'He is a disgrace to SC': Samuel Alito draws mockery as Stephen Colbert rips into his excuse for upside-down flag

Stephen Colbert humorously rebuked Alito, highlighting the absurdity of using such a symbol over insults
PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2024
Stephen Colbert criticised Samuel Alito's explanation for flying an upside-down American flag outside his home (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/Getty)
Stephen Colbert criticised Samuel Alito's explanation for flying an upside-down American flag outside his home (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/Getty)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Stephen Colbert has taken aim at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's peculiar justification for flying an upside-down American flag outside his residence, following the Capitol attack of January 6, 2021.

The flag, symbolizing a coup, raised eyebrows, especially as it echoed former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims of election fraud.

Samuel Alito's upside-down flag excuse and Colbert's sharp response

Alito's explanation, as reported by The New York Times, was that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, erected the flag in response to offensive language on neighboring yard signs.

Allegedly, a "F**k Trump" sign and derogatory remarks directed at Martha-Ann prompted her to hoist the controversial flag.

(The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
(The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)

Colbert, on his show 'The Late Show' was quick to deride Alito's reasoning, stating that while insults aren't pleasant, responding with a symbol associated with insurrection is absurd. He humorously quipped, "OK, that is not nice,” Colbert said. “But if someone calls you the c-word, putting up an insurrection flag — not the response. ‘Oh, you were rude to my wife? Well, we’re Nazis now.'"

(The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
(The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)

Stephen Colbert highlights Samuel Alito's inaction and urges for responsibility

Colbert didn't stop there; he highlighted the oddity of Alito not intervening to remove the flag once he noticed it. Imagining a scenario where Alito comes home to find the flag, Colbert joked about the justice's hypothetical reaction, expressing incredulity that such a display would persist, especially given his position on the Supreme Court.

Colbert remarked, "So Martha-Ann runs up the Jan. 6 flag and then Sam comes home from work, sees it and is like, ‘Honey, I understand you’re upset. But we have to take that down immediately. For Pete’s sake. I’m a justice of the Supreme Court!’ — is what would have been nice to have happened."



 

The late-night host also pointed out that the flag remained up for several days before being taken down, suggesting a lack of urgency on Alito's part.

As he wrapped up the Alito segment, Colbert quipped, “If you didn’t like those jokes, they were my wife’s idea. I just came home and the jokes were there.”

Through satire and humor, Colbert effectively underscores the absurdity of Alito's flag excuse, showcasing how even esteemed figures can find themselves entangled in bizarre situations.

Public outcry calls for Alito's accountability and integrity

The public response to Justice Alito's flag controversy reflects a deep-seated concern for integrity and accountability within the highest echelons of the judiciary.

One user wrote, "Bad enough flying our flag upside down---but then lying that he knew nothing about it after it flew for several days! Alito is a disgrace to the Supreme Court!."

Another added, "Alito and Thomas should be impeached and removed from the SCOTUS bench."

One added, "Thomas and Alito must step down from the Supreme Court to restore honor and legitimacy to the court. Put the country first."

One replied, "It's pathetic that a Supreme Court judge can't tell the difference between proof and a conspiracy theory."

One user wrote, "So Alito has no problem telling all women what they cannot do with their bodies, but can't tell his wife to honor our flag!! Someone needs a lesson in principle."

One said, "I’m pretty sure ‘Oh, you were rude to my wife? We’re nazis now’ is genuinely how that works for WAY too many people."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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