Here's the issue with uncited referential humor on the internet. I like it, personally. But the problem is that you're going to reach a very broad audience, and inevitably some of that audience is not going to get the reference. Depending on the content, a literal interpretation of the quote without being familiar with the reference can be QUITE offensive.
I recently got a very graphic illustration of this professionally with a joke that went awry. I made a joke referring to the 'Lisa Is A **** McClusky' phenomenon, and one of the people who didn't catch it also happens to have a very loyal and passionate fan base who will attack on the word 'frog'. I dodged a bullet after it was explained to people, we all laughed and have traded in-jokes ever since, but the point was made that some people just aren't going to get your jokes.
So whenever you make referential humor, you run the risk of your audience not catching the reference. If you're willing to account for the risk in making that statement, have at.
In this case, I just didn't catch it. He shouldn't have to cite references or anything, and I don't think that arguments being made seriously. We can't completely kill humor on the internet, y'know.