In the November 12 episode of Fox’s Family Guy, titled “The D in Apartment 23,” when Brian, the Griffin family dog, and Stewie visit the Quahog University Library, they see a student protest on campus so they stop by. Mocking Millennials perfectly, a student tells Brian that they have gathered to demand the university president be fired. His offense? He didn’t overreact when the word “weird” was discovered written on the transgender bathroom.
Also, a professor told his class to have a nice day and that warrants a charge of microaggression: “In our systemic rape culture, no day is a nice day.” Brian says, “If you don’t want to get fired, don’t become a teacher, right?” “You should tweet that. #FireEveryone,” said the student.
Brian rediscovers his love of tweeting and goes wild. “Kelly Ripa no-shows at work. Who does she think she is, A Republican senator? #G-O-P-U” and “Someone needs to tell Donald Trump it’s not fashionable to wear orange on your face after Labor Day” are two of his tweets. Republican bashing accomplished.
While walking into a movie, Brian makes his fatal mistake. He tweets, “About to see the new Kevin Hart movie. Just kidding. I’m white and went to college. #BaywatchMovie” and you know what happens next. The perpetual outrage machine that lives on Twitter explodes with Brian as the latest victim. The re-tweets and comments roll in. One even took another shot at President Trump – “@realDonaldTrump you forgot your dog in Quahog? #racist.” Yeah. #Lame.
A crowd gathers outside the movie theater and chases Brian home. Once there, the Griffin family is waiting for him. “It’s not 2005. You can’t just go online and say whatever you want,” Lois says. Brian deletes the tweet but, as we all know, the Internet is forever. All the members of the family experience the public’s wrath as they try to go about their lives. One kid at the high school doesn’t accept Chris’ explanation that Brian’s tweet was a joke. He says, “We live in a post-joke world.” Isn’t that the truth!
The crowd of protesters will not leave the lawn of the Griffin’s house so Brian is finally convinced to just step outside and apologize. Naturally, no one is willing to listen. The crowd is angry and the perfect line is uttered by one angry man – “Anything that makes me uncomfortable in 2017 should be illegal.”
Brian: Hello. As you all know, I'm Brian Griffin.
Quagmire: Boo. Boo, Brian Griffin. Boo.
Brian: I want to read a few words...
Quagmire: Boo. Liar. Boo, Brian Griffin, boo.
Brian: Anyway, I-I want to...
Quagmire: Boo. Apologize somewhere else. Boo. Boo, Brian, boo.
Brian: Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here today to apologize...
Man: Why did you say "Ladies" first? That's sexist.
Brian: It's just, it's just a-a standard greeting. Let-let me start over. Gentlemen and ladies...
Woman: Ooh, says the man.
Brian: Okay, sorry, I-I... Um, humans in the audience...
Man 2: I identify as a basketball.
Brian: Humans and basketballs...
Man 3: I'm a parrot who mimics words but doesn't comprehend them.
Brian: Humans, basketballs, talking parrots, and-and whatever else is out there...
Woman 2:"Whatever"? It's whoever.
Woman 3: Actually, it's whomever.
Woman 2: No one likes you, Mary.
Brian: All right, all right, just-just calm down, okay?
Woman 4: Now you're tone policing us!
Man 4: That makes me uncomfortable. Anything that makes me uncomfortable in 2017 should be illegal.
Brian: You know what? (Bleep) You. I'm not a racist, all right? I just told a bad joke. There's a huge difference. But nobody on the Internet ever takes the time to ask themselves, "Is this worth freaking out over?" Or, "Are there bigger problems in the world than this tweet?" Well, I assure you, there are. And just for the record, I love black people. I watch tons of black porn. So, what do you all want from me, huh? You-you want to ruin my life? Then congratulations. You did it. Everybody hates me. I can't leave the house without getting harassed. No one will hire me.
Stewie: That was a problem before.
Brian: I can't turn on my phone without strangers telling me to kill myself or that they're gonna kill my family. Leave me alone! I'm the self-righteous, liberal douchebag, not you! I've kissed a transsexual before! How many of you can say that?! Where's my (bleep) medal?! I am so far left, I'm spinning in circles, you (bleep). Instead of killing myself, I should kill all of you!
Man: I'd like to see you try. Ow! Jeez.
Finally, Lois asks Brian to move out of the house. The end of this episode shows Brian in a run-down apartment (Apartment 23) eating macaroni and cheese as he listens to the television of a neighbor come through the thin walls.
This perfectly illustrates the impossible standards set by the demands of today’s politically correct world. Donald Trump campaigned on that, if you remember. Perpetual outrage over silly tweets and delicate Millennial egos are not a good look on anyone.
