Comedian Nick Di Paolo couldn't get Netflix or, well, any other major media outlet to buy his stand up special. So instead, he decided to give the special away from free on YouTube, citing the "dangerous" nature of the special for why it couldn't be aired on any other medium. Well, it turns out the promotion was more dangerous than the actual content, as viewers were quick to notice Di Paolo was using an image of himself giving the finger to a group of liberal activists - including a Black Lives Matter protestor who was murdered.
The guy in the Black Lives Matter shirt is activist Muhiyidin Moye who was shot and killed last year. but yeh sure, use him as your prop in a shitty photoshop job to demonstrate how edgy and brave you are. pic.twitter.com/jMqc1xSdmg
— Sachi Ezura (@misstrionics) May 7, 2019
After this was pointed out, Di Paolo suddenly decided he did in fact have his limits, and he offered an apology of sorts in response to the initial tweet.
I did not know that as I found it online in stock photos. Looking into changing it as we speak. My apologies. https://t.co/JK0qYMl93R
— Nick DiPaolo (@NickDiPaolo) May 7, 2019
It seemed like maybe Di Paolo had decided he didn't want to trigger people *that* much, but he quickly went back to his confrontational tone once the realized the scandal was causing him to briefly trend on Twitter.
Trending number one on Twitter in NYC mins ago thx to you my great fans and the whining leftist maggots. pic.twitter.com/98XfdR7KY7
— Nick DiPaolo (@NickDiPaolo) May 7, 2019
And while the controversy may have bumped the numbers on his special, the whole episode wasn't particularly on brand for the comic whose whole schtick was not caring about blowback.
Nick DiPaolo releasing a comedy CD about how being offended is stupid, then doing something so stupid and offensive that he apologizes to people is QUITE A LOOK. https://t.co/jc0bOUICr2
— Jensen Karp (@JensenKarp) May 7, 2019