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Sarah Silverman speech sparks online complaints

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Thu, 18 Feb 2010 2:31p.m.

Sarah Silverman received a barrage of complaints about her speech at a technology conference last week - after her controversial routine failed to impress organisers.

The comedienne was booked to appear at the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) event in Long Beach, California, which ran from 9-13 February.

But her keynote speech wasn't well received after she made a comment about children with special needs.

According to Britain's Evening Standard newspaper, she allegedly told the crowd, "I want to adopt a special needs child because adopting a special needs child, who would do that? Only an awesome person, right?”

In a post on his Twitter.com page, event organiser Chris Anderson blasted Silverman's routine, writing, "I know I shouldn't say this about my own speakers, but I thought Sarah Silverman was God-awful."

While AOL co-founder Steve Case, who was also in the audience, took to his own Twitter page to blast the star. He writes, "Shame on you. The sad thing is you're not that funny."

And Case followed up his messages by posting a link to an online article from the Washington Post, titled "The bigotry behind the word retard," allegedly in response to the comic's use of the word in her speech.

WENN.com

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Comments

26 Aug 2011 03:14p.m.

Number36 wrote:

Looks more like a couple of people are hearing whooosh noises as things go over their heads to me. Her humour is character based, she wasn't making literal comments. Sheesh. It's not even as though this isn't the style of humour she's known for, acting surprised that she said outrageously outrageous things is just silly. Like booking Richard Pryor and then being offended by his use of swear words.

26 Aug 2011 03:14p.m.

Number36 wrote:

Looks more like a couple of people are hearing whooosh noises as things go over their heads to me. Her humour is character based, she wasn't making literal comments. Sheesh. It's not even as though this isn't the style of humour she's known for, acting surprised that she said outrageously outrageous things is just silly. Like booking Richard Pryor and then being offended by his use of swear words.