The “Dilbert” comic strip has been dropped from syndication after its creator faced a backlash of cancellations over his remarks describing Black people as members of a “hate group” from which white people should “get away.”

Dilbert Comic Race

Cartoonist Scott Adams with the “Dilbert” character in 2006. Several prominent media publishers across the United States are dropping the “Dilbert” comic strip after Adams, its creator, described people who are Black as members of “a racist hate group” during an online video show. Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Various media publishers across the United States denounced the comments last week by “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams as racist, discriminatory and hateful, while saying they would no longer provide a platform for his work.

The Kennebec Journal, the Morning Sentinel, Central Maine Sunday, the Sun Journal, the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, The Washington Post, the USA Today network of hundreds of newspapers, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland), the San Antonio Express-News and other publications announced over the weekend they will stop publishing “Dilbert” after the 65-year-old cartoonist’s racist rant Wednesday on YouTube.

Andrews McMeel Syndication, which distributes “Dilbert,” issued a statement late Sunday night saying it was “severing our relationship” with Adams and that the “process of this termination will extend to all areas of our business with Adams and the Dilbert comic strip.” The company said in its statement that while they are “proud to promote and share many different voices and perspectives,” they “will never support any commentary rooted in discrimination and hate.”

Adams defended himself on social media against those whom he said “hate me and are canceling me.”

“Dilbert” is a long-running comic that pokes fun at office-place culture.

Advertisement

The backlash began following an episode this past week of the YouTube show, “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.” Among other topics, Adams referenced a Rasmussen Reports survey that had asked whether people agreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white.”

Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26% of Black respondents disagreed and others were not sure.

The Anti-Defamation League says the phrase was popularized in 2017 as a trolling campaign by members of the discussion forum 4chan but then began being used by some white supremacists.

Adams, who is white, repeatedly referred to people who are Black as members of a “hate group” or a “racist hate group,” and said he would no longer “help Black Americans.”

“Based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people,” Adams said Wednesday on his show.

In another episode of his online show Saturday, Adams said he had been making a point that “everyone should be treated as an individual” without discrimination.

Advertisement

“But you should also avoid any group that doesn’t respect you,” Adams said, “even if there are people within the group who are fine.”

The Los Angeles Times cited Adams’ “racist comments” while announcing Saturday that “Dilbert” will be discontinued Monday in most editions and that its final run in the Sunday comics, which are printed in advance, will be March 12.

The San Antonio Express-News, which is part of Hearst Newspapers, said Saturday it will drop the “Dilbert” comic strip, effective Monday, “because of hateful and discriminatory public comments by its creator.”

The USA Today Network tweeted Friday that it also will stop publishing “Dilbert” due to “recent discriminatory comments by its creator.”

The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and other publications that are part of Advance Local media also announced that they are dropping “Dilbert.”

“This is a decision based on the principles of this news organization and the community we serve,” wrote Chris Quinn, editor of The Plain Dealer. ”We are not a home for those who espouse racism. We certainly do not want to provide them with financial support.”

Christopher Kelly, vice president of content for NJ Advance Media, wrote that the news organization believes in “the free and fair exchange of ideas.”

“But when those ideas cross into hate speech, a line must be drawn,” Kelly wrote.

The comics sections for Central Maine Sunday is printed well in advance and “Dilbert” appeared in the Sunday edition, but stopped running Monday in the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel.

Comments are not available on this story.