Natasha Leggero is "not sorry" for a Pearl Harbor joke she made during NBC’s "New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly" special in which the 39-year-old stand-up comic was criticized by some for making fun of surviving WWII veterans' old ages.
Leggero was joking with fellow comedians Jane Lynch and Anthony Anderson about a
controversial SpaghettiOs tweet made on Dec. 7 in which the company was using the anniversary of the solemn day to promote canned spaghetti.
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"I’m offended because they were referring to SpaghettiOs as pasta," quipped Lynch, to which Leggero added, "it sucks that the only survivors of Pearl Harbor are being mocked by the only food they can still chew."
Leggero's attempt at humor triggered an immediate angry response from some viewers on Twitter, as compiled by the Huffington Post.
Leggero refused to apologize for the joke.
"I wish I could apologize, but do you really want another insincere apology that you know is just an attempt at damage control and not a real admission of guilt? Let me just try instead to be honest,"
Leggero said on her Tumblr Friday, TheWrap.com noted. "I'm not sorry. I don't think the amazing courage of American veterans and specifically those who survived Pearl Harbor is in any way diminished by a comedian making a joke about dentures on television."
"Do we really believe that the people who fought and defended our freedom against Nazis and the Axis powers will find a joke about SpaghettiO's too much to bear? Sorry, I have more respect for Veterans than to think their honor can be impugned by a glamorous, charming comedian in a fur hat," Leggero continued, referring to her New Year's outfit.
Leggero concluded her response by telling any veterans reading her message: "I love you. I truly hope you know that," while adding to SpaghettiOs, "Let’s do lunch."
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