WATCH: ‘Daily Show’ Pits Native Americans Against Redskins Fans

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“The Daily Show” aired a segment Thursday night that had reportedly led to a showdown between Native Americans and diehard Washington Redskins fans, although little of the hostility the team’s loyalists later said they experienced appeared to make the cut.

Jon Stewart eased into the segment with a disclaimer, likely because one of the fans interviewed by “Daily Show” correspondent Jason Jones, Kelli O’Dell, told the Washington Post earlier this week that she had asked to be left out of the segment. O’Dell said she had called the police after the taping because she felt threatened by the Native American activists.

“We learned later that some of the individuals who participated in the piece — they didn’t enjoy the experience. It’s something that happens a lot less than you would think,” Stewart said. “But we take the complaint seriously. We generally don’t want people who participate in the show to have a bad experience. We work very hard to find real people who have real beliefs and want to express those beliefs on television, and we work hard to make sure that the gist of those beliefs are represented accurately, albeit sometimes comedically on our program.”

“If we find out that someone in a piece was intentionally misled or if their comments were intentionally misrepresented, we do not air that piece. We would not air that piece,” he added. “So that being said, I hope you enjoy the following piece.”

The program didn’t air much of the apparently heated confrontation between the Native Americans and the Redskins fans, showing little more than what correspondent Jason Jones characterized as a “handshake” between one of the activists and O’Dell. There was no audio accompanying the footage of the meeting between the two groups.

“It turns out these fans weren’t comfortable having that conversation,” Jones said in a voiceover. “In fact, afterward they relayed to the Washington Post that they felt ambushed, in danger and defamed.”

“In the end they said they still would have gone on the show had they known there would be a debate, but at least one of them wouldn’t have worn his Redskins jacket,” he added.

Ultimately, at least two of the four Redskins fans interviewed by Jones said that they’d continue rooting for the football team under a different name.

Watch below, courtesy of Comedy Central:

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Notable Replies

  1. For all the hype the bit wasn’t that funny. Jones has done better.

  2. Avatar for dectra dectra says:

    Ron, the segment was not intended to be ‘funny’.

    Do you think it’s okay to call African Americans “niggers”? Or to call Jewish people “Bar code” or “Firewood” or “Hook-nose”?

    Yet, somehow, it’s okay in the minds of these people (and others) to continue to call Native Americans “redskin”

    Confronting hatred isn’t funny…but it IS the right thing to do.

  3. Hmm. It was an oddly unsatisfying segment.

    How about the Braindeads. The Washington Braindeads. That’s not demeaning,is it? Football has a long tradition of Braindead team owners, Braindead fans. It’s an honor, actually. The Braindead Name is meant to honor Washington DC and all of history, and it honors the Braindead football community. The Washington football fans should be proud to wear and display the Braindead name and spend a lot of money on the Braindead logo, to wear and flaunt.

    Wear it proudly, Washington fans! What. That’s not offensive.

  4. #EONMassc
    That awkward moment for settlers faced with the reality, actual dialogue from native people themselves, that we find it extremely offensive when our cultural identity is misappropriated or used in stereotyping mascotry or costume, let alone a dictionary defined slur word identifying us as a people. It would not be tolerated with other cultures, why is that we are supposed to accept it … haven’t accepted it for generations ago. Its time to change history. Change the name to “fore-skins” (you know forefathers) problem solved.

    Those not offended - Harm upon one of us, is harm upon all – that’s our moral compass as a culture … time to walk with your people who are hurt by stereotypes, and called the slur name. – See the website “changethemascot” where you will see all the tribes who have signed and adopted resolutions to end offensive mascotry, and team names. – I will tell you this, I would NEVER dare to put on a headdress for I know that’s earned in ceremony, let alone wear war paint mocking my culture for the celebration of any sport. If we would not manufacture and wear as an accessory the “purple heart,” or “merit stripes,” cause it looks cool, then why wear chicken feather’d headdress, and fake braided wigs at the game?

  5. It is the Daily Show, it is intended to be both funny and thought provoking. If the show isn’t it will be canceled.

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