Jen Kirkman Said She’s Had Enough of Twitter (For Now)
Jen Kirkman made a joke on Twitter yesterday that set up a big chain of events ending with Kirkman saying she’s taking time away from tweeting and reading tweets. Since then, both the joke and the announcement that has her stepping away from Twitter, have been deleted. Does that mean she’s staying? We hope so, Jen’s Twitter fights and passionate statements are some of the best reads on the social network. If you don’t know Jen, she’s smart. Really smart. We know her from Chelsea Lately, and as the greatest thing to happen to Comedy Central’s Drunk History, and from her stand up, like her new album out via Rooftop Comedy, “I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)!” Anyway….
So here’s what happened. It started with a Kirkman tweet saying “I LIKE that Hillary has murdered a lot of people”; obviously a joke.
I LIKE that Hillary has murdered a lot of people.
— Jen Kirkman (@JenKirkman) August 3, 2016
Kirkman’s joke landed– but in that horrific slow motion way that a gymnast lands right before breaking a leg– because if you were watching live, you saw the Twitterverse take the joke in the worst way possible. Kirkman received an onslaught of tweets from some taking her joke at face value, or others understanding that it was a joke in the most literal sense, but not getting the joke, which is weird because if you follow Jen Kirkman, there should be no problem getting that she doesn’t support murder of brown or any other people. A few of the threats and complaints should give you a sense of the reaction.
https://twitter.com/cassie_complex/status/761233436195426305
https://twitter.com/DaHomieNick/status/761327290395480064
So, progressive Hillarybots – are you going to stand by @JenKirkman on this? Is this "intersectional feminism"? https://t.co/UKDs8KQrsF
— Galway Curiousblue (@iamcuriousblue) August 4, 2016
After getting death threats, complaints, and tweets from people attempting to get her banned from clubs, Jen deleted the tweet, explained her decision to delete, and then bowed out. She explained that she has someone checking tweets being sent to her, and blocking the threats. She said the Hillary joke referenced a “90’s scandal” i.e. Vince Foster, and people didn’t get it, so she deleted it to stop the threats.
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/761455008919359488
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/761455705668718592
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/761467331163803648
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/761467686064840704
https://twitter.com/JenKirkman/status/761468251586990080
Hopefully Jen will be back, but in the meantime, “I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)!” is available on all digital platforms, today, August 5th, 2016.
