The uproar on both sides of the political aisle when Katie Rich, supposedly a comedy writer for Saturday Night Live, tweeted a vile comment about 10 year old Barron Trump, was pretty unanimous. Rich was roundly condemned, and first deleted her tweet (preserved forever via screenshots), and then her Twitter account.

Well, there are some professional consequences coming Rich’s way. According to a Change.org petition, people first observed that her name was left off the credits for last Saturday’s show. Then the news broke that SNL has suspended Rich from the show “indefinitely,” and that it apparently happened right after she put out that tweet.


Rich has also reactivated her Twitter account in order to post a public apology.

I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I'm so sorry.

— Katie Rich (@katiemaryrich) January 23, 2017

Why is she apologizing now? Is it to attempt to keep her job? Because she didn’t apologize right after she deleted her tweet – she first made her account private, then shut it down. So how sincere is she?

No regret shown before your employer suspended you indefinitely. https://t.co/nQQ7RKtGat

— Judge Smails ⛳️ (@JacobsBladder) January 23, 2017

What’s worse are the people tweeting that she didn’t need to apologize – or patting her on the head and sending words of comfort.

I'm certain you are a good person and sometimes we all say dumb things. It'll be ok.

— Jessica Judd (@MaddynOwensMom) January 23, 2017

“Dumb things.” Accusing a child of being a killer is a “dumb thing.” Like dropping your keys in a puddle or tripping over your own feet.

it was out of line bcz he's a child, I'm glad ur woman enough to apologize…but I must say it was absolute comedic genius.

— Kenya Bell (@KenyaBell) January 23, 2017

“Comedic genius.” I’m sure this “former Miss Michigan” (as it reads on her Twitter bio) would have just thought the same joke absolutely HYSTERICAL if Katie Rich had said the same thing about one of the Obama girls.

you don't have anything to apologize for. This is ridiculous

— Dr Brendon Walsh DDS (@brendonwalsh) January 23, 2017

https://twitter.com/bessbell/status/823655437069217793
Apparently, the possession of a sense of decency is not needed in order to qualify for that coveted blue “verified” checkmark on Twitter.

Katie Rich might be genuinely sorry. (Her timing is rather suspect, but that is going to be between her and her employer.) The problem is that she was merely the tip of the iceberg of how people feel they can behave concerning a ten year old boy, just because of who his father is. Decency has to swing both ways. Kids under 18 are off limits. Both left and right generally understand this principle. But unfortunately, there will always be people – and some of them verified on Twitter – who will attempt to defend the indefensible. Watch out for them. And we here at Victory Girls will be watching, too.