David Simon (Twitter)
Creator of the award-winning HBO series “The Wire” earned disapproval from Twitter users when he used the n-word. David Simon tweeted the term in response to Sean Hannity hosting a town hall with Donald Trump.
According to Cleveland.com, the Republican presidential candidate is set to host the gathering at Cleveland Heights, a Black church in Ohio. It is described as a “meeting on African-American concerns.” Height’s pastor, Darrell Scott, is a public Trump advocate.
The segment is scheduled to air on Hannity’s Wednesday night Fox News program, “Hannity.”
“Hannity my n—-!” Simon began his ill-fated joke. “If they couldn’t get Ta-Nehisi [Coates] or DeRay [Mckesson] to host, then who but you on the pulse of Black America?”
Hannity my nigga! If they couldn't get Ta-Nehisi or Deray to host, then who but you on the pulse of black America? https://t.co/9hW7wpH4Ar
— David Simon (@AoDespair) September 20, 2016
Simon emphasized his point after facing blowback from his distasteful tweet.
He explained he used the n-word “with an A” on purpose to make fun of the inappropriate casting of Hannity as the moderator in a meeting about African-American affairs.
He added he “can’t help” it if anyone is “enraged” by his sarcasm.
White user @Sendna_51 suggested Simon “rethink” using the racially-charged word.
@AoDespair Hello, fellow white person! I see you are using racially loaded in-group vernacular! Might I suggest rethinking this idea?
— Studious Butt (@Sedna_51) September 20, 2016
But Simon doubled down on his caustic use of the n-word.
@Sedna_51 Spelled with the A. Used as sarcasm against Sean Hannity as the birther candidates interlocutor to black voters? I’ll play it.
— David Simon (@AoDespair) September 20, 2016
Then, a Black woman by the name BrownBecky told Simon, “you know better, you should do better.”
@AoDespair This wasn’t okay. You know better, you should do better.
— BrownBecky ☔️ (@bettyb00p00) September 20, 2016
But the TV writer continued to defend his joke.
@bettyb00p00 I don’t honestly agree. Use of the wrong racial vernacular was precise intended metaphor for use of wrong racial interlocutor.
— David Simon (@AoDespair) September 20, 2016
And when BrownBecky told Simon there were “better ways” to employ sarcasm, he responded by saying, “I regret any hurt.”
I see how it looks to some, and I regret any hurt. But I know what it actually is in purpose/intent. So we are where we are.
— David Simon (@AoDespair) September 20, 2016
Happy Lil’ Tree wondered if Simon forgot to wear blackface.
.@AoDespair did you forget your costume? pic.twitter.com/aKJUJRLiv4
— Happy Li’l Tree (@karengeier) September 20, 2016
And Elon James White summed up how many Black people reacted to the producer’s tweet.
David Simon just tried to explain to Black folks why his usage of Nigga was cool as a bunch of Black folks were like "Uh, no sir."
2016.
— Elon James White wears a Mask (@elonjames) September 20, 2016
