Rainn Wilson Says Controversial ‘The Office’ Episode Is “Racist and Insensitive” and Wouldn’t Work in 2025

Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute on The Office, recently spoke about one of the show’s most debated episodes, Benihana Christmas.

The episode, which aired during the series’ earlier seasons, features a moment where Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, tries to distinguish between two Asian women he meets at a restaurant by using a Sharpie on his hand. The scene was meant to be funny but has been criticized for its racial insensitivity.

Wilson admitted that while the moment was humorous, it also reflects the kind of clueless behavior the show often explored.

Speaking with The Last Laugh, he said, “And it’s a tricky conversation. It’s like they’re clueless, and in their cluelessness, they’re racist and insensitive, and they’re always saying the wrong thing. And that’s Michael, Dwight, and Andy — and Kevin for that matter. So it’s a show based around clueless, insensitive, racist, sexist people that kind of mirrors the United States in a lot of ways.”

The episode itself is a satire, exaggerating the characters’ ignorance for comedic effect. Michael’s actions are uncomfortable to watch, but the joke is designed to show how tone-deaf and oblivious he can be.

The Sharpie moment is just one example of the show’s willingness to push boundaries, using awkward and offensive behavior to generate laughs while highlighting the characters’ lack of self-awareness.

Reflecting on the present-day cultural climate, Wilson doubts that an episode like this could be created in 2025 in the same way. “You want to encourage it, because it’s funny as hell, and it also kind of skewers a particular American sensibility. But it definitely goes pretty far if you dig deep. Could it happen today? I think it would have to be very, very different if it were made in this environment,” he explained.

Wilson also pointed out that Michael Scott’s mistakes were rarely meant to be malicious; they came from ignorance rather than ill intent. This was a core part of the show’s humor, allowing audiences to laugh at the characters’ cluelessness while still recognizing the problematic nature of their actions.

Fans of The Office also continue to discuss the episode and its humor, noting that it remains one of the series’ most talked-about moments. In addition, viewers never got a chance to see a planned Dwight Schrute spin-off that could have further explored the character, as NBC’s programming changes prevented it from moving forward.

Rainn Wilson’s reflections underline how comedy can be both funny and controversial, depending on the cultural context. Benihana Christmas remains a memorable episode but also serves as a reminder of how jokes that were acceptable in the past may need to be adapted today.

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