The Good Place producer apologises after offensive jokes about Asian-Americans, Jews and gay people resurface
Megan Amram (Greg Doherty/Getty)
Megan Amram, a producer and writer on The Good Place, has apologised after past offensive tweets about Asian-Americans, Jews and gay people resurfaced.
The comedy writer was called out for her past remarks when she posted a tweet on June 13 which read: “Today was the day Donald Trump finally became president.”
In the replies, people shared screenshots of tweets posted by Amram between 2011 and 2013.
In them, Amram made derogatory and offensive comments about Asian-Americans and disabled people.
One widely-shared tweet from 2013 said: “If I had a time machine, I’d go back in time and kill Hitler and all of the Jews and gypsies and gay people.”
Megan Amram ‘deeply embarrassed’ and ‘apologetic’ over offensive tweet.
Megan Amram apologised for her past remarks in a statement shared on Twitter Wednesday night (June 17).
“I fear this will not convey everything I want it to, but I am speaking from the heart and trying my best to communicate my sincere regret,” The Good Place producer said.
“I am deeply embarrassed and more apologetic than you can ever know.”
In the wide-ranging statement, Amram said her instinct was to “share the varying degrees of explanation for every tweet that has offended”, but said she knows there are “no excuses”.
An apology means nothing without action and change behind it, and I assure you that the reason these tweets are from years ago is because that action and change IS behind it.
“I will be sorry for as long as I live that I have hurt even one person, and I very much understand why my words have hurt many more,” she said.
“Also, I specifically would like to apologise to the Asian-American community, who I have hurt most with my tweets. I very much understand why you are hurt.”
She continued: “An apology means nothing without action and change behind it, and I assure you that the reason these tweets are from years ago is because that action and change IS behind it.
“I learned the power I had to amplify voices and the responsibility that came along with it.
“My platform and jobs are meaningful tools to foster diverse writers, combat workplace discrimination, educate myself, donate, and to consciously and vocally support BIPOC, LGBTQ people and more.
“Every day I go into my jobs, my life, and my friendships trying to promote these ideals.”
The Good Place producer admits comments were ‘careless’ and ‘hurtful’.
She said these actions are “not lip service” and said they are at the core of what she is trying to do with her life.
“The bottom line is I tweeted some careless, hurtful things. I wish I could take them back, not to ‘get out of trouble,’ but because it is weighing heavily on my heart. But I can’t.
“So instead, I have spent the last decade attempting to unlearn the complicit racism I participate in as a white person and becoming the vocally supportive ally I think I am now.”
She closed out her statement by saying how “deeply sorry” she is for her past comments.
Amram’s apology has not been warmly received by everyone. Many people criticised her for focusing the statement on her own feelings of shame and embarrassment.
Comedian Franchesca Ramsey said the apology “falls short”.
“Careless? Hurtful? Sure. But the jokes were also racist and ableist. Say that.”
She added: “You’re right, an apology means nothing without action and change. But it’s hard to do that work when your apology is centred on how bad and embarrassed you feel instead of owning what you did and why it was harmful.”
