Today Show Apologizes for Producer Mocking Mandela Sign Language Phony – Was Segment Funny or Offensive? [POLL]

In another glaring example of how those in the media have lost any sense of humor – and are probably leading us down the path of anal retentiveness, a segment on the Today Show highlighted the gaffe that allowed a supposed sign language interpreter to stand mere inches away from world leaders eulogizing former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Check out the clip. On the bottom left, an unidentified producer is shown mimicking the signer to the horror of the show’s hosts – calling for the producer to stop the on-screen gag.

But did they really have to apologize. Couldn’t they have just let the gag stand on its own – and what does this say about us as a society when something so innocuous has to be taken so seriously?

According to this:

Reporting on the uproar over the apparently fraudulent sign language interpreter who worked the stage during the Nelson Mandela memorial service during the morning show's "Today's Take" segment, an unidentified producer popped in an inset and mimed his own fake sign language.

Seeming to catch on to the tasteless attempt at humor on the monitor, co-host Natalie Morales said, "That is horrific."

The inset disappeared and Morales, Willie Geist and Al Roker attempted to steer the discussion back on track to the news of the day.

'We aired a joke in our 9:00 hour that was offensive. We apologize to our viewers," a rep for "Today" said in a tweet sent minutes after the sight gag aired.

The offensive visual was removed on the video of Wednesday's telecast on the "Today" show site.

Cross refer to this article posted this morning on nj1015.com about the hilarious SNL bit performed by Chevy Chase and Garrett Morris and then tell me how badly we’ve lost our sense of humor in the last 30 or so years.