It is hard to believe a single comic can change the world, but that is what happened in 1989. Nobody expected Dilbert to become the monolith it is today, but the satirical comedy has been embraced across the globe. Nonsensical yet self-aware, Dilbert became the figurehead for white-collar workers in the ’90s, and his visage is still recognizable to this day. So naturally, many are curious why exactly Dilbert found itself shelved in 2023 despite its sprawling legacy.
The answer, as you may know, lies with the comics’ creator. Scott Adams’ legacy is a convoluted one that is now in the spotlight following his death. In 2023, Adams sparked national controversy with his statements on race, an incident that put both his and Dilbert’s reputation on the outs.
The Controversy That Killed Scott Adams’ Career
For those unfamiliar with the controversy, the ordeal dates to 2023, a year inundated by racial injustices and questions about systemic accountability. In the shadow of the Supreme Court’s review of affirmative action, Adams sparked unexpected outrage during a livestream on February 22. In an episode of Real Coffee with Scott Adams, the illustrator was asked to share his thoughts on a poll that asked respondents whether it was okay to be white. The question, which the Anti-Defamation League aligns with the white supremacist movement in the U.S., was viewed poorly in the poll as nearly half the respondents did not agree with the statement or felt unsure.
When presented with the poll, Adams noted that “nearly half of all Blacks are not OK with white people”, and continued by saying, “That’s a hate group.”
“That’s 47% of Blacks not willing to say it’s OK to be White. That’s like a real poll. This just happened, “Adams explained in the livestream. “Based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to White people is to get the hell away from Black people. Just get the **** away. Wherever you have to go, just get away. Because there’s no fixing this. This can’t be fixed.”
The livestream went on to platform Adams’ critical views, leaving fans of Dilbert nationwide shocked at the outburst.
The Fallout of Dilbert’s Public Fall From Grace
Following Adams’ explosive comments, a number of papers were quick to separate themselves from the artist and his comic. Dilbert was pulled from a slew of major publications, including USA Today, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and other affiliated papers. Andrews McMeel Syndication, the distributor of Dilbert, also cut ties with Adams on February 27. This move was then mirrored by book publisher Portfolio that oversaw Adams’ non-Dilbert works.
In the wake of Adams’ comments, the artist returned to his livestream series with a defense: hyperbole. The artist said he was using exaggerated language in his previous comment, something that critics of his failed to notice or share.
“The trick is just to use my quote and to ignore the context which I helpfully added afterward,” Adams noted before disavowing racists.
With no publishing platform to rely on, Adams went on to relaunch Dilbert in March 2023 as Dilbert Reborn through a subscription website. The artist continued working on Dilbert through November 2025, at which he was forced to retire from drawing amid his fight with cancer. Ultimately, Adams’ health battle ended January 13, 2026, at age 68, when his ex-wife confirmed the artist had died while under hospice care.
