Asian Leaders Angered by Rosie O'Donnell's 'Ching Chong' Comments

[Logan13]

From someone who is constantly speaking out against stereotyping....

Asian Leaders Angered by Rosie O'Donnell's 'Ching Chong' Comments
fox news
12/11/06

NEW YORK — Note to Rosie O'Donnell: Stick to singsong.

"The View" co-host is in hot water for using the expression "ching chong" to describe Chinese people talking about Danny DeVito's drunken appearance on her show.

"The fact is that it's news all over the world. That you know, you can imagine in China it's like: 'Ching chong … ching chong. Danny DeVito, ching chong, chong, chong, chong. Drunk. 'The View.' Ching chong," O'Donnell said on a Dec. 5 episode of "The View."

The statement didn't sit well with John C. Liu, a New York City councilman, who fired off a letter to "View" co-host Barbara Walters.

"The 'ching-chong' bit is not a trivial matter," Liu told FOXNews.com. "It really hits a raw nerve for many people in the community — many like myself, who grew up with these kinds of taunts. We all know that it never ends at the taunts."

Liu isn't the only one offended.

The Asian American Journalists Association called O'Donnell's comments a "mockery" that gives "the impression that [Asian Americans] are a group that is substandard to English-speaking people."

Liu said his office has received complaints from around the New York area following the appearance. He directed his letter to Walters instead of O'Donnell because as producer of the show, he said, she ought to know better.

"It's just stupidity, and it's stupidity that justifies a response," Liu said of O'Donnell's behavior, adding the comments came "from someone who has been indignant herself when it comes to comments made by other people where she has perceived it as being negative against a particular community."

In November, O'Donnell made up with Kelly Ripa, co-host of "Live With Regis and Kelly," after accusing her of homophobia for pushing Clay Aiken's hand away from her mouth on the program.

O'Donnell remains unfazed.

"She's a comedian in addition to being a talk show co-host," Cindi Berger, O'Donnell's spokeswoman, said in a statement. "I certainly hope that one day they will be able to grasp her humor."

On Dec. 8, O'Donnell wrote in her blog "it was not my intent to mock." She clarified her position on Dec. 10, calling the bit "comedy."

"I do many accents and probably will continue to," she wrote. "My mom in law impression offends some southerners. What can u do? I come in peace."

O'Donnell is not the first comedian to raise the ire of the Asian-American community.

In 2001, Sarah Silverman told a joke on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" that had the punch line "I love Chinks."

The NBC program issued an apology to Guy Aoki, the president of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, following Silverman's appearance.

Liu is still waiting for an apology for O'Donnell's comments.

"I think an acknowledgement that it was a mistake would be very much appreciated by the community," he said.

[alphaman]

I wonder if Tock will defend her.......

[Act of God]

Everyone's gotta lighten up. I don't see the Italian community raising a fuss about the 500,000 Italian stereotypes seen on tv every day.

Hey-a, eets-a Meeee, Marioooo

[MuscleScience]

MMMMMMMMMM Asian women!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Logan13]

Everyone's gotta lighten up. I don't see the Italian community raising a fuss about the 500,000 Italian stereotypes seen on tv every day.

Hey-a, eets-a Meeee, Marioooo

I think that it stems from the person doing the stereotyping, it is poltically motivated. If someone were to mock bull-dykes, Rosie would be all over them.

[Act of God]

Yeah but I am completely fed up with hearing everyone bitch about everything. The whole thing is completely out of hand. There is nothing racist about making fun (comedy-wise) of accents or any of that crap. I'm sure in other countries they make fun of americans, redneck accents, and all that crap.

[Logan13]

Yeah but I am completely fed up with hearing everyone bitch about everything. The whole thing is completely out of hand. There is nothing racist about making fun (comedy-wise) of accents or any of that crap. I'm sure in other countries they make fun of americans, redneck accents, and all that crap.

Hell yes!! But this was all before we became a politically correct society..........

[BgMc31]

Everyone's gotta lighten up. I don't see the Italian community raising a fuss about the 500,000 Italian stereotypes seen on tv every day.

Hey-a, eets-a Meeee, Marioooo

Actually there has been some outrage in the Italian community because the depictions of Italians on the show Sopranos. There has also been some uproar in Utah because of the depictions of Mormons on the show Big Love. Everyone whines about negative depictions of themselves, not just minorities.

[Act of God]

Carlos Mencia appears to be able to get away with it, considering that is his entire act. I guess its only bad if white people do it.