowing its historical reference with blacks. I appreciate Al and Legend keeping them honest! But how long, black people can we pull stuff like this at everything. The NAACP and the “Racist Food Section”, now this…. ????
Wow…I am glad they decided to apologize..but honestly its a little too late for that. Esp. considering the fact that he stood by it on Wed. I guess it took hudreds of ppl protesting to make this fool think otherwise. I can not honestly say I am suprised though becasue the Post and Fox News have been making racially charged comments since Our President started his political career.
Hooray for Al Sharpton!!!!!!!!!!! The only brother with a backbone is standing up ONCE AGAIN while everybody else complains and try to search their souls to excuse blatant racism. It should not be tolerated.
Let’s see if everybody rush into this post the way they do celebrity posts. Doubt it!
Learn your black history. Boycott = results!!!!!!!!!! Hit ‘em deep in the pockets. That always sets a bigot straight!!!!
People stand up. Be about it!!! Be about it!!!! Or sit down and shut up!
their explanation for teh cartoon..”It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill.”….and that bill was written by a monkey.that they are shooting….is that it….come the F on
Good for you John, you make a lot of sense, coz as a black president he’s under a lot of scrutiny -which is democraticly OK -and has to prove a lot to white folks,but for them to use stupid insentitive gimmicks to mock and perhaps undermine anything he does is just low..
in South Africa luckly the media didnt do that to Mandela when he became the first black pres..he was embraced and encouraged by all colours…I hope NYPost will realise that change is here and they best deal with it CONSTRUCTIVELY.
i hope everyone writes the ny post to let them know they will not get away with this. i have already sent in my email and will continue to send more. this is just outragous. they have some nerve givin that wack azz kind of apology. are you serious ny post. it’s so sad that so much racism still exits for no reason. especially when we are tyring to move forward. we have a new black president and it should all go up hill from that. but the racism just continues. when will it stop i’m so tired of it..it so sad.
damn it’s sad to see that people are still ignorant…. why can’t they us be on top for once in hundreds of year…when they gonna let us shine. plus obama is doing better than any president has in his 2 months than others did in their year of being president. he’s doing the best he can and they say we are monkey but they got it twisted we are like lions getting ready to roar like al shapton said
People are still racist and it is not going to change. Barack or not I doubt this will be the last time something like this will occur.
This is beautiful, i knew that this is what having a man of African heritage in the White House would do.
A critical mass of Blacks are not going to tolerate any nonsense not even a whiff of it, not only in America but globally!
How many times have there been public apologies when something remotely anti-semitic is cast out in the public domain? The media is used to publishing what it likes regarding blacks, now they will watch where they sail.
When you see yourself reflected in what is the magnificence of the First Family, you stand that bit taller and know anything less than correct will not do.
Love to all, from an African in London
That apology was so heartfelt–NOT! This “apology” was just a way to get the public off of their backs. They said sorry in one breath and then went on to say that it was just a cartoon. After they first defended the cartoon there was no way this apology could mean anything anyway. They had already shown their true colors.
Apology my ass…..
I hate Fox news!!!!!!
BS!!!!!!!!..However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past – and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback….
their insincere apology will make everybody feel good for about a week and then the Post will go right back to what they have been doing for years,which is declare open season on blacks and continue their ongoing character assassination of black people. If they really stopped attacking blacks,they would go bankrupt,because the Post was created by a Republican Conservative to attack blacks and anybody who is not a Republican conservative.They are like a crack addict who apologizes and says that their not going to steal from you anymore,and you buy it and let them back in your house to steal again.They are addicted to racism like crack.
To me they aren’t sorry, or they would of never thought it, wriiten it, drawed it and published it. They are just saying sorry now because they dont want to loose sales of the paper & be out of a job–just like the idiot with the cookies at the bakery. This just goes to show you that racism is still alive & very well–even with a Black President.
It’s sad because if you go down people’s family tree’s, you will see we’re all mixed up. Unless your parents were born in Africa, and their parents and so forth, then your not 100% Black. Just as with whites, if your parents were born in Germany for instance and their parents and so forth, then they are 100%. But if your here in America, most likely you are a little bit of this and alot of that.
Master was in the slave quarters every night having sex with the slaves. The slaves that were in the house were sexed too and then born all the bi-racial babies. Then some of those babies may have slept with whites when they got grown and so forth, so those white people who conjured up that cartoon, may want to peep their family heritages and look in a damn mirror before they want to draw our Black president as a monkey.
I’m not feeling the Post. There is no excusing the author, the editors, or the publishers. That is RIDICULOUS. I understand freedom of speech and freedom of press, but that as John Legend said, is FILTHY. They get NO love from me.
—-Say what you want about Al Sharpton but he leads from the front. He is consistent
—-with his message and he is the boogeyman to white America. That is why in the
—-first statement realeased by the NY Post they intimated that the Reverend was
—-using this as a publicity stunt and called him a “opportunist,” hoping that
—-it would discredit the outrage.
–
I know that’s right JOHN!
untwistedbeats.blogspot.com
Col Allan the editor at The NY Post is a right-wing Jew and there is nothing scarier on earth than a right wing Jew. Col Allan and all the other right wing Jews always believed a Jew would become President first over an African man, and these kinds of Jews have not gotten over it. The world rejoiced when Obama won, but they would have been horrified, especially Europe, if a Jew had won. They are nothing but wolves in sheep clothing.
I thought the cartoon was funny and also blown out of content!! Black people said horrible things about George Bush all the time(me being one of them). Bottom line we need to practice what we preach. Don’t play a game where you have a good hand all the time and suddenly you loose!
I don`t think that anyone was saying that because Barack was elected President,that their is no more racism or that racism will disappear. But what Barack showed is that by being positive you can overcome the negative and not let the negative overcome you. Barack and Michelle showed that if black people stopped calling each other nappy-headed hos,and Bill Cosby stopped stereotyping all black women as having 6 kids by 6 different dads and if Hip-hop stopped calling young black males the N WORD and calling our black women out of their name;hoodrats,chickenheads,skeezers. The Obamas showed that if we as black people stopped being so negative to each other and allowing the negative to overcome us,their is nothing we can`t do,you can even become President.
If you feel that this cartoon dipicts racism and a violent act being suggested against the President, contact this number and file a complaint.
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: 1-877-382-4357
If you live in NY state contact your senators: Senator Kristen E. Gillibrand
Democrat-New York
531 DIRKSTEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON D.C. 20510
D C Phone: 202-224-4451
Schumer, Charles E (D-NY)
313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
Web Form:Schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm
@PMS and Dukesman2000-DOUBLE AMENS!! I cosign completely.
John Legend- Now that’s what Im talking about. Thank you so much for using your platform to raise consciousness and hold people accountable for these vile acts of blatant racism. You didn’t have to do it and I appreciate you.
I love John Legend. Many people may not know this but John was extremely active in his involvement w/ President Obama’s campaign. Pres. Obama personally thanked him for all of his support at the We are One concert.
I love Al Sharpton. The movement is alive and well people. We all must become active.
Thanks FYI for the numbers for the FTC.
the Post would have been off not saying anything….to make it seem like ppl are opportunist is just ridiculous…..I am not gonna let this half assed apology ruin my morning so I will exit from this post…..
There will always be racism.But the Obamas showed they can overcome the negative images thrown out there of blacks by being a positive image for us.They showed that if we stop calling each other nappy headed hos and if bill cosby stopped stereotyping all black women as having 6 kids by 6 different dads,and Hip-hop stopped hatefully calling black women hoodrat chickenhead skeezers and using the N word. The Obamas positively showed that if we stop being hatefully negative to each other we can overcome the negative images of us put out there by Don Imus,The Post,tec.etc., we can overcome and do anything,even become President.
I AGREE with John ONE MILLION PERCENT!
I’m glad we are all working together on this. The NY Post should know that people are tired of the ingnorance!!!
that’s the sorriest apology i’ve ever seen. it’s basically “we’re sorry you’re so stupid, you took it the wrong way. and al shapton is still just an opportunist.”
why can’t they just admit they were wrong. this saddens me.
IT’S ABOUT TIME THAT THEY APOLOGIZE BUT THAT DOESN’T NEGATE THE FACT THAT IT WAS ALLOWED TO BE PRINTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BOYCOTT THE POST!!!!
Let’s be honest, no apology would have mattered because when someone is offended, they want to be offended. I’m still not convinced it was intended toward Obama, but only God knows. The funny thing is no one has realized that this guy is a cartoonist and like shock jocks they’re job is to piss some people off and make others laugh. That’s what he did and as far as the post, you have the freedom to read what you want so I say don’t waste your time on that rag and move on. They say this shit to encite you and get people talking about it and get free publicity….. so move on….
I know we have freedom of speech but honestly there needs to be something done about about an act so blatant. The use of a chmp and being shot is crazy. I would like a count by count from the artist/author of what this picure means. If the chimp is president Obama. Obama himself needs to come and knock on the Post’s door and make an example. This is an Outrage!
This is such a sad event and occurrence in life. Racism is unfortunately still a very toxic and profound issue in today’s society. The NY post new exactly what it was doing when they ran this story. Everything that is happening now as a result is what they want. This personally is not new to me. I am a young black male that has grown up in an upper middle class setting my entire life. Some say that I have been given a golden pass because of my parents affiliates and so fourth. However, as I have become older I have been able to shake of my naive state of reality. I lived in neighborhoods where there was only one other black family and attended predominantly white private and public schools. I was always the candidate to tell other friends that I have grown close to that didn’t have the privileges or lived in the neighborhoods that I did. That everything is not always an act of racism. As time is changing you still see the occasional snare from an older “ageist” as to why are you here? Or shopping at this store? Or driving that car? The answer is simply because I can!!!!!! To those of us who were upset or hurt by the post should simply just chuckle. You know why the post things like this.. Because they are unable to accept the sign of the times. The direction the country is growing in and they are no longer the superior. This is a sign of being a coward. Black Americans have degrees, own business, live in fabulous homes and own more than one!!! And now we have a president. Things like the post are used to pick up the poop my dog leaves behind in the yard. If I spill coffee in my car and don’t have napkins to clean off the wood grain. It’s filth like J. Legend said. And just crass. Don’t let things like this Hinder you from going about your day.
Omg
If you are offended by this not only are you the racist, but you are not up on your poltics and need to get news from news outlets not ENTERAINMENT WED SITES.
First this bill was written by two white people. Nanci and her crony. So they could not have been talking about Obama. The only thing in this bill that has Obama on it is all that mone for ACORN. ( if you dont know that this is Obama baby you should take off our hope/change glasses)
@ Ms. Khan
do I detect a little racism against Jews. Are you a Hamas Supporter? It would help if you did a little reserach. One Rupert Murdoch owns the post, he endosed Obama after the primay and he despies Nanci P., and two Col Allan is as right-wing as Barney Frank. ( if you dont get that I just prove every point I’ve ever made on here)
i have so much more respect for john legend. THANK YOU FOR WRITING THAT! i was very offended by it and of course they knew what they really meant. if anyone hurts obama it’ssss onnnnnn!!!!!
and i stopped watching racist FOX NEWS after all the negative inuagaration coverage and jay-z/jeezy stories anyway. they racist as hell!! PERIOD.
@33 – Right On!
@34 – I am SO glad someone reminded these people of who REALLY came up with this bill. WHITE PEOPLE!
I guess people don’t want to get educated on something usless it has Beyoncé’s or Rihanna’s name on top of the post.
SMH at UPNs
Most of the time Al Sharpton is just a crazy old man…this is not one of these times and I don’t care what the relationship is between the post and Al the cartoon was racist and Al deserves and apology to hes acting like people weren’t offended before he said anything like we can’t think on our own that’s even more offensive!
The one thing that no one mentioned besides the fact that the cartoon was racist and disrespectful, but that it was insensitive to the woman in the hospital needing a face transplant due to the chimps attack. That was a very irresponsible cartoon for both parties. Just my 2 cents!
Thanks Jl…That cartoon was racist & and in bad taste…Racist because it directed to our president and in bad taste because a lady had her face nearly torn off and still fighting for her life, they did not even apologize for that .Its okay to have a sense of humor but not a someones expense….So Sad
BGH, the jokes made about GWBush were never made in a way that promoted any provocative or offensive racial images. People joked on GW as an individual, not because he was a white man. As Legend said, feel free to critique Obama (heck, make jokes about his quirks), but don’t reference an ape with respect to him, knowing the historical implications of such images. Out of line. Further, even assuming no racial malice, there was nothing funny about a woman being attacked by a chimpanzee, or a chimpanzee having to be killed for comic fodder in the first place. Poor taste all around on the NY Post.
#34 CNN, Fox news, Washinton Post etc. was reporting it as if Obama was fighting to have the bill passed (although it could have been originated by white poeple) I believe that it why this is being taken as blatant racism by most everyone.
Al Sharpton’s hair is the bomb!!!! I love that man’s do
Go ‘head John. I love intelligent Black MEN!!!!
Has anyone else been one of 3 or 4 black people in class were race was brought up in class discussion? Well ya’ll know what white people are like, no racism intended. They by nature feel entitled, and never seem to understand what the big deal is. Mainly because they refuse to. They all want us to just get over it and be happy with our first and (I hate to be say it, I really do, and I’d love to be proven wrong) and only Black President. Even the “decent” white folk who voted for Obama and think everything is equal don’t have a clue! I want everybody to view this for what it is, a reminder that Obama can’t change people, he impact situations that can impact you but white people will be white people any they will never fully understand because they are not us. Not to excuse this mess, but make sure we keep letting them know just how ignorant they can be when the show they ignorance like this and let them know when not as clueless as they think. My heart goes out to all the black people working in that newsroom.
I learned this news in another place. A hot debate heats up at —Richromances.com—. Let us check it out
It’s unfortunate that in 2009, Racism is very much alive. To depict any person of color as a Monkey is disrespectful. Clearly there was malicious intent in cartoonist that drew this picture because any sound minded adult knows the person responsible for signing Federal Legislation into law is the President. So I don’t respect the half-heart, save face apology. Lastly no person of color should hand over on red cent of their hard earned money to such Bigots like the Post.
John Legend gets my respect for that, his letter was very well written and perfectly points out everything that needed to be said! I am glad people are boycotting this ridiculous nonsense. We can’t let them get away with this kind of stuff all the time. We will not tolerate RACISM especially such blatant disrespectfulness, they will see!!!
@ JA – Are you kidding me????
Do you not know how to read between the lines? They may have said “Write” but we know what they meant. At least we know but obviously you don’t. Keep living.
@KIA
Thats the problem, we black people are always looking for a line to look above or under. I do it sometime too and have to catch myself. What we need to ask is why OUR president push a bill that promotes more government interaction and did not keep his promis to let the American public view the bill before he signed it. I read most of the bill( have to be read in more than one sitting) and it seems like more government for government.
Ugh, Sharpton only makes things worse and loses every cause credibility.