David Simon, the creator of “The Wire,” is being slammed for using the N-word in a tweet about Sean Hannity.
Simon was weighing in on the upcoming Donald Trump town hall where he is set to address the issues facing African-Americans. The event will be hosted by Hannity on Wednesday.
“Hannity my n—-,” he tweeted, without the dashes. “If they couldn’t get Ta-Nehisi or Deray to host, then who but you on the pulse of black America?”
Hannity my nigga! If they couldn't get Ta-Nehisi or Deray to host, then who but you on the pulse of black America? https://t.co/9hW7wpH4Ar
— David Simon (@AoDespair) September 20, 2016
Social media users were quick to blast Simon, telling him he was “out of line” and he should “know better.”
https://twitter.com/Sedna_51/status/778042182737465345
This wasn't okay. You know better, you should do better.
— HEATED ? (@bettyb00p00) September 20, 2016
white people love using the word 'nigga' any chance they get, under any context when it's not needed. go fuck yourself.
— Ms. Erika ? (@MzYummyDread) September 20, 2016
David, you're an intelligent white man. You know how this looks. It's not okay.
I get the sarcasm. There's better ways to do it.
— HEATED ? (@bettyb00p00) September 20, 2016
I respect you. Draw back from that word, sir, it's not ours. I see where you wanted to go with it, but damn, my dude.
— Advanced Persistent Fret (@GotdamBear) September 20, 2016
You are out of line.
— Nyasha Junior (@NyashaJunior) September 20, 2016
Simon later tried to explain his remarks, saying his tweet was supposed to intentionally mock “the misuse of a white Fox interlocutor to address black issues.” Many understood the intended sarcasm, but some also objected to his use of the word — saying it doesn’t matter whether it is spelled with “-er” or “-a” at the end.
To the hall monitors: Use of N-word (with an A) DIRECTLY mocks the misuse of a white Fox interlocutor to address black issues. I'll play it.
— David Simon (@AoDespair) September 20, 2016
I agree and to be perfectly clear, a vast % of AA are against this word PERIOD. No matter if it's the A or ER.
— ClassySassy (@ColorMeTiff) September 20, 2016
So? Still not OK. Delete this.
— Mr. Chris Love (@MiQL) September 20, 2016
“The Wire,” about Baltimore drug dealers and the cops who pursue them, ran from 2002 to 2008 on HBO and has been widely praised for its look at how institutions from schools to newspapers have failed urban communities.
Apart from “The Wire,” Simon’s other credits include “Show Me a Hero” and the recently-announced show, “The Deuce,” on which he will serve as writer and executive producer.
Simon’s reps have not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.