In a sign of the times, Tyler Joseph of the band Twenty One Pilots did something awful and prompted the outrage of internet denizens. What did he do?
He made a simple joke.
You guys keep asking me to use my platforms. feels good to dust these bad boys off,” tweeted Joseph with a picture of him wearing platform shoes.
you guys keep asking me to use my platforms.
feels good to dust these bad boys off. pic.twitter.com/CFyMOIkKgC— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
The horror.
Naturally, because Joseph made a joke about using his platform, people on the internet had to go a bit psychotic. They made sure Joseph understood that what he did was wrong despite the fact that it absolutely wasn’t.
The singer is known for making music that addresses mental problems such as depression. Few people actually use their platform for the betterment of humanity more than he does, however despite this fact, one simple joke on the internet is enough to generate an outrage mob against him.
🙁 it’s disappointing to see you joke about this dude.
— Elliot Lee ♁ ᴮ ᴸ ᴹ (@elliotleemusic) September 2, 2020
it’s not too late to delete this king
— LEVI (@usedwii) September 2, 2020
maybe not something to ya know.. joke about
— tors (@ICEC0LDPOOL) September 2, 2020
sir this kinda ain’t it
— sanpop ☽ (@sancnvs) September 2, 2020
maybe… actually use your platform? no? okay
— emel (@taxicabstruce) September 2, 2020
How about actually use your platform for shit that matters instead of being spiteful in a moment when the thousands of people looking to you to know that you care about them or anything for that matter.
— mads🌙 BLM (@ofthenight_) September 2, 2020
this is actual footage of you sending this tweet thinking that your pun is hilarious pic.twitter.com/BYglaNelp8
— britney (@idwfallaway) September 2, 2020
Joseph initially defended his tweet but then caved and apologized.
this isn’t a notes app moment.
i’m doubling down on my platform tweet.
it was fantastic.
— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 2, 2020
im truly sorry if it hurt anyone.
here is a link with a lot of great info that i stand by.https://t.co/ItppMmW1u8— tyler jøseph (@tylerrjoseph) September 3, 2020
He shouldn’t have apologized, but his apology isn’t the thing that really makes me mad.
What makes me mad is the fact that celebrities like Joseph are forced into these dehumanizing situations where their own Twitter feeds and platforms are effectively forced to run in ways the mob tells them to.
(The Mob: The Dregs of Human Intelligence)
Do you want to know why many celebrities seem to speak out about things they don’t believe in? It’s because if they don’t they get canceled. Their own outlets for self-expression are coopted by moral busybodies who tell them that if they don’t run with their cause or their message then they’re canceled.
People need the humor to make the burden of life lighter. People need to make jokes, no matter how corny, in order to make the world seem a little bit brighter. If it’s all darkness all the time then people will find themselves in dire straights as things become too heavy.
This is the problem with the social justice movement and modern activism. It’s effectively outlawed humor and made it clear that the only thing anyone can have time for, especially celebrities, is whatever cause they say. It’s tyrannical.
Joseph shouldn’t have apologized but I understand why he did. He was mobbed and was lead to believe that the world had turned against him over a joke. It didn’t. We need more humor in this world, even of the corny variety.
We can’t let these wokescolds control us.
