Comedian Whitney Cummings revealed how an innocuous holiday greeting last year earned her “a talk” with her company’s HR department.
The 37-year-old stand-up comedian and actress recounted to late-night host Conan O’Brien how her Human Resources department informed her that she had offended an intern at the company by saying “Merry Christmas.”
(Video: TBS)
After admitting earlier in a segment on TBS’ “Conan” that she and her family like to re-gift on Christmas, Cummings went on to tell about her triggering holiday greeting.
“Last year, I was working on a TV show, got in trouble with human resources for saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to an intern,” Cummings said.
Is that true?” O’Brien asked.
“That’s true. I was leaving… I was like, ‘bye, guys. Merry Christmas.’ Like just a formality, what you would say,” Cummings said “I come back, like, June 6th. HR calls me and they’re like, ‘hey, we need to talk to you. One of the interns is pissed off that you said ‘Merry Christmas.'”
She explained that it was just a “formality,” and that “I don’t even care how your Christmas was.”
The late-night host noted that “in these times,” saying “Merry Christmas” could offend or trigger someone. Cummings added that she asked the HR department what she could have said instead and was informed that the intern was agnostic.
“I was like, no, no, no, no, no. You do not get to do that,” Cummings said. “Because had I known that this person was agnostic, that would mean we were in a relationship, like, that would mean we were intimately connected.”
“I should not know who believes in God and who doesn’t,” she added. “I also can’t guess either, you know?”
President Trump’s daughter-in-law thinks it’s “sort of sad” to not be able to say Merry Christmas, and said recently that it is a phrase that has been returning to the holiday season since Trump became the president.
“I actually feel like I’ve heard so many people saying ‘Merry Christmas’ now than I did in years past,” she said in an interview with MLive.
(Video: YouTube/MLive)
Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch sent critics over the edge when he said “Merry Christmas” in a Fox News interview this week.
In an appearance on “Fox and Friends” Tuesday to promote his book, “A Republic, If You Can Keep It,” the Trump-appointee greeted Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt with “Merry Christmas.”
Liberals, like writer Amee Vanderpool, immediately took issue with Gorsuch’s remarks.
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch just appeared on Fox and Friends this morning, making a point to parrot the “Merry Christmas” talking point of the GOP. If he’s willing to go on Fox and throw a shout out to Republican narratives, what ele is he willing to do? pic.twitter.com/doJ5BUEFQg
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) December 17, 2019
But the Republican Party decided to capitalize on it, and the controversy, by using it for fundraising.
Justice Gorsuch said “Merry Christmas” on Fox and Liberals are losing their minds!
With @realDonaldTrump in charge, we’re saying MERRY CHRISTMAS AGAIN!
Get your Limited-Edition Christmas Stickers before they’re gone. ⬇️https://t.co/PqP2hniE32
— GOP (@GOP) December 17, 2019
Meanwhile, Twitter users seemed just as outraged by the incident that Cummings had described and took to Twitter to vent their views.
I’ve been told the safest thing to say is “have a good holiday” then to set yourself on fire https://t.co/jtm3uVTaJu
— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) December 20, 2019
Someone reporting me to HR for saying Merry Christmas would only make me want to say it even more.
— ʞɐɹɯɐdıllo (@codylewis91) December 20, 2019
Seems to me the more appropriate thing for HR to so would be trying to get this intern some psychiatric help instead of coming to you about this non issue
— Mike #GrohMustGo (@Boston__Sucks) December 20, 2019
This stuff is what makes people who are politically on the fence swing to the right. Complaining about shit like this is what will get Trump re-elected. It’s already done. Liberals got him 4 more years. Fuckin idiots. https://t.co/u7YRxYZj7i
— Chris D’Elia (@chrisdelia) December 20, 2019
If someone wishes you any greeting in good spirits and you complain about it. You’re the problem.
— JonO (@RealJonOC) December 20, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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