Greg Gutfeld Sparks Controversy After Comparing Use of “Nazi” to the N-Word

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld is no stranger to controversy, but his latest remarks have ignited a fresh wave of backlash across social media and beyond. On his late-night panel show Gutfeld!, the outspoken commentator suggested that Americans should “learn from the blacks” and start using the word “Nazi” casually to strip it of its stigma. He then illustrated his point by turning to his co-hosts and saying: “What up, my Nazi?”

The moment was met with a mix of awkward laughter and visible discomfort on set. Viewers, however, were quick to react online, where the clip spread like wildfire and reignited debates about Gutfeld’s brand of shock humor and the boundaries of political commentary.

A Dangerous Analogy

Gutfeld’s comparison invoked the history of how certain marginalized groups have attempted to reclaim derogatory slurs. He implied that, just as some Black Americans use the N-word among themselves to neutralize its sting, society could do the same with “Nazi” — a term historically tied to genocide, fascism, and one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.

Critics immediately denounced the analogy as reckless. “There is no reclaiming Nazi the way he suggests,” wrote historian Dr. Elaine Kramer on X (formerly Twitter). “The Holocaust was not a word. It was a systematic murder of millions. Equating that with the linguistic reclamation of a racial slur is not just offensive, it’s historically illiterate.”

Jewish advocacy groups were particularly swift in their response. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement calling the remarks “deeply troubling” and warning that casualizing Nazi terminology only risks normalizing extremist ideology. “Words matter,” the statement read. “Language that minimizes or trivializes Nazism undermines the lessons of history and emboldens those who traffic in hate.”

The Fox News Factor

For Fox News, Gutfeld’s outburst adds another layer to the network’s ongoing struggle with balancing freewheeling commentary and public accountability. Gutfeld has long positioned himself as a provocateur, branding his late-night program as an alternative to what he calls “woke comedy.” His supporters argue that he is merely pushing boundaries and mocking the overly sensitive culture of modern political discourse.

But critics contend that his “jokes” often cross lines into dangerous territory. Just last year, Gutfeld drew outrage when he suggested that some people survived the Holocaust because they were “useful,” a comment that sparked condemnation from the White House and Jewish leaders. His recent “What up, my Nazi?” quip appears to have struck a similarly raw nerve.

Reactions Across Social Media

Online, the clip generated a torrent of responses within hours. Some users defended Gutfeld, claiming he was highlighting society’s overuse of the term “Nazi” in political mudslinging. “He’s not wrong,” one commenter wrote. “People call each other Nazis all the time, and it’s lost its meaning.”

But the overwhelming reaction was negative. “This isn’t edgy, it’s ignorant,” one X user wrote. Another added: “If you want to desensitize words tied to mass murder, maybe reconsider why you’re on national TV in the first place.”

On TikTok, reaction videos quickly multiplied, with creators parodying Gutfeld’s line while pointing out how offensive and absurd it sounded outside the studio’s forced-laughter context.

What Happens Next

As of now, Fox News has not issued an official response to the backlash. Insiders note that Gutfeld’s show thrives on controversy, and management may view the uproar as part of its formula for keeping viewers engaged. Still, the sustained criticism from Jewish organizations and public figures may force the network to address the situation more directly.

In the meantime, the debate over Gutfeld’s comment raises larger questions about free speech, comedy, and the responsibilities of those with national platforms. Can provocative humor coexist with respect for history’s darkest tragedies? Or does casualizing such terms risk feeding exactly the extremism society seeks to prevent?

For now, one thing is certain: Greg Gutfeld’s attempt at shock humor once again ensured that his name dominated headlines — but at the cost of reopening painful wounds and sparking another national controversy.