The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Ethan Coen pens scathing 'Thank You Notes' after Trump election win
Jimmy Fallon, third-party voters, James Comey, Anthony Weiner, and the media coverage of the election all came under fire
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/11/13/17/gettyimages-473165074.jpg)
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
Ethan Coen - of the Coen Brothers - has penned a scathing parody of Jimmy Fallon's 'Thank You Notes'; taking on third-party voters, FBI director James Comey, and even Fallon himself.
In a piece published for The New York Times, Coen adapted the television show host's recurring 'Thank You Notes' gag to take aim at those he perceived as partly responsible in aiding Donald Trump to election night victory.
That included Fallon, who controversially interview Trump on his show; as Coen writes, "How did you manage to shine a non-threatening light on someone who alarms so many women, frightens so many undocumented families and slurs so many minorities? Can’t have been easy! Thanks! Maybe now you could have the Grand Wizard on your show: He leans his head to you, you slip his hood off and ruffle his hair. Could be a cute bit!"
He also took aim at those who voted for third-party candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson; telling Stein voters, "If your vote for Ms. Stein did not end up advancing your green agenda, it did allow you to feel morally superior to all the compromising schmoes who voted for Hillary Clinton. And your feelings about your vote are more important than the consequences of your vote."
Alongside critiques of Comey and Anthony Weiner, Coen also took aim at media coverage of the election: "Thank you for preserving reportorial balance. You balanced Donald Trump’s proposal that the military execute the innocent families of terrorists, against Hillary’s emails. You balanced pot-stirring racist lies about President Obama’s birth, against Hillary’s emails."
"You balanced a religious test at our borders, torture by our military, jokes about assassination, unfounded claims of a rigged election, boasts about groping and paradoxical threats to sue anyone who confirmed the boasts, against Hillary’s emails. You balanced endorsement of nuclear proliferation, against Hillary’s emails."
The one person not on his thank you list? Hillary Clinton; who he admits was "not the perfect candidate", "but she fought to the very limits of her ability to deny us Tuesday night’s surprise, so I do not thank her. Pooh on you, Hillary Clinton!"
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments