Stephen Colbert accused of racism after joke tweet from Colbert Report's account

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The Colbert Report account tweeted quote from a joke on the show
Taken out of context, Colbert appeared to make fun of Asian people
Outrage followed with calls on Twitter for show to be cancelled
Stephen Colbert himself tweeted he had nothing to do with the post
The line was taken from anti-racist segment about Washington Redskins

PUBLISHED: 07:42 EST, 28 March 2014 | UPDATED: 12:25 EST, 28 March 2014

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Comedian Stephen Colbert has been provoked a storm on Twitter with calls for his show to be cancelled after the official account for his Colbert Report show posted an offensive joke.

The line was taken from a skit about the offensive nature of the name of the Washington Redskins, but was interpreted as a racist joke poking fun at Asian people when taken out of context.

The 'joke' was quickly deleted after an online backlash saw the post go viral and the hashtag #CancelColbert began trending on Twitter.

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Under attack: Calls were made for comedianStephen Colbert's show to be cancelled after the official The Colbert Report account tweeted a joke poking fun at Asian people

Offensive: The official Twitter account for The Colbert Report posted this yesterday

The tweet was posted by The Colbert Report, an account run by Comedy Central to promote the comedian's show, on Thursday.

It read: 'I am willing to show #Asian community I care by introducing the Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals or Whatever.'

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Suey Park, a freelance writer and online activist, was quick to pick up on the post and, believing Mr Colbert himself to be behind the tweet, demanded the show be cancelled.

She wrote: 'The Ching-Chong Ding-Dong Foundation for Sensitivity to Orientals has decide to call for #CancelColbert. Trend it.'

Hundreds backed up Ms Park's request, accusing Colbert of being racist and oppressive.

Offensive? Colbert's 'racist Redskins' segment

Video from Comedy Central's The Colbert Report

Defense: Stephen Colbert, pictured on his show with First Lady Michelle Obama, is not the person behind the account that posted the out of context quote

Apology: The account was forced to post an apology and a disclaimer to say the tweet had nothing to do with Stephen Colbert

However, Mr Colbert himself had nothing to do with the post, and later tweeted from his personal account: #CancelColbert - I agree! Just saw @ColbertReport tweet. I share your rage. Who is that, though? I'm @StephenAtHome'

I share your rage: Stephen Colbert's official Twitter account distanced itself from the offending tweet

Shortly after #CancelColbert began trending, the tweet was deleted and the account posted a disclaimer which read: 'For the record @ColbertReport is not controlled by Stephen Colbert or his show. He is @StephenAtHome Sorry for the confusion #CancelColbert'.

A disclaimer was later posted which read: 'This is a Comedy Central account, with no oversight from Stephen/show.'

Others were outraged over the outrage, posting that the joke had been taken out of context and that the full segment on the show was the complete opposite of racist.

Outrage over the outrage? Some Twitter users lamented how the furore over the Colbert tweet was drowning out criticism of the Washington Reskins' controversial name

Cap'n Jack LaCroix wrote: '#CancelColbert is what happens when people confuse real racism with context-sensitive humor.'

Tom Brennan ‏added: 'Finally looked into #CancelColbert - don't make fun of racism or you'll be called a racist apparently.'

Others hit back at Ms Park, and began using the anti-'anti-Colbert' hashtag #cancelsueypark.

Comedy Central's The Colbert Report

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Superman, USA, 20 hours ago

HA HA!! Colbert and Comedy Central got a taste of their own racial hypersensitivity hypocrisy!!

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Courtney Miller, Newport Beach, United States, 20 hours ago

One of the best shows on TV. Stop being so sensitive. If anyone watched the whole skit they would know he was pointing out the flaws of Dan Snyder (Redskins owner)

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Amy G., louisville, United States, 20 hours ago

Hello, Shephen Colbert is playing a character on this show....

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abc123, ohio, United States, 21 hours ago

cry me a river

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Moonbeam, San Jose, United States, 21 hours ago

#CANCELCOBERT...and it¿s high time too!

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Betty St. Laveau, Montpelier, United States, 21 hours ago

Why can't he just be cancelled because he simply is not funny?

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charlesmartel77, South Carolina USA, United States, 22 hours ago

Sign of the times. Hypersensitivity. People are way too serious and too sensitive. Not good. You've got to be able to laugh at yourself. If a Latino jokingly or even seriously referred to me as a gringo, I would not be offended. And why did Colbert so easily cave to a little pressure, falling all over himself to apologize about nothing. Weak.