Neil DeGrasse Tyson Stands His Ground After Offending Christians On Twitter
His Christmas Day tweet was a masterclass in trolling. h/t Gothamist
Scientist Neil DeGrasse Tyson has refused to apologize for a series of tweets sent out on Christmas Day that upset many Christians.
Normally known for posting about scientific curiosities, Tyson tweeted the following posts on Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas to all. A Pagan holiday (BC) becomes a Religious holiday (AD). Which then becomes a Shopping holiday (USA).
Neil deGrasse Tyson@neiltysonFollow
Merry Christmas to all. A Pagan holiday (BC) becomes a Religious holiday (AD). Which then becomes a Shopping holiday (USA).
10:54 AM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
QUESTION: ThIs year, what do all the world's Muslims and Jews call December 25th? ANSWER: Thursday
QUESTION: ThIs year, what do all the world's Muslims and Jews call December 25th? ANSWER: Thursday
10:30 AM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
One particular post soon became Tyson's most retweeted post of all time, with more than 69,000 retweets.
On this day long ago, a child was born who, by age 30, would transform the world. Happy Birthday Isaac Newton b. Dec 25, 1642
On this day long ago, a child was born who, by age 30, would transform the world. Happy Birthday Isaac Newton b. Dec 25, 1642
10:38 AM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Many people were offended:
.@neiltyson fun fact: Isaac Newton was a Creationist. Where's your God now Neil?
Matt Dawson@SaintRPhFollow
.@neiltyson fun fact: Isaac Newton was a Creationist. Where's your God now Neil?
4:28 PM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
@neiltyson @joerogan amazing clowns like this can insult my savior. Yet if I say "merry Christmas" it's viewed as insensitive or insulting
Lee Youngblood@BloodintheBlueFollow
@neiltyson @joerogan amazing clowns like this can insult my savior. Yet if I say "merry Christmas" it's viewed as insensitive or insulting
5:05 PM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
@neiltyson You piece of shit! How dare you blaspheme a Holy Day for billions? When it's Muhammad's Birthday, will u do same?
Sue Palmer@SuePalmersFollow
@neiltyson You piece of shit! How dare you blaspheme a Holy Day for billions? When it's Muhammad's Birthday, will u do same?
5:41 PM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU @neiltyson
cam g@bone_saleFollow
FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU @neiltyson
8:02 PM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
I'm going to give you a monster wedgie, you nerd. @neiltyson
PaulMcCartneyXmas@TonyDanzaClausFollow
I'm going to give you a monster wedgie, you nerd. @neiltyson
3:32 PM - 25 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
But instead of apologizing to those who denounced him, Tyson posted his own think-piece on the controversy on Facebook on Friday night.
"My sense in this case is that the high rate of re-tweeting, is not to share my enthusiasm of this fact, but is driven by accusations that the tweet is somehow anti-Christian," he wrote. "If a person actually wanted to express anti-Christian sentiment, my guess is that alerting people of Isaac Newton's birthday would appear nowhere on the list."
He also tweeted the following post:
Imagine a world in which we are all enlightened by objective truths rather than offended by them.
Imagine a world in which we are all enlightened by objective truths rather than offended by them.
7:05 PM - 26 Dec 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
"And a humble thanks for your continued interest in what I have to say about life, the universe, and everything," Tyson wrote on Facebook.
"But most importantly, enjoy a Happy New Year. A few days after, I'll be tweeting about Earth's perihelion. Just a head's up in case people want to avert their eyes over that one."
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David Mack is a deputy director of breaking news for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact David Mack at david.mack@buzzfeed.com.
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