Guy Aoki
Encyclopedia
Guy Aoki is the head and co-founder of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans. He is also a contributing columnist for the Rafu Shimpo
, and debates publicly on Asian American issues.
, which involved her use of the ethnic slur "chink
", in an interview on the July 11, 2001 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien
.
In the interview, Silverman explained that a friend had advised her on how to avoid jury duty
by writing a racial slur on the selection form, "something really inappropriate, like, 'I hate chinks'." However, Silverman said that she ultimately decided that she did not want to be thought of as a racist
and instead wrote, "I love chinks." The Associated Press
quoted Aoki: "There is no excuse for something like this to have made the air. The term is the most offensive possible reference to a person of Chinese
descent." NBC
and Conan O'Brien
issued an apology, but Silverman did not, insisting later on the July 26, 2001 episode of Politically Incorrect
that she did not believe that Aoki was genuinely offended, but exploiting the opportunity for publicity.
Silverman and Aoki later appeared together on the August 22, 2001 episode of Politically Incorrect, along with panelists David Spade
and Anne-Marie Johnson
, chair of the Screen Actors Guild
Ethnic Employment Opportunity Committee. After Silverman repeated the joke for exposition’s sake, she opined that it made an implicit statement about the wrongness of racism
, rather than legitimizing it. Johnson, however, questioned the humor in the joke, and Aoki opined that such slurs should not be used in an off-the-cuff manner because it legitimized their use, and that use of the word “chink” was no better than the use of the word “nigger
”. Aoki added that while satire
was a legitimate practice, Silverman’s execution of it was not successful because it ran the risk that people would assume she actually subscribed to the racist viewpoint of the joke’s primary character. Aoki, Silverman, and Bill Maher
then got into the following exchange:
Silverman insisted that her joke pointed out racism, and Johnson insisted that the joke did not help to resolve it as a problem. Aoki objected to Silverman’s statement on the show weeks prior that the slur did not hurt him, and demanded an apology. Silverman did not respond to this demand, but continued to argue her point:
on The Adam Carolla Show.
Rafu Shimpo
is a Japanese-English language newspaper based in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California, USA.The paper began in 1903 as a one-page, mimeographed Japanese-language newspaper produced by Rippo Iijima, Masaharu Yamaguchi, and Seijiro Shibuya. H. T. Komai became publisher in 1922, beginning a family...
, and debates publicly on Asian American issues.
Sarah Silverman Controversy
Aoki became embroiled in a public controversy stemming from his objection to a joke told by comedienne Sarah SilvermanSarah Silverman
Sarah Kate Silverman is a Jewish American comedian, writer, actress, singer and musician. Her satirical comedy addresses social taboos and controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and religion....
, which involved her use of the ethnic slur "chink
Chink
Chink, chinki, chinky or chinkie is a pejorative term referring mainly to a person of Chinese ethnicity but sometimes generalized to refer to any person of East Asian descent...
", in an interview on the July 11, 2001 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
.
In the interview, Silverman explained that a friend had advised her on how to avoid jury duty
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
by writing a racial slur on the selection form, "something really inappropriate, like, 'I hate chinks'." However, Silverman said that she ultimately decided that she did not want to be thought of as a racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and instead wrote, "I love chinks." The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
quoted Aoki: "There is no excuse for something like this to have made the air. The term is the most offensive possible reference to a person of Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
descent." NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
issued an apology, but Silverman did not, insisting later on the July 26, 2001 episode of Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect is a late-night, half-hour political talk show hosted by Bill Maher that ran from 1993 to 2002. It premiered on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1997, and later on ABC in 1997, which cancelled it in 2002....
that she did not believe that Aoki was genuinely offended, but exploiting the opportunity for publicity.
Silverman and Aoki later appeared together on the August 22, 2001 episode of Politically Incorrect, along with panelists David Spade
David Spade
David Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
and Anne-Marie Johnson
Anne-Marie Johnson
Anne-Marie Johnson is an American actress and impressionist who has starred in film and on television. She is perhaps best known for her role as high school educator Althea Tibbs on the NBC/CBS television drama In the Heat of the Night. She is also known for her role as Nadine Hudson Thomas on...
, chair of the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
Ethnic Employment Opportunity Committee. After Silverman repeated the joke for exposition’s sake, she opined that it made an implicit statement about the wrongness of racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, rather than legitimizing it. Johnson, however, questioned the humor in the joke, and Aoki opined that such slurs should not be used in an off-the-cuff manner because it legitimized their use, and that use of the word “chink” was no better than the use of the word “nigger
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
”. Aoki added that while satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
was a legitimate practice, Silverman’s execution of it was not successful because it ran the risk that people would assume she actually subscribed to the racist viewpoint of the joke’s primary character. Aoki, Silverman, and Bill Maher
Bill Maher
William "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
then got into the following exchange:
Silverman insisted that her joke pointed out racism, and Johnson insisted that the joke did not help to resolve it as a problem. Aoki objected to Silverman’s statement on the show weeks prior that the slur did not hurt him, and demanded an apology. Silverman did not respond to this demand, but continued to argue her point:
Criticism
On May 12, 2009, Adam Carolla called Aoki "an extortionist" and questioned how he can "represent all Asian people," in reference to Aoki's complaints about a sketch by Dave DameshekDave Dameshek
Dr. William "Funny" David Dameshek is an American television writer and radio personality. Dameshek is currently a football analyst and writer for NFL.com, appearing on NFL Fantasy Live and hosting the Dave Dameshek Football Podcast.- Early life :Dameshek received his undergraduate degree in...
on The Adam Carolla Show.