Penn Jillette Apologizes To Newfoundlanders For Comments On ‘Real Time’

Penn Jillette, half of the magic duo Penn & Teller, discussed where he’s from on an episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.

PENN JILLETTE APOLOGIZES FOR COMMENTS ON NEWFOUNDLAND

The comic said, “I’m probably from Newfoundland, which is just a euphemism for stupid. All of those people up on the frozen North that club seals, those are my people.” Newfoundlanders hopped on social media to criticize the remarks, one calling them “discriminatory.”

“I’m from Newfoundland and I don’t appreciate your discriminatory remarks on real time tonight. try getting your facts straight,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I was trying to be self deprecating and I failed. Just me being incompetent. Sorry. So sorry,” was Jillette’s initial response.

But the user kept at it. “Being self deprecating by putting down thousands of people you obviously know nothing about.”

“I’m worse than that,” he replied. “I’ve been there and loved everyone I met. I was really stupid and out of line. Sorry.”

While his apology was enough for that user in particular, others were not as willing to forgive. Newfoundland comedian Mark Critch spoke out against Jillette. “For your next trick, pull your head out of your ass. Until u learn about where you’re from, act like Teller & shut it,” he wrote on the social media site.

Jillette has been apologizing to direct tweets and threads since he made the remarks, and claims he was setting up a bit that they never got to on Real Time. When one user said he couldn’t imagine how the supposed bit could have been funny, Jillette somewhat explained. “I could imagine it, but I was wrong. It was a point about good people being considered bad. In favor of immigration. But, you’re right.”

In the end, Jillette seems to be all forgiven. Even Critch came around. “Joke for ya: How many Newfoundlanders does it take to make up on Twitter? Two,” he tweeted Sunday night.