Magician apologizes for calling Newfoundlanders ‘stupid’
Celebrity magician Penn Jillette has apologized after Newfoundlanders took him to task for insulting their intelligence on a talk show.
Jillette, half of the comedic magic duo Penn & Teller, talked about his Newfoundland roots during an appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher that aired Friday night.
“I’m probably from Newfoundland, which is just a euphemism for stupid,” Jillette told the host. “All of those people up in the frozen North that club seals, those are my people.”
Some Newfoundlanders used social media to complain about the remarks, and one Twitter user described the comment as “discriminatory.”
Jillette apologized to the Twitter user, and called the comment a failed attempt at selfdeprecation.
“I’ve been (to Newfoundland) and loved everyone I met,” Jillette tweeted. “I was really stupid and out of line.”
Comedian Mark Critch, a native Newfoundlander, initially took offence at Jillette’s comments, telling the magician on Twitter that until he learns about his heritage, he should act like his famously silent partner Teller and “shut it.”
Critch walked back his criticism after Jillette explained he was a setting up a comedic “bit” that got cut off.
“Wasn’t hating you,” Critch tweeted. “(I) have dealt with these stereotypes all my life. Curious as to what this ‘bit’ was going to be.”
In the 24 hours after the show aired, Jillette tweeted more than 130 remorseful and often self-flagellating messages to the people of Newfoundland.