Freelance Writer Gets Tons of Twitter Backlash for Tasteless Ariana Grande Jokes
Much of Twitter was in a stunned state of mourning as news spread about the terrorist attack outside of an Ariana Grande concert that left at least 19 dead in Manchester, England late Monday night.
One user, however, figured the time was right for mockery–even as the horrific situation was still unfolding and the extent of the violence not yet clear.
Freelance “reporter” David Leavitt tweeted the following just as the news broke:
Honestly, for over a year I thought an Ariana Grande was something you ordered at Starbucks.
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) May 22, 2017
Hey @David_Leavitt you deleted you joke tweet about the kids killed in the terror attack, but I saved it. Please RT so people see his "joke" pic.twitter.com/0sxgN6ExFN
— Justin Stangel (@Justin_Stangel) May 23, 2017
The site’s users swiftly took Leavitt to task:
*Curb Your Enthusiasm theme starts getting progressively louder until everyone's ears start bleeding* pic.twitter.com/I72mekGfgQ
— Chris Person (@Papapishu) May 23, 2017
The Rule of Three in comedy is that you should begin every joke with those three magic words: MULTIPLE CONFIRMED FATALITIES
— taserface (@brockwilbur) May 23, 2017
@David_Leavitt Dude, no. Delete and sincerely apologise to save yourself a shred of grace and dignity. Don't just carry on joking, you plum.
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) May 22, 2017
@David_Leavitt Turning off your devices and walking away from a career demolishing mess you've created for yourself… #unlikelylifestylechanges
— Joe Trohman (@trohman) May 23, 2017
What a pathetic excuse for a human being, you are a cancer@David_Leavitt
— Grant Kirkhope (@grantkirkhope) May 23, 2017
Many brought up “the ratio”–a Twitter phenomenon whereby bad tweets suggest just how soon a user should delete their account based upon the ratio of replies to likes and retweets:
The ratio comes for @David_Leavitt, and rightly so
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) May 22, 2017
there should be a ratio at which twitter just nukes your account and the guy joking about dead kids is a good standard
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) May 23, 2017
Others questioned CBS’ decision to hire someone of Leavitt’s ethical calibre, prompting the network to issue the following clarification via Twitter:
.@David_Leavitt does not work for @CBSNews.
— CBS News PR (@CBSNewsPress) May 23, 2017
Other organizations in Leavitt’s bio that he claimed to have written for were quick to disown him:
@lgbthimchan @Yahoo @David_Leavitt This person has never been employed by AXS. We don't endorse this despicable comment.
— AXS (@axs) May 22, 2017
David Leavitt is not a WBZ employee. His abhorrent comments in no way represent the views of our station.
— WBZ Boston News (@cbsboston) May 23, 2017
Anthony Bourdain probably summed up the mood best:
@David_Leavitt You, sir, are truly a steaming, gaping asshole .
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) May 23, 2017
Leavitt continued to joke about the incident before eventually deleting the original tweet and apologizing:
Too soon?
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) May 23, 2017
Sorry 4 offending. Didn't realize the magnitude of the tragedy. I always make stupid jokes about whatevers trending. Condolences 2 families
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) May 23, 2017
I've delete the tweet since so many people asked
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) May 23, 2017
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