George Takei has a very active and very funny Facebook page on which there are regular posts on every imaginable topic. They’ve made Takei a bit of an internet sensation, but journalist Rick Polito (who you may know as the writer of the greatest movie blurb of all-time) recently revealed that it’s not all Takei’s handiwork. In an email to Jim Romenesko’s media-watching blog, Polito shared that he was paid $10 per joke that was used on the page.
Fans were understandably saddened by the news that the witty commentary wasn’t entirely Takei’s and Polito was soon apologizing for letting the cat out of the bag. Romenesko posted a follow-up on his blog,
Polito tells Romenesko readers today: “I wrote an apology to George and Brad and their guy said he’d pass it on. I just said that I’d been looking for any mention of my book I could get and that I hadn’t meant to expose anything.”
He adds: “I don’t update his page. I’ve had no direct contact with George. I’ve sent him some memes, as have other comedian types and I was happy for the exposure.”
As for Takei’s feeling about it all, he’s not upset, saying,
“I have Brad, my husband, to help me and interns to assist. What is important is the reliability of my posts being there to greet my fans with a smile or a giggle every morning. That’s how we keep on growing.”
With over 4 million followers still checking out his Facebook page, it looks like most people agree.
(via Mashable)
