You’d think that after leaving the school playground, the Governor of Utah would not expect too much grief over his surname. However, Spencer Cox (R) revealed recently that some people still have an issue with it.
He posted a photo to Twitter of a letter he received last week from someone who thought his name “obscene.”
“I do not know if you know this, but when people say your surname it sounds like the word cock. It’s obscene! Us decent people here in Utah will not stand for it,” the letter-writer began.
“Because of your reluctance to change your foul, dirty and obscene surname myself and thousands of other Utahns will be sitting in protest, not standing, until you change your heinous surname to something less offensive.”
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They concluded, “This is not a communist dictatorship … We do not accept sick jokes to run rampant in our civil institutions.”
Related: Something amazing is happening in Utah this Pride Month
Cox captioned his Tweet: “Really grateful for the criticism and constructive feedback I get from constituents that demand I…
*checks notes*
…change my name?”
Really grateful for the criticism and constructive feedback I get from constituents that demand I…
*checks notes*
…change my name? 😳🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/RavFip8U4M
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) August 7, 2021
At the time of writing, his tweet has had over 10k likes and over a thousand retweets. Many responded to say that the letter must be a joke, but Cox said members of his staff believed it to be serious.
I thought so. My constituent affairs director (the guy that sees all the letters and phone calls) thinks it’s serious.
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) August 9, 2021
A would-be, independent congressman from California, who shares the same name, said he’d had similar correspondence.
I’ve gotten emails to the same effect.
Would you like me to send you some of my stickers, Mr. Cox? pic.twitter.com/Q4GFMUCx6p
— Steve Cox (@RealSteveCox) August 8, 2021
Others debated a name change.
You clearly don’t know Utah well enough. My guess? this came from Utah County. Richard Cox though, that’s hilarious
— 又 🏳️🌈 ♻️ (@mf_starbrandy) August 9, 2021
Have several friends with the same last name. Would never have given it a thought. Maybe you should get your mind out of the gutter 😳just a thought.
— Sharyl Noble (@Luvlexus) August 7, 2021
One might think that Spencer Cox was new to politics to provoke this sudden ire. However, although elected Governor last year, he served as lieutenant governor since 2013 and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012.
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Heywood Jablowme
The big regional paper here had an article about “TV legend” D!ck Van D*ke, and they printed his name correctly but commenters were amused that we had to censor his name because there are two bad words in it. Now I’ll always think of him as Penis Van Lesbian.
The Democratic nominee for president in 1920 was Gov. James Cox of Ohio (who unfortunately lost to Harding). I wonder if there was concern about his “obscene” name back then.
RyanMBecker
At least his name isn’t Dick von Dyke. “Von” means “from” in Germanic names, so you’d have “Penis from Lesbian,” which I suppose can be offensive to some militant man-hating lesbians. Actually, “van” is the Dutch variant of “von,” so I suppose it’s just as bad if you spoke Dutch
William
This seems like a joke, but it’s actually 100% the truth – so if you don’t believe me, that’s on you.
I knew a woman growing up whose name was Gay Dick. She eventually divorced her husband and married a dude with the last name above (Cox) so became Gay Cox. There is no lie in this. I swear it to be 100% the truth.
The lesson here: don’t name your kids Gay.
BigJohnSF
When I was a college student, there was a classmate whose mother’s name was Anita Dicks.
Openminded
I sister worked for the State of TN with a girl who married into the political family of John J. Hooker. Problem was her first name, Gay, didn’t really work well with her new last name. Sis said everyone would exclaim, “where’s that Gay Hooker?”. Of course that was back in the late 70’s. Today, that comment would be considered sexual harassment.
kevininbuffalo
In the late 1990’s there was a House committee investigating Chinese interference in the US. It was chaired by Rep. Christopher Cox and ranking member Rep. Norm Dicks…The Cox and Dicks Committee. Sadly they just called it the Cox Committee.
Sqwoah
I believe Cox and Queerty have been trolled
Cam
No, his staff said that based on the background and what they’d received they thought the communications were legit.
Liquid Silver
I’d kind of prefer he changed his politics and, with that, party, rather than his name. But that would never happen and…well, Utah. Mor(m)ons. This is plausible.
BlueStateMan
Many years ago, a guy at my club was named Richard Head. Behind his back he was always known as Dick Head. :-))
OhPlease
Good thing his husband’s name isn’t short or long…
es1226
I had a regular customer at a restaurant I worked at whose name was Peter Grabber. My co-workers and I would jokingly wonder if he had a sister named Tittie Twister.
Mister P
Thank you everyone who posted. This reminds me to laugh at some of the absurdities out there.
M K
What, are we 12 years old??? Grow up people, this is not something to make fun of or even have a conversation about
linedrive
Expecting him to change his name is ridiculous of course. But yes, I think there’s probably a 12-year-old in all of us.
Iona Lexiss
Is that a rhetorical question? Of course, we’re 12!! Jesus. Why would this many of us read this far looking for the next quip otherwise? What are you; a guidance counselor from South Park M’kay?
linedrive
Slightly off topic but I worked at a car dealership once and we had a customer named Anita Hooker. Always felt kinda bad for her…
RyanMBecker
The guy who suggested he change his name to Richard apparently doesn’t realize that his friends will be calling him, “Dick Cox.”
RyanMBecker
A few years ago, my lab hosted a Russian medical student named, Semen. Apparently, it’s their version of “Simon,” and quite common throughout the former Soviet Union. I’ve always felt bad about not warning him about the teasing he’d get in Urology and other related classes. Not to mention the reaction from patients. My guess is that he Americanized his name to Simon if he had decided to stay.
Heywood Jablowme
Was it pronounced a little like Semyon? The czarist-era writers have characters named Semyon or at least that’s how the translators tend to spell it.
nm4047
It’s also the way the name Simon is pronounced in the vast majority of Europe.
muscl954
While I was in junior high (in the olden days), our Principal’s name was Mr. Walter Dick. I remember one of the more rowdy 8th graders asked him one time, “How is Mrs. Dick and all the little Dicks?” He got his ass paddled and detention for a week!! LOL
Jack Meoff
If I were him I would change my name…………….I suggest Seymour Cox what do you think. 🙂
Iona Lexiss
I’m Bart Simpson. Who the hell are you? BTW Jack, is that pronounced “Mehff?”
Thad
Nobody ever suggested diva Deborah Cox change her name. But she’s Canadian.
TMBisAOK
I dont know who’s worse, the psycho that wrote that or the dumb religion(South Park said it, I didnt) follower who feels so butt hurt that he must let the world know about this ONE incident. I think it’s a tie…they are BOTH the worst!
hotdogla
Oh boy Utah.
Ken A.
LOL Now that is funny. I’m Sure the actress Courtney COX will take offense.