Ricky Gervais, Apologize for Rudeness to the Down's Syndrome Community!
Comedian Ricky Gervais has danced all around this issue, but he hasn't really apologized to the Down's Syndrome Community for frequent and derogatory use of the term "Mongs" in his twitter. The term is widely understood to refer to people with Down's Syndrome.
Previously, Gervais claimed not to know the word was derogatory slang for Down's Syndrome, insisting on his private definition (with made up words) of "A dozy, spud headed twonk." Gervais got a wake-up call after a BBC Radio show featured the mother of two disabled girls. Activist Mom Nicola Clark burst into tears, reporting that her daughters have been the victims of street-flung verbal abuse which includes the word "mongs," according to the Daily Mail online.
Though Gervais has held some heartfelt conversation with Clark and admitted to being "naive" in his use of the term, he has yet to formally apologize either to the Down's Syndrome community or to the many fans who follow him on Twitter, many of whom lovingly embrace his vocabulary.
We the undersigned are delighted that you now understand how hurtful and derogatory your use of the word "mongs" has been.
However, we do not really buy it that you did not know the current meaning of the word, and we would like an apology issued both to your fans and to the Down's Syndrome Community. As it was via Twitter that you promoted the use of this hate word, we believe the apology should be issued via the same technology.[Your comments will be inserted here.]
