Jason Biggs is taking heat for tweeting a joke about Malaysia Airlines shortly after flight MH17 crashed in the Ukraine with 295 people aboard.
Biggs made the insensitive joke on Twitter after news broke that a Boeing 777 was reportedly shot down by a missile fired from a Buk antiaircraft system near the Russian border:
Anyone wanna buy my Malaysian Airlines frequent flier miles?
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
In all seriousness, tho- HOW DO YOU MISTAKENLY SHOOT DOWN A COMMERCIAL PLANE?! Ugh.
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
It's saddest for the victims and their families, obviously. But Malaysia Airlines is apparently a GREAT airline. Gonna be tough to recover.
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
People began criticizing the "Orange Is the New Black" actor for his remarks, but he defended himself by saying it was only a joke.
Hey all you "too soon" assholes- it's a fucking joke. You don't have to think it's funny, or even be on my twitter page at all.
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
The idea that I wouldnt have any empathy 4 the victims or their families because I make a joke is absolutely ridiculous. U know that, right?
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
Truly- you losers are literally trying to find shit to get angry about. Channel your issues elsewhere.
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
“@Bobby_Blight: @JasonBiggs I'll be sure to laugh when u suffer a family tragedy.” Please do! I hope I can laugh during my family tragedy 2!
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
He also retweeted a user who wrote "humor trumps tragedy."
Flight MH17 was en route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Amsterdam, when it crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday. Of the 295 passengers, no survivors have been reported.
The area has been embroiled in a violent separatist uprising for the past few months. The Associated Press reported U.S. pilots were told to not fly over the area earlier this year. Such orders are issued for "areas where unrest or military conflict creates a risk of being shot down."
UPDATE: Jason Biggs has apologized since posting the "insensitive" tweets:
1). Hey all- ok, so- I am deleting my previous tweets. People were offended, and that was not my intent. Sorry to those of you that were.
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
2). This is obviously a horrible tragedy, and everyone-including myself- is sad and angry about it. Sending positive thoughts to the
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
3). victims and their families. P.S. No one is making me send these tweets- I simply understand that my comments might have come off
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014
4). as insensitive and ill-timed. For that, I apologize.
— Jason Biggs (@JasonBiggs) July 17, 2014