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Meanwhile, an even worse joke by Donald Trump remains online and not apologized for.
Rob Lowe posted and deleted a bad joke referring to Elizabeth Warren's shaky connection to Native American culture after receiving a ton of backlash from Hollywood and beyond, while a far worse joke by Trump remains online.
Saturday, Lowe tweeted "Elizabeth Warren would bring a whole new meaning to Commander in 'Chief,'" as captured by TheWrap. Yes, he put quotes around "Chief" to emphasize his joke.
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View StoryEight hours later, the actor had removed that tweet and written an apology with another joke in it, but this time about the Oxford comma (it wasn't great, either, nor entirely accurate).
I deleted my Elizabeth Warren tweet. It was a joke and some peeps got upset, and that's never my intention. On the GOOD side: I just got to use the Oxford comma!
@RobLowe
Now he just has bad grammar, a bad joke, and a bad apology, according to many. Would anyone make a Commander in "Chief" joke about someone who was indisputably Native American? Probably not. Well, one person might.
Also on Saturday, Donald Trump blasted Elizabeth Warren with an even worse reference, recalling one of the worst tragedies subjected upon Native Americans by white settlers in America and the genocide of thousands of people.
Today Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to by me as Pocahontas, joined the race for President. Will she run as our first Native American presidential candidate, or has she decided that after 32 years, this is not playing so well anymore? See you on the campaign TRAIL, Liz!
@realDonaldTrump
He's been doing the Pocahontas jokes for years now, but it was his all-caps mention of the word "Trail" that many on social media believe recalls the horrific Trail of Tears, which was the forced relocation of over 16,000 Natives from their traditional homelands in the southeast to designated reservations west of the Mississippi.
While exact figures are unknown, it is estimated between 2,000 and 8,000 Native Americans perished during the arduous trek under United States government supervision. It is a horrible and shameful chapter in American history and certainly not something that should be joked about for political gain ... or any reason, for that matter.
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View StoryThese are just the latest mishaps in a year that has shown how ingrained systemic racism and homophobia is within the United States and how much more there is to learn about what is and isn't appropriate to joke about or dress up as.
As a nation, for better or worse we look to our political leaders and entertainers to show us a better way to behave, own up to our mistakes, apologize and move forward. And if we don't, the internet will certainly let us know our failings.
Below are some of the most heated reactions to Lowe's and Trump's tweets:
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View StoryRob Lowe
That's not funny.
@vincentdonofrio
I'm done talking about Rob Lowe being a dick and Sean Penn being an asshole. What year is this? Am I literally trapped in the @80sAllOver right now?!?
@scottEweinberg
1) I've been a fan of yours forever. Read your memoir. Enjoyed it. And have long hoped to work together. I think you might be missing part of the thing here. By using chief, you echo, even as a joke, the spirit of DJT, and you “other” people as you call out EW.
@briankoppelman
Don't. Jesus.
@Wolfiesmom
It seems that you don't understand jokes, apologies, or Oxford commas.
@spellczyker
What a raw blow!
@HamillHimself
Dude.... pic.twitter.com/pqscPxXalg
@lcl413
Just when I was liking Rob Lowe after his moving comments about being his mom's caretaker—he takes a page from Trump. Ick. You shouldn't do this: https://t.co/TUgmoMNn8B
@soledadobrien
I love Twitter for the fact that you can go to sleep and wake up learning that Rob Lowe is a racist and poor at grammar.
@tonyposnanski
And then the knife in my chest was buried deeper by... Rob Lowe's chief comment. pic.twitter.com/cr6Dlun3X5
@cah231
The same people who think the "Chief" tweet was funny. Are the same people who think Black-Face is funny. Let's be clear, calling Warren "Pocahontas" or "Chief" is racist! it's a racial slur design to dehumanize Native Americans #WhitePrivilege pic.twitter.com/4HYFWgK1nr
@LENAHU
Donald Trump
Is this what Melania meant by 'Be Best'? I don't think so. But then, she's not around anymore is she?
@kenolin1
The President has once again reaffirmed for the world what a despicable, racist, culturally insensitive excuse for a human being he is.
@RyanHillMI
As he continues to make light of some of the darkest times of American History,
For many (with a soul).. The “TRAIL” of Tears isn't a Joke! pic.twitter.com/TxKQNPAUsL
Mr. President, a lot of people are giving you a hard time thinking you're making a despicable joke about the Trail of Tears, but I have faith in you.
@williamlegate
I believe you're so dumb you don't even know what the Trail of Tears is.
Trump's hero is Andrew Jackson.
@tonyposnanski
He definitely knew he was making a Trail Of Tears reference.
Although he is dumb, Trump is very knowledgeable in racism.
You pig. You sexist racist pig. Joking about GENOCIDE? The slaughter of Native Americans? Shame on you and those who still support you... #Trump #ElizabethWarren
@AndyOstroy
So @realDonaldTrump says that Andrew Jackson is his favorite president.
@The305MVP
He makes a JOKE about the "TRAIL" in reference to "Pocahontas" Warren and her campaign announcement.
If you know what the Trail Of Tears was you know just how inappropriate this is.
Holocaust jokes next?
Man I love Donald trump. But this blindside racism is not acceptable towards any man, women, or race.
@AndrewClaridge1
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