Ticker: Publishers dropping Dilbert; Paramount sued over ‘South Park’ deal

The creator of the Dilbert comic strip faced a backlash of cancellations over the weekend while defending remarks describing people who are Black as members of “a hate group” from which white people should “get away.”

Various publishers across the U.S. denounced the comments by Dilbert creator Scott Adams as racist, hateful and discriminatory while saying they would no longer provide a platform for his work.

Andrews McMeel Syndication, which distributes Dilbert, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Adams defended himself on social media against those whom he said “hate me and are canceling me.”

Dilbert is a long-running comic that pokes fun at office-place culture.

The backlash began following an episode this past week of the YouTube show, “Real Coffee with Scott Adams.” Among other topics, Adams referenced a Rasmussen Reports survey that had asked whether people agreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white.”

Most agreed, but Adams noted that 26% of Black respondents disagreed and others weren’t sure.

Adams, who is white, repeatedly referred to people who are Black as members of a “hate group” or a “racist hate group” and said he would no longer “help Black Americans.”

Paramount sued over ‘South Park’ deal

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is suing Paramount Global, saying its competitor aired new episodes of the popular animated comedy series “South Park” after Warner paid more than $500 million for exclusive rights in a 2019 contract with the company that produces the show.

The lawsuit alleges the show offered two special episodes to Paramount. Show creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who launched “South Park” in 1997 and oversee the franchise, were not named in the lawsuit.

Paramount Global did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the lawsuit.