'Garfield' Creator Apologizes for Comic Strip That May Have Offended Veterans - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 11-12-2010, 11:57 AM

Cartoonist Jim Davis apologized Thursday for a Garfield strip that some veterans may have found offensive.

The strip ran on Veterans Day in newspapers across the country. It shows a spider daring the pudgy orange cat to squash it. The spider tells Garfield that if he is killed, "they will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor."

The final panel shows a spider-teacher asking its students if they know why spiders celebrate "National Stupid Day."

Davis, of Muncie, Ind., said in a statement posted on his website that he didn't know the strip would appear on Veterans Day. He said it was written nearly a year ago and called the publication Thursday "the worst timing ever."

"It absolutely, positively has nothing to do with this important day of remembrance," Davis said.

John Raughter, a spokesman for the Indianapolis-based American Legion, looked at the strip and Davis' statement after the cartoon was brought to his attention by a reporter. He said an apology wasn't necessary.

"We have no reason to doubt his explanation of what happened," Raughter said.

Davis said his brother served in Vietnam, and his son is a Marine who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said he is grateful for the service of veterans, and called any offense "unintentional and regrettable."

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...ent+-+Mixed%29

MrCleveland · 11-14-2010, 04:19 PM

I'm sure this will be put on a Stupid Parody webpage, and Jim Davis didn't even do this maliciously!

TV Knowledge Fan · 11-17-2010, 02:21 AM

....it's unfortunate that this particular strip was published on Veterans Day. If it had appeared on any other day, including Christmas [which would be highly unlikely], there wouldn't have been a ripple or protest or complaint. Garfield's ongoing confrontation with spiders is one of the funniest "running gags" in the entire strip....not once has it ever been considered "offensive"- until this unfortunate incident.

11-12-2010, 11:57 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	'Garfield' Creator Apologizes for Comic Strip That May Have Offended Veterans Cartoonist Jim Davis apologized Thursday for a Garfield strip that some veterans may have found offensive. The strip ran on Veterans Day in newspapers across the country. It shows a spider daring the pudgy orange cat to squash it. The spider tells Garfield that if he is killed, "they will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor." The final panel shows a spider-teacher asking its students if they know why spiders celebrate "National Stupid Day." Davis, of Muncie, Ind., said in a statement posted on his website that he didn't know the strip would appear on Veterans Day. He said it was written nearly a year ago and called the publication Thursday "the worst timing ever." "It absolutely, positively has nothing to do with this important day of remembrance," Davis said. John Raughter, a spokesman for the Indianapolis-based American Legion, looked at the strip and Davis' statement after the cartoon was brought to his attention by a reporter. He said an apology wasn't necessary. "We have no reason to doubt his explanation of what happened," Raughter said. Davis said his brother served in Vietnam, and his son is a Marine who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said he is grateful for the service of veterans, and called any offense "unintentional and regrettable." http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...ent+-+Mixed%29
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11-14-2010, 04:19 PM	#2
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I'm sure this will be put on a Stupid Parody webpage, and Jim Davis didn't even do this maliciously!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

11-17-2010, 02:21 AM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Jim Davis has nothing to apologize for.... ....it's unfortunate that this particular strip was published on Veterans Day. If it had appeared on any other day, including Christmas [which would be highly unlikely], there wouldn't have been a ripple or protest or complaint. Garfield's ongoing confrontation with spiders is one of the funniest "running gags" in the entire strip....not once has it ever been considered "offensive"- until this unfortunate incident.