When NPR covered Larry Wilmore‘s White House Correspondents’ Dinner standup in 2016, it had to hilariously issue a “language advisory” warning at the beginning of the story.
During Wilmore’s act at the fancy dinner at the Washington Hilton, he said he would be “keeping it 100” and told President Obama “Yo, Barry, you did it, my nigga.”
Six months later, Comedy Central has canned him.
According to reports, Kent Alterman, Comedy Central’s president, the show “hasn’t resonated.” Wilmore’s program was just weeks away from being renewed or canceled — the latter was chosen.
In a statement, Wilmore said he was “saddened and surprised.” Making it seem like the decision was racial, he said. “And keeping it 100, I guess I hadn’t counted on ‘The Unblackening’ happening to my time slot as well.”
“Well, welcome to negro night,” Wilmore began at the March dinner in Washington.
Remarks that fell with a big thud during the evening:
“Speaking of drones, how is Wolf Blitzer still on television? Ask a follow-up question once in awhile.”
During the program, CNN’s Don Lemon was the butt of one of his more pointed jokes. “Some of the finest journalists are here tonight. Don Lemon is here, too.”
After that, he called him an “alleged journalist.”
In response, Lemon gave Wilmore the finger.
Lemon was later seen all buddy buddy and laughing with Wilmore at an afterparty.
MSNBC also got hit by Wilmore for removing a few black anchors from its lineup.
In its write-up of the cancellation, Slate slobbered all over Wilmore, saying he was the “sharpest late-night voice on race.” The writer said he preferred “substantive content” over “viral fodder.” The writer called his commentary “complex” and “destabilizing.”
Who’s having the last laugh now?
A Washington journalist remarked to The Mirror, “I thought accusing half the country of racism was comedy!”
And another reacted like this: “FUCK. YES.”