AKM-GSIThis past Saturday Kim Kardashian appeared on the NPR game show "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me." She hawked her selfie book, she discussed the currently secret sex of her second baby and she was generally (and surprisingly) humble and even kind of funny. She even endured some good-natured ribbing from the hosts.
All in all it was pretty harmless, especially when compared to, say, a letter to Kim's future self that says she hope's she'll have 100 billion followers on Instagram in 2025.
But apparently it was still way too much for some longtime NPR fans. In fact, public radio listeners are so fired up that they've launched a letter-writing campaign to offer criticism and threats to the station. Ouch.
According to a story by Ombudsman/Public Editor of NPR Elizabeth Jensen herself, hundreds of previously loyal listeners wrote to her saying they are "disgusted," "disappointed" and sure that NPR has "jumped the shark." Or as self-proclaimed "NPR snob" John Moore of Decatur, Ga., wrote, "Everyone is allowed one mulligan, and you just had yours." Burn, John Moore. Burn.
Then there were folks like Sharonn Flaucher of Tuftonboro, N.H., who wrote in either regretting their recent decisions to donate or threatened to pull their contributions to NPR altogether. "Seriously thinking about dropping my membership," Flaucher said to Jensen. "I thought NPR had a certain class/values and it looks like we might be heading in another direction that I'm not willing to go with you. Just thought I'd give you a heads up. Have a sparkling day!" At least she was polite?
Not surprisingly, the gang over at NPR is taking all this in good nature and humor. While they aren't outright mocking their readers' anger, they aren't exactly rushing to assuage them of their need to keep the donations coming either. As Jensen points out in her article, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me is a comedy show and an "equal opportunity offender." Getting angry reactions to content is just par for the course most weeks.
Oh, and they'd also like to point out that some segments that were not deemed boycott-worthy include Paula Poundstone discussing the proper preparation of Pop-Tarts and an interview with Jerry Springer. So there's that.