Asian Group Upset Over Rosie O'Donnell's Comments

The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), a leading national civil and human rights organization, calls on comedian Rosie O'Donnell and The View's producers to acknowledge the hurt they caused with her comments on ABC's morning show The View last week.

On Dec. 5, O'Donnell used the words "ching chong" in a sing song voice to characterize how Chinese people must have alluded to a drunken appearance by actor Danny DeVito on the program recently.

"The fact is, it's news all over the world," O'Donnell said. "In China it's like: "Ching chong … ching chong." O'Donnell's comments prompted laughter from her co-hosts, and a loud "gong" sound that her producers added for a supposed comic effect.

"Ms. O'Donnell's comments show how much ignorance exists about Chinese and Asians in general," says AAJC President and Executive Director Karen Narasaki. "The fact that neither she nor her producers understand how that phrase has been used to denigrate Asians and Asian Americans – to the extent that it has become a racial slur – is appalling.

"What is even more troubling is her response when the issue was brought to her attention. The sad irony is that Ms. O'Donnell, herself a personal champion of fighting intolerance on the basis of sexual orientation, is unable to see beyond her own bigotry," Narasaki adds.

"We hope that Barbara Walters does not condone that kind of humor on the show she helped to create and we call on Ms. O'Donnell and The View's producers to apologize."


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