Michelle Wolf, who was brought in for the comedy routine Saturday for the White House Correspondents Association dinner, told a groan-inducing joke about abortion that afterwards drewa wave of backlash from conservative figures.
The joke centered on Vice President Mike Pence’s anti-abortion stance position.
“He thinks abortion is murder,” Wolf said, “which, first of all, don’t knock it ‘til you try it — and when you do try it, really knock it. You know, you’ve got to get that baby out of there. And yeah, sure, you can groan all you want. I know a lot of you are very anti-abortion. You know, unless it’s the one you got for your secret mistress.”
The joke from the “Daily Show” writer was poorly received inside and out of the venue.
“I love irreverent humor. Abortion is not funny it’s a human tragedy. Wh correspondents Assoc owes America an apology,” tweeted Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union.
Schlapp also said he and his wife, Mercedes, the White House director of strategic communications, walked out of the room after having “enough of elites mocking all of us.”
My wife @mercedesschlapp and I walked out early from the wh correspondents dinner. Enough of elites mocking all of us
— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) April 29, 2018
“Some good lines. And I’m very willing to laugh at brutal jokes. I did. Some of the personal attacks on Sarah Sanders were unfunny & would never EVER be told about a Democrat in her position. Also, if you’re going to make abortion jokes, make them close to funny,” said Guy Benson, political editor of Townhall.com, adding, “gross” with a thumbs-down emoji.
Some good lines. And I’m very willing to laugh at brutal jokes. I did. Some of the personal attacks on Sarah Sanders were unfunny & would never EVER be told about a Democrat in her position. Also, if you’re going to make abortion jokes, make them close to funny ? gross. #WHCD
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 29, 2018
“Disgusting,” said Independent Journal Review senior editor Caleb Hull. He also said, “This is why trump won.”
Michelle Wolf “jokes” at the #WHCD about abortion saying you really need to “knock” the baby. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/CdtKfqy5bO
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 29, 2018
Speaking about Wolf’s routine as a whole, Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of the Daily Wire, tweeted: “Michelle Wolf is about as funny as stomach cancer. My goodness.”
Michelle Wolf is about as funny as stomach cancer. My goodness.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 29, 2018
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the correspondents’ dinner was a “disgrace.”
Tonight’s #WHCD was a disgrace
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) April 29, 2018
That sentiment was echoed by former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, who said the room was left “uncomfortable” by the x-rated “spectacle that started poorly and ended up in the bottom of the canyon.”
An R/X rated spectacle that started poorly and ended up in the bottom of the canyon. Another victory for @realDonaldTrump for not attending and proving his point once again. The room was uncomfortable. Trump lovers and even a large number of Trump haters were pretty miserable.
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) April 29, 2018