Natasha Leggero kicked off the New Year fighting a ton of backlash for a joke about Pearl Harbor veterans and SpaghettiOs.
It was a situation of a new controversy developing that managed to overshadow the original controversy in question. On the December 7th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the SpaghettiOs twitter asked that Americans take a moment from their holiday preparations to remember the veterans. The idea of a company whose brand one doesn’t readily associate with one of the most traumatic events in American history tweeting at people about it was bizarre on its face. SpaghettiOs message shared a picture of the brand’s mascot holding an American flag and looking just a little too happy. Needless to say, those who came across the tweet were less than impressed.
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A few weeks later, the screen capture was shared on “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly” and Leggero was asked about it.
In the aftermath of the fallout over the comment, it must be said that SpaghettiOs must be thanking its lucky stars for Leggero, who managed to both take the focus off of their questionable tweet and get the brand all sorts of free publicity. As for the embattled funny woman, she is standing firm, and refuses to say sorry.
Via her own website she writes a lengthy explanation for her behavior.
“I wish I could apologize, but do you really want another insincere apology that you know is just an attempt at damage control and not a real admission of guilt? Let me just try instead to be honest.”
Natasha Leggero just made a joke about the SpaghettiOs Pearl Harbor tweet that was probably more offensive than the tweet itself.
— Craig Lloyd (@craig_lloyd) January 1, 2014
In any event, Leggero joins a long line of comedians and one Megyn Kelly in the struggle to make questionable jokes without apologizing for them when they appear to go too far.
She did raise one very interesting point: How is it that many Americans find time to care about a throwaway remark on New Year’s Eve, but not enough time to care about the very real struggle to get American veterans the medical care and financial support they need?
Some will fire back that they are capable of multitasking. To this, Leggero has already responded with a pre-emptive, “Kudos”.
Image via SpagettiOs Twitter, Artie Lange