Gilbert Gottfried scandal hurt his career beyond repair.
Aflac Inc. ended its association with comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who had been the voice of the insurer’s duck mascot for a long time.
The dissociation happened due to Gottfried’s series of inappropriate jokes about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on Twitter.
Aflac’s senior VP and chief marketing officer, Michael Zuna, stated that Gottfried’s comments were insensitive and did not reflect the thoughts and feelings of anyone at Aflac.
Aflac has initiated a nationwide search for a new voice for its duck in light of the situation. It plans to donate ¥100 million to support disaster relief efforts, as Japan is a significant market for Aflac.
Gottfried did not regret his comments, including one that stated, “I just split up with my girlfriend, but as the Japanese say, ‘They’ll be another one floating by any minute now.’
Gilbert Gottfried was a prominent American standup comedian known for his unique voice, New York accent and daring sense of humor.
He had an active career spanning over five decades, during which he made a name for himself in both acting and voiceover work.
He voiced the character of Iago in the Disney movie Aladdin and lent his voice to various shows, including The Fairly OddParents and Family Guy.
Despite his success, Gottfried’s live performances were often met with controversy due to his edgy material.
One such incident occurred in 2001, just days after the September 11 attacks. During a comedy show at the Friars Club in New York City, Gottfried made several jokes about the tragedy, which sparked outrage from the audience.
Many people called for him to apologize, and he later did so while donating money to the American Red Cross.
What happened to Gilbert Gottfried?
Sadly, Gottfried passed away at 67 months after losing his close friends Bob Saget and Louie Anderson.
While his humor may have been polarizing, there is no denying that Gilbert Gottfried was a talented comedian and voice actor who left a mark on the entertainment industry.
Gilbert Gottfried’s close friend and publicist, Glenn Schwartz, revealed that the beloved entertainer had suffered type II myotonic dystrophy, an incurable illness.
However, NBC News later reported that Gilbert had passed away due to recurrent ventricular tachycardia, an abnormal heart rhythm in the heart’s lower chambers.
In the wake of this tragic news, many have paid tribute to Gilbert’s illustrious career, which spanned over five decades and included memorable performances in Saturday Night Live, Beverly Hills Cop II, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Among his most iconic roles was his voiceover work as Iago, the mischievous parrot, in Disney’s beloved animated classic Aladdin, which endeared him to younger generations of fans.