Who’da thunk it? Greg Gutfeld and the host of NPR’s Weekend Edition apparently have different ideas of what’s funny.
Things started warmly enough as Scott Simon interviewed Gutfeld this past weekend, with the NPR host introducing the Fox News host as a dominant force in late-night comedy and “a key voice in the political and cultural debates and conversations on the Trump administration.”
But the conversation turned more contentious when Simon played back a joke that Gutfeld told on his show only to immediately admonish his audience for applauding a racist joke.
“That’s a terrible joke, Scott, a terrible joke..” Gutfeld told Simon.
“Honestly, I think it is,” replied Simon.
“Which is why it was couched as something a racist would say,” said Gutfeld. “And I disown that, so what more can you say?”
“Wait,” responded Simon. “Let me get this straight. You disown the joke that you just said?”
Simon went on to say that he found the joke racist, with Gutfeld responding “that’s why I said [it was what] a racist would say. So we’re in agreement, Scott. It’s funny. I’m trying to explain this to you.”
“Just saying that it’s racist doesn’t mean it’s OK to tell,” replied Simon.
“Oh, so it’s not OK to tell something?” asked Gutfeld.
“Constitutionally, I would defend your right,” replied Simon. “But in terms of—God forbid – taste, decency—decency. Let’s even forget taste—decency.”
“Some things you’re not going to like,” Gutfeld allowed. “In fact, I’m certain there are many things in my show you’re not going to like. That’s your right. And there are a lot of jokes that just aren’t funny to some people. But to other people, they are funny. Those make me laugh. And they make me laugh because I’m pointing out how upsetting it is to people like you. Even when I point it out, it’s still upsetting to you. I find that funny. It’s a meta joke, if you will.”
In the end, the pair’s back and forth about the joke ended up comprising a full third of Simon’s sit-down with Gutfeld on NPR, but the hosts seemed to take it in stride, with Simon ultimately thanking Gutfeld for joining him, and Gutfeld replying “It was a pleasure.”
In a social media post later, Simon defended having Gutfeld on his show, saying “There is room for disagreement on our show, and [in] the world.”
Listen to their full exchange on Weekend Edition below:
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Geez, imagine a tax payer supported program being allowed to voice differing view points.
Defund NPR.
Scott Simon can be a real asshole. He interviewed Rand Paul ten years ago with such distain and condescension that it was off the charts, and made me see a darker side of Simon. Liberals of today have no sense of humor. Proof? The producers and stars and writers of the 1962 movie “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World!” were all Hollywood liberals, but , while still hilarious, would not get a laugh out of today’s liberal crowd. It would be considered lowbrow by the pure and effete snob Scott Simon, darling of the Chardonnay set.