[tweet] Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!

[SandEagle]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/20/justine-sacco-tweet-iac-aids-africa_n_4482502.html

social media claims another victim.

 

[Conscript]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/20/justine-sacco-tweet-iac-aids-africa_n_4482502.html

social media claims another victim.

Not sure I see the problem. She made 4 statements, and I'm not sure which is inaccurate or offensive:

1. Going to Africa
2. Hopes not to get AIDS
3. She's kidding (this could be the problem? Maybe she wants aids?)
4. She's white

 

[dawp]

read about that earlier, what a dingbat. does she think that because she's a white female she can't get hiv?

 

[SandEagle]

Not sure I see the problem. She made 4 statements, and I'm not sure which is inaccurate or offensive:

1. Going to Africa
2. Hopes not to get AIDS
3. She's kidding (this could be the problem? Maybe she wants aids?)
4. She's white

really? it seems as if she is insinuating that Blafricans are infested with teh AIDS.

 

[slayer202]

omg someone made an offensive joke on twitter, let's get em!

 

[Spungo]

Remove stick from ass. It's a joke and it's funny.
It would be even funnier if she caught HIV in Africa.

 

[brianmanahan]

duh, doesnt she know that everyone can get aids? and you dont have to go to africa to get it? shoot, you dont even necessarily have to leave you house!

 

[chimaxi83]

Offense not found, BUT, you can't really do dumb bs like this when you're in the position she's in. Not if you plan to keep your job, anyway.

 

[Nintendesert]

I'm offended!!!!!!!!! BURN HER!!

 

[Dari]

She's part of the PR team of a group of companies. Me thinks she's been too insulated. Time to get that AIDS...

 

[UglyCasanova]

The sensitivity level of everyone has become ridiculous. She made a joke, get over it.

 

[SKORPI0]

IAC -- which owns popular websites like OkCupid, Match.com, CollegeHumor, The Daily Beast and Vimeo --
responded thus, per the International Business Times:

This is an outrageous, offensive comment that does not reflect the views and values of IAC. Unfortunately, the employee in question is unreachable on an international flight,
but this is a very serious matter and we are taking appropriate action.

Like firing her.

 

[shortylickens]

omg someone made an offensive joke on twitter, let's get em!

Only if they are white.

Oh,

she is?


KILL THE BITCH!

 

[IronWing]

The company owns the CollegeHumor site and are upset by this? They all need to make up their minds.

 

[K1052]

Like firing her.

There is a fine line between edgy humor and taking a dump in full view of the public when your job is to interface with said public. Given her position she really should have had a better gauge on where that line is and the possible consequences of stepping over it.

 

[Fritzo]

PRO TIP: If you're in a high-ranking position, make a fake Twitter account for offensive comedy.

 

[Sluggo]

As a preemptive measure, A&E has already suspended her.

 

[Mai72]

really? it seems as if she is insinuating that Blafricans are infested with teh AIDS.

Blafricans? I'm appalled by your language.

 

[Ruptga]

I'm offended!!!!!!!!! BURN HER!!

BURN THE WITCH

rabble rabble

 

[Lifted]

senior director of corporate communications

She might be able to find a new job in a non-english speaking country.

 

[halik]

why is this news?

 

[nehalem256]

Seems to me she is only repeating what the CDC has to say.

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSMa), particularly young black/African American MSM, are most seriously affected by HIV.

By race, blacks/African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV.

Blacks represent approximately 12% of the U.S. population, but accounted for an estimated 44% of new HIV infections in 2010. They also accounted for 44% of people living with HIV infection in 2009

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/basics/ataglance.html

 

[kranky]

Eventually people will learn there are tens of thousands of people who monitor social media looking, hoping, to find something they can become outraged about and make an issue of. And if the issue is about being offended, then none dare object, and someone must be punished.

 

[Eug]

Yeah, if I were the company I'd fire her. That's just beyond stupid, and potentially very damaging to the brand(s).

 

[nehalem256]

If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

-Oscar Wilde

Unfortunately it appears that some people have no sense of humor.