Artie Lange tweets a lot of pretty offensive stuff. But the Stern Show veteran knows his audience and usually doesn’t catch too much flak over what he says.

“I wrote a script giving Hollywood what they want–PC! A movie with me as the black gay addict whore who’s HIV-positive but helps a retarded friend.”

“Like other great artists, I traveled for inspiration. Seeing the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam led to the most controversial poem I’ve done. I called it, ‘Is it Me or Did Anne Frank Have Plenty of Room?’”

On Tuesday evening, Lange was watching ESPN’s First Take with Cari Champion, who is African-American. He posted several things about a sexual fantasy featuring Champion, including this:

Here's the scenario I'm using to jerkoff to chick on First Take I'm T. Jefferson & she's my slave. She beats the shit out of me & runs free

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014

I attempt to whip @CariChampion cuz she disrespected the Jefferson Plantation but she grabs whip & beats me I cum like a fat founding father

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 4, 2014

And that set the Interwebs ablaze. ESPN commented that the tweets were “reprehensible.”

“His comments were reprehensible and no one should be subjected to such hateful language,” the network said in a statement on Wednesday. “They objectify and demean one of our valued employees under the thin guise of “comedy” and are offensive to all of us. We will not dignify them with any other comment.”

But they did make another comment. They banned him from the network entirely.

Lange took it all in stride.

I've been banned by ESPN. Now what am I gonna do?!

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 7, 2014

But then came the cancellation from Comedy Central, a place Lange has always been welcome.

It's official. Comedy Central will not let me on @midnight Comedy Central has always been good to me & I don't blame them. Not worth it!

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014

Lange refused to apologize to anyone but Cari Champion herself, at first.

So that's a NO. But if it upset the lady in question that's another story. Let me say to @CariChampion if this hurt u in any way I'm sorry

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 5, 2014

Later he broadened his apology, saying that a black friend of his was threatened over his tweets. In an attempt to quell the furor, he made a concession.

Ok guys just talked to a black woman who's a new friend of mine. She told me some of my "fans" threatened her life today.

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 6, 2014

I've gotta take that seriously. So my apologies extend to bigger group of ppl. If that's true and it is cuz she's no liar I have to think

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 6, 2014

I have to take jokes like the ones I made more seriously. Cuz I want no part of that awful bullshit. Not what I'm about.

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 6, 2014

I'm sorry to whoever was hurt by the tweets. I will keep some jokes to myself. It's a different world. Thx guys and thx to my new friend Pia

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 6, 2014

I hate that we have to cater to idiots but the thought of some woman scared for her well being cuz of a joke is something I can't stand

— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) November 6, 2014