'MADtv' star Orlando Jones jokes that liberals should kill Sarah Palin

Former MADtv star Orlando Jones has been criticised for tweeting a joke about liberals killing Sarah Palin.

Jones was responding to reports about the death of Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi.

He tweeted: "Libyan Rebels kill Gaddafi, if American liberals want respect they better stop listening to Aretha & kill Sarah Palin(:"

Several of the comedian's Twitter followers condemned his joke, with one user questioning whether Jones actually wanted the former Alaska governor dead.

Jones replied: "No I don't. I think it's funny that you are so upset about my inane tweet."

The star has thus far refused to apologise for his comment and accused conservatives of much more realistic threats of violence against US President Barack Obama.

Jones wrote: "Obama gets more death threats than any Pres in US history...sorry too real. Hey, Orlando Jones tweeted something inane about Palin! Get him…

"My tweet was farcical not funny or a call to action. 100 bucks 2 the 1st person who can count the # of Palin jokes about killing Democrats(:"

Jones is perhaps most famous for serving as a spokesman for 7 Up in a series of adverts from 1999 to 2002 as well as his two seasons on MADtv.

He also starred in the films Evolution and Bedazzled and made guest appearances on House and Men In Trees.