Many American newspapers decided to stop publishing the famous "Dilbert" comic strip after its creator published a racist video calling the black population a "hate group."
Scott Adams rose to fame in the 1990s with his "Dilbert" comic strip, a bitter chronicle of the world of work. His comments on social issues are increasingly controversial.
On his YouTube show, he referred to a recent poll conducted Wednesday by Rasmussen Reports that indicated that 26% of black respondents said they disagreed with the statement "It's okay to be white." Another 21% said they weren't sure.
However, Rasmussen also said his poll, online and by phone, last week of 1,000 likely US voters showed that 72% of Americans overall agree that it's OK to be white. , compared to 12% who disagree.
Adams said in his tirade Wednesday that he had moved to a different location to get away from blacks and urged other whites to do the same.
"I'm not saying start a war or anything like that," he said. "I'm just saying go away."
“This is a hate group and I don't want anything to do with it,” he said. "The way things are right now, the best advice I could give white people is to stay away from black people," the author added.
The USA TODAY Network, which operates hundreds of newspapers across the United States, announced Friday night that it will "no longer carry the Dilbert comic due to recent discriminatory comments by its creator."
Chris Quinn, editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, said Friday that it was "not difficult" for his paper to decide to drop the comic. “We do not welcome those who advocate racism,” he added.
The Washington Post said Saturday that the comic would no longer appear in its pages, although it was too late to prevent it from appearing in its weekend editions.
“In light of recent statements by Scott Adams promoting segregation, The Washington Post has stopped publishing the Dilbert comic strip,” a newspaper spokesperson said.
Adams could not immediately be reached by Reuters on Saturday. But on his YouTube channel, he confirmed that his comic would be scrapped and he said he hoped that would happen.
"By Monday, it should be mostly paid off. So most of my income will be gone by next week," he said. "My reputation is destroyed for life. There is no going back."
