Dan Pfeiffer’s Accidentally Racist Tweet Prompts Apology
White House advisor Dan Pfeiffer probably had the worst day of his career today, as the communications specialist had what was likely the most awkward autocorrect incident in political history happen to him.
Dan Pfeiffer’s Twitter gaffe is one that’s doubly embarrassing considering his role, though autocorrect has hit many of us at the worst times. As a social media influencer in politics during the term of America’s first black president (and first social media president), Pfeiffer endured an error that forever makes people frustrated that the letter “B” is next to the letter “N.”
Yes, Pfeiffer meant to tweet “bigger,” and instead… managed to use a verified account connected to the White House to accidentally publish one of the most offensive words in English. And it could happen to all of us, but when it happens to a White House advisor, it’s kind of news.
Pfeiffer was responding to a conversation about how Americans receive news — and subsequently, the rise of polarized information. Tweeting to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin, Pfeiffer praised the reporter for his salient observation and continued what was, up until then, a fairly productive and on-point conversation about objective reporting.
Meaning to describe a larger suggested tendency for polarization amid conservative factions, Pfeiffer said:
“@jmartNYT also a much [n*****] factor on the right – Dan Pfeiffer (@pfeiffer44)”
Obviously, the most awkward political tweet of all time has been deleted, and Pfeiffer addressed the embarrassing error, also on Twitter:
Obviously a horrendous typo in my previous tweet. My apologies
— Dan Pfeiffer (@pfeiffer44) October 8, 2013
Replies ranged from partisan outrage to jokesterism, with two reading:
I’m sure you’d be so forgiving if an evil Repub. did it. #Fail. RT@pfeiffer44 Obviously a horrendous typo in my previous tweet. My apologies
— Carl Gustav (@CaptYonah) October 8, 2013
@pfeiffer44 My bigger!
— jakerome (@jakerome) October 8, 2013
Another joked:
@pfeiffer44 Sorry, too late. Racist.
— JWF (@JammieWF) October 8, 2013
Before Dan Pfeiffer’s Twitter gaffe was deleted, it may have reached any number of his more than 54,000 followers.
