'Late Show' writer apologizes for 'tone-deaf' Brett Kavanaugh tweet — but Kathy Griffin is standing by her
The news that Brett Kavanaugh would be confirmed as a Supreme Court justice despite Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony and an investigation into sexual assault allegations sent shockwaves through social media over the weekend. Some Kavanaugh supporters celebrated with beer — or, in the case of Kellyanne Conway, a bewildering #MeToo hashtag.For many others, however, the news triggered anguish, disgust, and rage. Ariel Dumas, a writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was among those who spoke out — and her sarcastic tweet about “ruining Brett Kavanaugh’s life” has been met with serious backlash.
Dumas’s tweet, which has since been deleted, sparked ire from conservative author Dinesh D’Souza, whose outraged reaction was retweeted by Donald Trump Jr. Actor James Woods — newly reinstated to Twitter following his own political drama — also shared the story.
Tell us what you think of this @Kasparov63 . Are you on board with this Stalinist sentiment? pic.twitter.com/HRIXQ8XfgH
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 7, 2018
“Stephen Colbert 'Late Show' writer: 'I'm just glad we ruined Brett Kavanaugh's life.” #ArielDumas https://t.co/gNCtpW5WXt
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) October 7, 2018
The outcry prompted Dumas to backtrack and offer this mea culpa.
The last couple of weeks have been hard for the country and for me personally. The complexity of frustration, anger and sadness can’t be accurately conveyed on twitter, and I regret my tone-deaf attempt at sarcasm in the wake of it.
— Ariel Dumas (@ArielDumas) October 7, 2018
While Dumas continues to be harassed by Kavanaugh supporters accusing her of trying to take him down, many have spoken out in her defense. Several have noted that her tweet was sarcastic, considering that Kavanaugh was just this weekend sworn in for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court.
For anyone familiar with her account, or even with Twitter, it was crystal clear this was an ironic reference to his claim his life/family were “destroyed”. Perhaps it was poor judgment. But the people going after her r being knowingly dishonest. Let’s not pretend otherwise. https://t.co/ptwCR5dFjq
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 7, 2018
I don't know if he'll ever recover. pic.twitter.com/ARrV00M29M
— Sarah Hutto (@huttopian) October 8, 2018
you have nothing to apologize for and the people who think otherwise made an obvious bad-faith misreading of your original tweet
— maya kosoff (@mekosoff) October 8, 2018
If anyone in any way financially punishes @ArielDumas for a clearly facetious joke about a man WHO HAD BEEN SWORN IN AS A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, they will be met with a fire and fury from her fellow female comedy writers like they have never seen.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 8, 2018
You have nothing to apologize for and you are also fantastic.
— Jessica Ellis (@baddestmamajama) October 8, 2018
Kathy Griffin — a harsh Kavanaugh critic in her own right — added that Dumas should “f*** the haters.”
. @ArielDumas, a comedy writer, being held to a higher standard than the President of the United States. Love you @ArielDumas, fuck the haters. https://t.co/7jYcYC0UNJ
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) October 7, 2018
Said “haters,” meanwhile, are calling on The Late Show to fire Dumas over the tweet.
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