Topline
A Penguin Random House imprint has dropped plans to publish a book by “Dilbert” comic strip creator Scott Adams, according to the Wall Street Journal, the latest apparent fallout over the cartoonist’s recent racist comments, which caused hundreds of newspapers to cut ties with “Dilbert.”
Key Facts
Portfolio, Penguin Random House’s business imprint, will no longer publish Adams’ self-help book “Reframe Your Brain,” which was reportedly set for a September release.
Adams tweeted late Monday morning that “My publisher for non-Dilbert books has canceled my upcoming book and the entire backlist,” adding “My book agent canceled me too.”
Penguin Random House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes, and a spokesperson did not tell the Journal why it decided to drop the title.
Adams has faced widespread condemnation after calling Black Americans a “hate group” on his podcast last week and telling white people to “get the hell away” from Black people, among other disparaging comments.
He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes, but he has repeatedly tweeted he is being punished for expressing what he believes is a reasonable viewpoint, claiming Monday morning he simply “gave some advice.”
Key Background
Hundreds of newspapers, including the Washington Post and the entire USA Today Network, are no longer running the “Dilbert” comic strip following the comments. Adams’ rant on his “Real Coffee with Scott Adams” podcast was apparently set off by a survey from conservative pollster Rasmussen Reports, which found 53% of Black Americans found the statement “It’s OK to be White” acceptable. Adams claimed the result showed nearly half of Black Americans “are not OK with White people,” even though the phrase “It’s OK to be White” has been used in white supremacist trolling campaigns for years as a racial agitation tactic, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Tangent
Since its launch in 1989, “Dilbert” has been one of the most recognizable daily comic strips in American newspapers. The comic revolves around the day-to-day struggles of its titular character, Dilbert, a bespectacled engineer who works in a cubicle and contends with dysfunctional coworkers at a large company.
Further Reading
‘Dilbert’ Comic Strip Cut By Publications Over Creator’s ‘Racist Rant’—Here’s What We Know (Forbes)
Hundreds of newspapers drop ‘Dilbert’ comic strip after racist tirade from creator Scott Adams (CNN)