Buffalo’s Dyngus Day celebrations was referred to as “ stupid” by CNN’s Anderson Cooper last night during his talk show, Anderson Cooper 360.
Cooper’s segment focused on Buffalo, referring to the city as the Dyngus Day capital of the world. Cooper featured the long-time, end-of-Lent Polish tradition on his Ridiculist segment, spending several minutes taking jabs at the tradition of eating polish kielbasa, using squirt guns and swatting love interests with pussy willows.
At one point, Cooper could not control his laughter as he tried to continue he segment after a video played of Buffalo’s celebration.
"It's really so stupid," Cooper laughed. "Come on, this is torture."
Cooper called the celebration an "excuse to drink”, saying that the good citizens of Buffalo were wringing out their clothes and tending to their beer and kielbasa hang over.
Wednesday afternoon, Cooper sent a tweet saying he was referring to his giggling fit as stupid, not the holiday itself. He said he is sorry if he offended anyone.
Members of Western New York’s Polish community waved pussy willows in solidarity in response to Cooper’s remarks about Dyngus Day.
"Airborne" Eddy Dobosiewicz held a news conference outside Redlinski’s Meats in Cheektowaga Wednesday afternoon. Dobosiewicz called Cooper’s apology “spin”. He also responded to Cooper’s remarks that Dyngus Day was an excuse to drink.
"I take offense to that, because it's a reason to celebrate life," Dobosiewicz said.
Organizers have invited Cooper to attend next year's Dyngus Day events.
"If he really wants to apologize then Mr. Cooper, come to Buffalo. Let us show you how we really celebrate, not only Dyngus Day, but everyday life here in Western New York," he added.
Dobosiewicz will be a guest on tonight’s edition of Anderson 360 to respond to Cooper’s remarks. Redlinski's plans to send a case of its Polish sausage to the CNN host.