What's everyone all wee-weed up about?
Posted on 03/24/2021 8:43:52 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Late-night host and comedian Jay Leno has issued an apology for a series of jokes told over his career targeting Asian communities.
The apology comes after a nearly 15-year campaign from the activist group Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) for remarks as recent as Variety‘s 2020 report that Leno cracked about Koreans eating dog meat — a complaint that offended numerous players on the set of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
“At the time I did those jokes, I genuinely thought them to be harmless,” Leno said in a joint press release with MANAA leader Guy Aoki. “I was making fun of our enemy North Korea, and like most jokes, there was a ring of truth to them.”
Leno continued, “At the time, there was a prevailing attitude that some group is always complaining about something, so don’t worry about it. Whenever we received a complaint, there would be two sides to the discussion: Either ‘We need to deal with this’ or ‘Screw ‘em if they can’t take a joke.’ Too many times I sided with the latter even when in my heart I knew it was wrong.”
In light of that, Leno said, “I am issuing this apology. I do not consider this particular case to be another example of cancel culture but a legitimate wrong that was done on my part. MANAA has been very gracious in accepting my apology. I hope that the Asian American community will be able to accept it as well, and I hope I can live up to their expectations in the future.”
Entertainment and media has been increasingly vocal about and horrified by a wave of anti-Asian violence in the U.S., which many attributed to Trump era rhetoric and blaming China for the spread of the coronavirus. Last week, a lone gunman killed eight people at three spas in Atlanta. Six of the eight victims were Asian women, which has inspired rallies nationwide standing against hate crimes and supporting the AAPI community.
The majority of Leno’s old jokes perpetuated stereotypes about Asian communities consuming dog meat. Long outspoken about his routines, MANAA’s Aoki said he appealed to Leno’s new employers at Fox, where he hosts the game show “You Bet Your Life,” initially offering them an ultimatum of firing the host or MANAA would approach sponsors to boycott the project.
After appealing to Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy, and producers Tom Werner and David Hurwitz, Aoki connected with Leno. A spokesperson for Leno confirmed his apology but did not comment further.
What's everyone all wee-weed up about?
Hmm. I should be DNA tested. If he does that, I’m sure I’ll find some Asian in me somewhere...
Regardless, Mel Brooks always said that it’s never too soon. He was joking about the Holocaust barely two decades out, and had no apologies over it. It’s why I adore him so.
We’ll never see anything like Blazing Saddles ever again. This is just more kowtowing.
I expected better from Jay. By better, I mean, “ballsier”; none of this bowing. I was wrong.
What an utter snowflake.
Which proves once again, if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.
Meiden den Kummern, und meiden den Schmerz, dann ist das Leben ein Scherz~!
🤣🤣🤣
Let’s give him a break. He wouldn’t have said those things if people didn’t think they were funny. So it is the fault of his audiences. And of his sponsors.
Sort of sad that he is accepting responsibility.
(I can’t believe I found the words to say that)
ROTFLMBO!!!
Show-biz party list concerns, I'll bet - mostly to placate his wife. And if she ain't happy, he could lose half of his car collection.
So, his self-respect is expendable.
I’m Irish. We are typically portrayed in media as: Eccentrics, tricksters, drunks, brawlers, stubborn grudge holders and clannish.
Hey, that sounds good!
BUT....In the 1830s through 1860s we were considered disloyal papists, apes, and possibly cannibals.
https://www.history.com/news/when-america-despised-the-irish-the-19th-centurys-refugee-crisis
How about apologizes for all of your anti-conservative jokes, Jay?
Among he nastiest things I can think of; keeping a dog in the house as a pet. Indoor dog owners are falling right of the bottom of the chart of civilized.
Much better to eat them.
While you’re at it, Jay, how about an apology for the nasty jokes you made about Linda Tripp and Paula Jones? You said some pretty cruel things about their looks. I always had to shake my head when people praised him for being a “nice guy”. He’s a phony just like the rest of them.
Yeah, my mom, who is from the Philippines asked me if I tried Asocena yet the first time I went there...
Picked up a cookbook in South Korea a while back entitled “100 Ways to Wok Your Dog” - just saying.
I was in Korea during the 1980’s. In Seoul, I went to the large traditional Korean outdoor market. I came upon what I thought was a pet store with puppies and other small dogs in cages. It was not a pet store. I’m standing in the middle of the “pet store” and I see a Korean guy wearing an apron standing behind a huge chopping block with a meat cleaver in his hand. He was whacking to pieces man’s best friend and throwing the pieces into a metal bin that was full of “parts.” Without showing any visual reaction to the horror in front of me, I slowly backed out and went on my way. 40 years later, I still can’t get that scene out of my head. Yea, they eat dogs in Korea and in China as well.
Whatever. Leno I hope they come after you with both barrels.
The Norks eat a soup brewed from tree bark, ya think they would pass up a roaming mutt?
Put some kimchee on it, and you'll think dog is angus prime beef.
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