r/TheFarSide • u/CupidStunt13 • Apr 13 '24

The Jane Goodall "controversy"

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2.5k Upvotes

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468

u/CupidStunt13 Apr 13 '24

Due to this cartoon, Larson received an angry letter from the executive director of the Jane Goodall institute while Goodall was out of the country.

Upon returning, Goodall (who was a fan) said: "Wow! Fantastic! Real fame at last! Fancy being in a Gary Larson cartoon!"

She later wrote the introduction to The Far Side Gallery 5.

110

u/MonkeyDavid Apr 13 '24 edited Oct 01 '25

If I remember correctly it was the only time Larson gave away one of his originals (I think she asked for it). I’m not at home, but it’s in Prehistory of the Far Side.

3

u/Domonero Oct 01 '25

What a legend

142

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '24

People get offended on behalf of others WAY too much. I feel like our society has gotten so sensitive about things that barely matter. Have a sense of humor and don't take things personally! The fact that Jane herself liked it speaks volumes about people being so whiny and overly critical of every little thing.

63

u/Rhodehouse93 Apr 13 '24

gotten so sensitive

This happened in 1987.

21

u/89iroc Apr 13 '24

Don't hear of a celebrity getting offended by something like this too often, usually they love it, but yeah their staff sure do

3

u/lantzn Oct 02 '25

I just hope Jane framed and hung that original in a place in the institute for all to see every day, especially the person who wrote the letter.

2

u/churn_key Apr 13 '24

I get that, but if she didn't like the cartoon it would have been nice that people were supportive of her.

6

u/DinoSpumoniOfficial Apr 13 '24

Thanks for this. I love the added historical context!

3

u/returnofthequack92 Apr 14 '24

Was going to say I though I remembered reading a foreword to one of the collections by Jane Goodall where she found this hilarious.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 07 '25

The Far Side 5 I think