Norm Macdonald apologizes for controversial comments with more controversial comments

Norm Macdonald may now need to issue an apology for his apology.

During an appearance Wednesday on The Howard Stern Show, Macdonald attempted to apologize for a controversial interview with The Hollywood Reporter that surfaced Tuesday. In it, Macdonald had defended his friends Louis C.K. and Roseanne Barr — two comedians who have been felled recently by sexual misconduct and perceived racism, respectively — and said that he was happy the #MeToo movement "has slowed down a little bit," because it requires every woman be believed.

Macdonald was on with Stern to promote his new Netflix talk show Norm Macdonald Has a Show, but he took the opportunity to explain that he supports the #MeToo movement — by saying you'd "have to have Down syndrome" not to sympathize with victims of sexual harassment. His reference to Down syndrome only raised additional ire, with writer Holly Figueroa O'Reilly tweeting, "NORM STOP TALKING." Journalist Yashar Ali simply wrote, "I can' t ...I just can’t."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Macdonald had already put out an apologetic Twitter statement late Tuesday after the Hollywood Reporter interview drew criticism. "I wish I never had to do interviews," he bemoaned while speaking with Stern on Wednesday, adding that he's a "dumb guy."