In today’s political climate, it should come as no surprise that many people are always on the verge of an argument with one another. The latest example of this? A recent set of tweets out by horror icon, Stephen King.
People didn’t take too kindly to the first remark:
A trainload of Republicans on their way to a pricey retreat hit a garbage truck. My friend Russ calls that karma.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 1, 2018
None of your precious, corrupt GOP were killed. We don’t want them dead. We’d rather fire them in November. And see a few of them in orange jumpsuits.
Not laughing.— ❄️Turner❄️💪🏼🇺🇸 (@TamiSFGiantFan) February 1, 2018
And that, ladies & gents, is beautifully emblematic of the toxic speech currently in American party politics. Does that sound like a productive conversation to build a better future? Treating political opponents as ‘enemies’ gets us nowhere. Aim for truthful dialogue.
— Jendago S (@Jenglish1987) February 1, 2018
A man died in that crash, you despicable man. https://t.co/MWfDsJEJYG
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 1, 2018
When they go low, Stephen King goes lower.
— Benjamin4Real (@bentipede) February 1, 2018
Really? One dead and one critical. However because republicans were on the train you find that to be Karma? The hatred on the left has zero boundaries
— Fletch Davis (@DavisFletch) February 1, 2018
King then tweeted:
Of COURSE sorry the truck driver died.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 1, 2018
Followed by an apology:
A rather thoughtless tweet from me concerning the train-truck crash, for which I apologize (if one is necessary). It should be pointed out, too, that those Republican politicians, who can be heartless when they vote, immediately got out to help.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 1, 2018
Followed by more backlash:
Oh… This is so much better… NOT!!
— DMW1776 (@dmw1776) February 1, 2018
This is not really an apology, just so you know.
— Diana Quiroz (@dianaquiroz) February 1, 2018
You characterize your tweet as “rather thoughtless”?? You are being overly generous with yourself. Was the man who was killed a republican? Set yourself down by a tree in deep woods and don’t come out.
— doug mcgarity (@fltexmnr) February 2, 2018
Too late! Your real thoughts came through. Throwing your books in the trash. “People” like you are why I THANK GOD that I left the democrap party in 1983. Get help!
— FormerNCChick (@FormerNCChick) February 1, 2018
Are you high?
— @PrissyCrow (@PrissyCrow) February 2, 2018
King’s interesting week on Twitter wasn’t yet complete, however, as yet another tweet has caused backlash:
Yo memo so lame it uses a handicapped space at the mall. #YoMemoJokes
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 3, 2018
The backlash:
You’re probably going to need to issue an apology for this one too, Stephen.
— Jason Offutt (@TheJasonOffutt) February 3, 2018
I live in Bangor with you and have a disability parking card. I don’t believe your intent was to offend but it did.
— S Eslin (@Illflyaway74) February 3, 2018
Hey, @StephenKing …#DifferntlyAble people are facing tremendous persecution from this administration. Losing #Accessibility rights, #Education rights, and #Healthcare rights. pic.twitter.com/XRxiytvrPn
— Melina Rodriguez (@melina5299) February 3, 2018
No. Not funny at all. Words matter, but you know that.
— Susan Campo (@SusanCampo) February 3, 2018
That’s not funny at all. I’m disabled & this joke is so out of touch and ableist,I’m sick. Please apologize.
— 10 Minutes a Day (@10MinutesaDay4U) February 3, 2018
But some came to King’s defense:
As someone who has a handicap and use handicap placards/parking spaces, this gave me a chuckle.
— Angela (@ImAngela_2) February 3, 2018
Soooo….let’s not speak for everyone, ok? Some people are capable of a little self-deprecating humor. I poke fun of my own disabilities frequently. pic.twitter.com/W3OrMh9Bqw
— Timothy Castantine🕴 (@Castantine) February 3, 2018
Here comes the offended train again
— Jess Johnson (@_JiggityJohnson) February 3, 2018
King then tweeted an apology – which caused more backlash:
As a person lamed since 1999 when hit by a car, I feel okay using the word.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 3, 2018
Your a large voice ; you shape preseption ; you don’t get to throw a rock at the disable community and then claim it ; having never lead your voice or champion for it.
— Jimmy ValenTime (@Jimmyvalentime) February 3, 2018
reclaiming a word is fine, but as a disabled person, i wish you’d avoid the implication that disability is a negative thing. using “handicapped” in the way you did has all kinds of implications about disability and disabled ppl.
— the 🐾beans🐾 of production @ fwa (@dumpstercryptid) February 3, 2018
It’s ridiculous how people take “ownership” of vocabulary because their personal condition or situation. At this rate we’ll be using only kindergarten linguistics because perceived offense at basically everything and anything.
— Tommy Igoe (@TommyIgoe) February 3, 2018
Though some defended him:
I’m an amputee and make fun of it constantly. Anyone who is offended because of a joke like the one you made us either trying to cause trouble or they’re overly sensitive. Don’t worry about it, you said nothing wrong.
— AJ Lees (@AJLees1) February 3, 2018
As a person lamed since I was conceived in 1981, I’ve got better things to get upset about than the word “lame.”
— Naomi Barton (@shutter_j) February 3, 2018
It’s worth pointing out that this isn’t the first time King has been outspoken on political topics. He famously banned current president Donald Trump from seeing the IT movie that came out last September:
Donald Trump blocked me on Twitter. I am hereby blocking him from seeing IT or MR. MERCEDES. No clowns for you, Donald. Go float yourself.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 25, 2017
He also said he was unfit for office:
Donald Trump is unfit for office. Needs to be removed.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 11, 2017
And also had a pretty long rant about it:
“I saw a poll the other day that said, Hillary Clinton is only leading him by three points. If that’s true, you have to go back to that time when he rode that escalator down and announced the presidency, and everyone thought that it was a joke. The press thought it was a joke. Rolling Stone thought he was a joke. Jon Stewart said, “Oh please, let him continue to run; he’s the best joke material that we’ve had.” Well, nobody is laughing anymore.
Of all the candidates who ran this year, the only one who is remotely qualified to do the job is Hillary Clinton. There’s a lot of prejudice against her, just because she’s a woman. Having been raised by a woman and lived in a family where my wife has, like, six sisters, I hate that.”
And expressed disappointment in America:
“I am very disappointed in the country. I think that he’s sort of the last stand of a sort of American male who feels like women have gotten out of their place and they’re letting in all these people that have the wrong skin colors. He speaks to those people. Trump is extremely popular because people would like to have a world where you just didn’t question that the white American was at the top of the pecking order.”
It’s uncertain what King will say next to piss people off, but if it’s as interesting as these tweets, we’ll be sure to bring them to you. In the meantime, King should focus on the fact that Google thinks he’s been dead since 2006. Maybe he is tweeting from the grave? Who knows at this point.