A Pennsylvania newspaper fired one of its political cartoonists after readers complained about an expletive-laden jab at President Donald Trump the artist incorporated into his Sunday comic strip.
Cartoonist Wiley Miller, whose syndicated Non Sequitur political cartoon series appears in more than 700 newspapers nationwide, was axed from The Butler Eagle after readers called the paper and said they were offended.
In a Twitter post on Sunday, Miller encouraged readers to color in the picture and find the little Easter egg" spoken by character Leonardo Bear-Vinci.
The insult, which appeared in the bottom righthand corner of the cartoon, read:
"We fondly say go f*ck yourself to Trump."
Yeah, and? Non Sequitur fans loved it.
Is it really that big of a deal?
On the other hand, supporters of the president - fully willing to dismiss Trump's own pattern of crass remarks and racist behavior - on Twitter were quick to condemn the cartoon.
Faux outrage 101.
"Pearl-clutchers" perfectly describes the hypocrisy.
Butler Eagle publisher and general manager Ron Vodenichar said in a statement on Sunday that the subliminal message had slipped under the publication team's radar.
“A reader brought to our attention that one of the syndicated comic strips which appears in the Sunday Butler Eagle may contain a hidden message which was apparently placed there by someone in the creative department of the creator of the comic strip or the syndication which controls it,” Vodenichar said. “Neither the Butler Eagle nor any other newspaper that includes this strip had an opportunity to remove it even if they had discovered it before distribution."
Vonedichar also issued an apology to readers who were offended.
“We apologize that such a disgusting trick was perpetuated on the reading public. The Butler Eagle will discontinue that comic immediately,” Vodenichar said.
