Cartoon Creator

Scott Adams, Creator of ‘Dilbert,’

Reveals Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

Scott Adams, the cartoonist behind the long-running comic strip *Dilbert*, announced this week that he has been diagnosed with a severe form of prostate cancer, the same type that President Joe Biden recently disclosed he is battling. Speaking candidly on his YouTube program *Real Coffee with Scott Adams*, the 66-year-old said the cancer has metastasized to his bones and that he is currently in constant pain.

“I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has,” Adams said in Monday’s episode, referencing the president’s own diagnosis made public just a day earlier. “So, I also have prostate cancer that has spread to my bones.” Biden, 82, confirmed his condition over the weekend and noted that he and his family are in discussions with his medical team to determine the best course of treatment moving forward.

Adams, by contrast, suggested that his condition is far along and likely terminal. He said he expects to pass away sometime this summer, emphasizing that the pain he now experiences on a daily basis has become “basically intolerable.” He also mentioned that he uses a walker to move around, indicating the seriousness of his declining physical state.

Despite the grim prognosis, Adams said he’s found a form of peace with the diagnosis. “I’ve had time to prepare—emotionally and practically,” he explained. “I’ve said my goodbyes, settled my affairs, and done what I needed to do. In a way, that’s a gift many people don’t get.”

The news of Adams’ illness comes more than two years after his career took a dramatic downturn. In 2023, *Dilbert*, once a staple of workplace humor in newspapers across the country, was pulled from syndication following a series of racially charged remarks Adams made on his podcast. Among the most widely condemned comments was his assertion that Black Americans constitute a “hate group,” and his statement that he would “no longer help Black people.”

Adams claimed at the time that his comments were exaggerated for effect, but he did not walk them back. The backlash was swift and widespread. Newspapers large and small, from the *Los Angeles Times* to *USA Today*, severed ties with the cartoonist, condemning his rhetoric as offensive, discriminatory, and out of line with journalistic standards.

The editor of the *San Francisco Chronicle*, which had already dropped *Dilbert* in 2022, described the comic’s shift as deeply troubling. “It went from being hilarious to being hurtful and mean,” the editor stated at the time.

*Dilbert* debuted in 1989 and quickly gained a following for its satirical take on corporate culture, often lampooning office politics, incompetent managers, and the absurdities of modern business life. At its peak, the comic appeared in thousands of publications globally, and Adams was celebrated as a sharp, insightful commentator on white-collar work.

Despite his fall from public favor, Adams continued to maintain a dedicated online following through his video content and self-published works. His YouTube channel has served as a platform for sharing his political views, personal reflections, and now, his journey through terminal illness.

As Adams faces what he calls the final chapter of his life, he offered a rare moment of unity and empathy in expressing support for President Biden and his family. “I extend my respect, compassion, and sympathy,” he said, acknowledging the shared challenge both men now confront.

Whether loved for his early satire or criticized for his later views, Scott Adams remains a figure who has sparked conversation for decades. His recent health revelation adds a poignant dimension to his complex legacy.