Norm Macdonald Faces Backlash Again For Down Syndrome Joke, Comedian Apologizes

Norm Macdonald apologized for the second time on Thursday for an insensitive joke he made about people with Down Syndrome.

The 58-year-old Canadian comedian was discussing his opinions of the #MeToo movement on The Howard Stern Show Wednesday when he said: “You’d have to have Down Syndrome to not feel sorry for” victims of sexual harassment.

“Down Syndrome. That’s my new word,” Macdonald added. The comedian then apologized while appearing on The View on Thursday.

“There’s a word we used to use to mean stupid I was about to say that word, and then I stopped and thought about what’s the right word to say,” he said on the show. “I realized at that moment I did something unforgivable.”

Macdonald — who starred on Saturday Night Live during the 1990s — has a new series called Norm Macdonald Has A Show, which will premiere Friday on Netflix.

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“I have been surprised because I never did anything. I spoke,” the comedian added on The View. “I don’t want to be tossed in with people who did, not crimes, but sins,” he said. “I barely have consensual sex.”

Macdonald recently came under fire after he discussed the #MeToo movement in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The comedian said he was glad the movement “has slowed down a bit,” and also went on to talk about how fellow comics Louis C.K, Roseanne Barr — both of whom are reportedly his friends — and Chris Hardwick were treated after each of them became embroiled in a distinct scandal.

Five women accused C.K. — who late last month received criticism after reappearing on the comedy scene in New York — of sexual harassment last November. Meanwhile, former @midnight host Hardwick faced allegations in June that he had physically and emotionally abused his ex-girlfriend Chloe Dykstra. In May, Barr had her hit ABC sitcom revival Roseanne cancelled after she posted a racist tweet about former President Barack Obama aide Valerie Jarrett. 

Macdonald said that sexual harassment or assault victims didn’t have their careers ended and lose “everything in a day” because of something they did, and dozens of people quickly slammed the comedian for seemingly minimalizing the suffering and trauma of women who have been sexually abused.

Macdonald was recently scheduled to appear on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, although his interview was cancelled in the wake of his comments.