[ddwayspd]

"NEW YORK — Aflac is opening the field to people who want to take a quack at doing the new voice of the insurer's ever-abrasive duck mascot."

"Aflac Inc. will begin accepting submissions on Wednesday in the search for someone to replace Gilbert Gottfried, who was ousted last week after voicing the duck for more than 10 years because he made insensitive remarks on Twitter about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan."

Read full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42217563...s-us_business/

I wonder if you can nominate your Mother-in-Law or your First Sergeant?

[GalasaKoll]

he got canned for making a joke, he's a freakin comedian. Hope he sues AFLAC. Such BS.

[KJnbceja]

he got canned for making a joke, he's a freakin comedian. Hope he sues AFLAC. Such BS.

It was a pretty tastless joke and he - well his voice - is the spokesperson for their company which caters largely to Japanese. So of course they fired him.

Plus it was not funny at all and neither is he.

[Lymnempomma]

Employment at will... They didn't fire him because he's short, nor some other illegal discriminator. He made statements that can be perceived as negatively impactful towards the company, especially regarding a certain demographic of its customer base. Hardly unusual to the circumstances, and certainly not illegal.

[ENGINESSQ]

It was a pretty tastless joke and he - well his voice - is the spokesperson for their company which caters largely to Japanese. So of course they fired him.

Plus it was not funny at all and neither is he.

Really? You do understand that is how comedians make there fame and money. Tasteless and off colored jokes are their bread and butter. These companies hire these people for advertisment because they are famous, famous for their jokes, and then fires them after a "tasteless" joke, they need to get off their high f*cking horses!

[gyjsdtuwr]

Really? You do understand that is how comedians make there fame and money. Tasteless and off colored jokes are their bread and butter. These companies hire these people for advertisment because they are famous, famous for their jokes, and then fires them after a "tasteless" joke, they need to get off their high f*cking horses!

See AJ's comment. They didn't hire him to tell any jokes. They hired him to say one word. I honestly didn't even know that he was the voice of that Afflac duck. I mean anyone can do that one word that he says. I'm sure I'm not the only person who didn't know that either. I have a feeling he was obviously very desperate for a job because he really hasn't done anything in a while. He wasn't the only one who said some ridiculous things - 50 Cent tried to make some jokes too and he just looked like a tool. Notice how no other comedians have made jokes about the Japan disasters? People don't usually do that immediately after some disaster. It's a good way to alienate fans or sponsors.

[gusunsuth]

He was hired by the company to represent the company's interests, not his own. The joke represented his own interests. Bad career move. AFLAC was justified in canning his ass.

[gDGwm8BC]

Really? You do understand that is how comedians make there fame and money. Tasteless and off colored jokes are their bread and butter. These companies hire these people for advertisment because they are famous, famous for their jokes, and then fires them after a "tasteless" joke, they need to get off their high f*cking horses!

Well then he can employ himself as a comedian. Whether I agreed or disagreed with the joke is inconsequential. AFLAC decided it was in their best interests to cater to the customer...which works. Its common sense that when you represent a company, especially one as large as AFLAC, you do not make off color jokes in public. He IS the spokesman for the company so he IS held to a higher standard which unfortunately he was unable to live up to.

[Qxsumehj]

Well then he can employ himself as a comedian. Whether I agreed or disagreed with the joke is inconsequential. AFLAC decided it was in their best interests to cater to the customer...which works. Its common sense that when you represent a company, especially one as large as AFLAC, you do not make off color jokes in public. He IS the spokesman for the company so he IS held to a higher standard which unfortunately he was unable to live up to.

Exactly! (Omg I agreed with VW...is this a sign of the impending Apocalypse? LOL).

[Uvgsgssu]

Exactly! (Omg I agreed with VW...is this a sign of the impending Apocalypse? LOL).

Maybe you are just coming around.

[gundos]

so let me get this straight. since the company that hired him to say "AFLAC" doesnt not like his off colored joke, that they have the right to fire him over his speech, which is free by the way, in case you havent heard. Now i understand the majority of us on the forum is military and we cant play by those rules, is it really our place to put judgement. let alone the rest of the country. Look aflack hired a comedian, know for his off colored jokes and offensive language, then expects him to conform to their companies moral thinking, hello how is that fair. And remember think of the idea from a civilian point of mind, not a military one, cuz we (you) have been brainwashed.

[8IhGpvH0]

so let me get this straight. since the company that hired him to say "AFLAC" doesnt not like his off colored joke, that they have the right to fire him over his speech, which is free by the way, in case you havent heard. Now i understand the majority of us on the forum is military and we cant play by those rules, is it really our place to put judgement. let alone the rest of the country. Look aflack hired a comedian, know for his off colored jokes and offensive language, then expects him to conform to their companies moral thinking, hello how is that fair. And remember think of the idea from a civilian point of mind, not a military one, cuz we (you) have been brainwashed.

The content of the joke was immaterial, maybe the AFLAC's exec's were laughing themselves hysterical behind closed doors (no idea why) but they have a business to run. One of the specific objectives of that mission is to sell their products. One of the demographics of the customers included people who would (and rightfully so) take great offense to those comments. He is a visible public figure for the company as that voice and has a responsibility as such. His comments as such would directly interfere with the organization's ability to sell products to those customers. Seems like a good reason to ask an individual to seek other employment as far as I'm concerned. He can take his act back to the comedy clubs and succeed or fail based on their own merits.

[Lorionasodi]

so let me get this straight. since the company that hired him to say "AFLAC" doesnt not like his off colored joke, that they have the right to fire him over his speech, which is free by the way, in case you havent heard. Now i understand the majority of us on the forum is military and we cant play by those rules, is it really our place to put judgement. let alone the rest of the country. Look aflack hired a comedian, know for his off colored jokes and offensive language, then expects him to conform to their companies moral thinking, hello how is that fair. And remember think of the idea from a civilian point of mind, not a military one, cuz we (you) have been brainwashed.

His speech is free, notice that he was not punished by the law. The company is also free to make the decisions that best affect the business. Actions have consequences, what part of that dont you understand?

BTW I work in the private sector now.

[abOfU9nJ]

His speech is free, notice that he was not punished by the law. The company is also free to make the decisions that best affect the business. Actions have consequences, what part of that dont you understand?

BTW I work in the private sector now.

"Free Speech" is my favorite misnomer. Speech is only "free" precisely in the way VW states here.

[gIWnXYkw]

Howard Stern talked about Gilbert a bit this week and I have to agree with him on this, Gilbert Gottfried is a comedian, tasteless humor is what he has always done (and done well in my opinion, I love awful humor, not that the jokes are any good but the subjects are so insanely degenerate you have to laugh). Aflac knew who they were getting when they hired him and he was under no obligation to change his act for them. Its not like they hired Mel Gibson and then after the fact he went on a Jew hating tirade. Not to mention the commercials Aflac produces for Japan don't have Gottfired in them.

Stupid ass Americans. If you don't laugh the terrorists win.... or in this case, Nature. Fuck Nature.

[LypeReexy]

Howard Stern talked about Gilbert a bit this week and I have to agree with him on this, Gilbert Gottfried is a comedian, tasteless humor is what he has always done (and done well in my opinion, I love awful humor, not that the jokes are any good but the subjects are so insanely degenerate you have to laugh). Aflac knew who they were getting when they hired him and he was under no obligation to change his act for them. Its not like they hired Mel Gibson and then after the fact he went on a Jew hating tirade. Not to mention the commercials Aflac produces for Japan don't have Gottfired in them.

Stupid ass Americans. If you don't laugh the terrorists win.... or in this case, Nature. Fuck Nature.

One could say Charlie Sheen is also a comedian, or at least a comedic actor. Speaking of, I heard a joke that gave me a chuckle the other day:

"Exactly how much coke did Charlie Sheen take?"

"Enough to kill Two and a Half Men"

[mikeyyuiok]

Howard Stern talked about Gilbert a bit this week and I have to agree with him on this, Gilbert Gottfried is a comedian, tasteless humor is what he has always done (and done well in my opinion, I love awful humor, not that the jokes are any good but the subjects are so insanely degenerate you have to laugh). Aflac knew who they were getting when they hired him and he was under no obligation to change his act for them. Its not like they hired Mel Gibson and then after the fact he went on a Jew hating tirade. Not to mention the commercials Aflac produces for Japan don't have Gottfired in them.

Stupid ass Americans. If you don't laugh the terrorists win.... or in this case, Nature. Fuck Nature.

Agreed, people should try reading resumes for once. But firing him is fine, if they try to sue him or reclaim monies paid, then Ill side with the "comedian".

[cargo_brad]

One could say Charlie Sheen is also a comedian, or at least a comedic actor. Speaking of, I heard a joke that gave me a chuckle the other day:

"Exactly how much coke did Charlie Sheen take?"

"Enough to kill Two and a Half Men"

...of course, now CBS wants him back.

[Intiltern]

...of course, now CBS wants him back.

Business is business, and business was good!

[amotoustict]

One could say Charlie Sheen is also a comedian, or at least a comedic actor. Speaking of, I heard a joke that gave me a chuckle the other day:

"Exactly how much coke did Charlie Sheen take?"

"Enough to kill Two and a Half Men"

Touring is how Gottfried makes most of his money (or at lest its been his "day job" since before his acting career).

And Sheen has been a mess for a minute. CBS and Aflac may be within their rights to fire these two but they still need to hold up their end and pay them what is owed for reneging on their contracts.