The Onion, a Chicago-based liberal satire publication recently acquired by Jeff Lawson, co-founder of Twilio and a longtime Democratic donor, is facing criticism for a controversial tweet that many see as crossing a line. On Tuesday, the publication made light of the death of Corey Comperatore, a former firefighter hailed as a hero for protecting his family from gunfire meant for President Donald Trump’s political opponent, Kamala Harris.
During a recent presidential debate, Harris remarked, “I’m gonna invite you to attend one of Donald Trump’s rallies because it’s a really interesting thing to watch.” She suggested that people attending Trump’s rallies often
“start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom.”
The Satirical Tweet That Crossed a Line
Not long after, The Onion tweeted, “FACT CHECK[.] Trump: ‘People don’t leave my rallies.’ TRUE: They’re carried out in body bags.” This post was widely condemned as making a punchline out of a tragic event that cost an American hero his life.
On July 13, at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, failed assassin and ActBlue donor Thomas Matthew Crooks fired several shots at Trump. Crooks missed Trump, only grazing his ear. However, his actions left Corey Comperatore’s family without their beloved patriarch.
Dr. Jim Sweetland, an emergency department physician who was at the rally, told CBS News about his attempt to save Comperatore, who had been shot in the head. “There was lots of blood,” Sweetland recounted.
“I looked up to see his family, who witnessed my efforts and resuscitation, and the look on their faces said it all.” said Sweetland.
A Hero’s Final Act
Comperatore, a former fire chief for the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, acted heroically when gunfire erupted. He used his body to shield his wife and daughter. His daughter, Allyson Comperatore, told ABC News, “As he was throwing me down, that was when he was shot. He ended up falling onto me. I was like, confused, and I went, ‘Dad?’ And when I turned is whenever he fell down and that’s when I started screaming.”
Helen Comperatore, his wife, emphasized her husband’s bravery, stating, “He definitely was a hero. He saved his wife. He saved his child. He was just the best guy.”
Backlash Over The Onion’s Insensitive Tweet
While The Onion’s tweet may have struck a chord with some on the left, it was met with widespread outrage. Many found the joke at the expense of a slain hero and his grieving family to be tasteless and offensive. “Shame on you,” tweeted Libs of TikTok.
“This is evil.” stated Starbuck
Conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck responded, “Delete this. People are grieving you evil ghouls.” He further commented, “Making fun of people who were murdered is absolutely disgusting in every way @theonion. Imagine the family members seeing this while still grieving a senseless murder driven by extremist political hatred against Republicans. Pure evil.”
Colin Rugg, co-founder of Trending Politics, expressed his disgust, writing, “There’s a debate between Trump and Kamala tonight and you chose to make fun of a fireman who was shot in the head while sitting next to his family.”
The Onion’s Ownership and Political Links
The Onion was acquired earlier this year by Global Tetrahedron, a firm linked to several prominent figures. Besides former Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson, who was recently seen socializing with The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson, the company includes former NBC News reporter Ben Collins as CEO, former TikTok executive Leila Brillson as Chief Marketing Officer, and former Tumblr executive Danielle Strle as Chief Product Officer.
Despite the uproar, The Onion has not issued a statement addressing the backlash, leaving many to question the boundaries of satire in today’s politically charged climate.
