Veteran New York Times columnist David Brooks finally addressed the firestorm surrounding his tweet complaining about the “terrible” economy, saying he should never have written the “insensitive” post.
Brooks, 62, claimed in an interview Friday that he was making a “joke” when he complained that his $78 alcoholic airport dinner reflected the daily struggles American families face amid current inflation.
The political commentator said he was in a state of “shock” when he was handed the bill for his burger and a tall glass of whiskey, which he imagined regular people experience when visiting the grocery store.
“But the problem with the tweet, which I wrote so stupidly, was that it seemed as if I didn’t realize something that is blindingly obvious: that an upper-middle-class journalist drinking a bourbon in an airport is very different from a family living from check to check,” Brooks told William Brangham on PBS.
“I was insensitive. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have written that tweet. I probably shouldn’t write any tweets… I made a mistake. “It was stupid.”
The tweet, which has attracted more than 36.4 million views since Wednesday, sparked a frenzy of memes and mockery directed at the columnist, whom many accused of being out of touch.
“This meal cost me $78 at Newark airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible,” Brooks wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, alongside a photo of a burger, fries and a honey-colored liquid with ice.
The owner of 1911 Smoke House BBQ, the airport restaurant where Brooks bought the expensive dinner, said the journalist would have had to have two double drinks to rack up the hefty bill.
The tweet, which has attracted more than 36.4 million views since Wednesday, sparked a frenzy of memes and mockery directed at the columnist, whom many accused of being out of touch. Brian Stelter, /X
Thousands posted their own versions of Brooks’ tweet, many of which included bottles of liquor and miserable accompaniments, ranging from slices of cold cuts to his dog’s kibble.
Author Joyce Carol Oates, 85, continued with several variations of the joke.
“(bar bill: $66. food bill: $12. tip: $0 NY Times expense account),” he wrote on X.
The owner of 1911 Smoke House BBQ, the airport restaurant where Brooks bought the expensive dinner, said the journalist would have had to have two double drinks to rack up the hefty bill. Twitter/@ErrataRob
In a follow-up post, Oates shares a picture of her cat yawning next to an empty bowl.
“This disgusting meal cost me $7.98, the food was horrible and there wasn’t enough of it, which is why Biden is so unpopular,” he mocked.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn