Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Mary Tablante
Civil rights organization Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA) is continuing to take action with both the Federal Communications Commission and ABC Network in relation to the October “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” skit in which a child commented that the solution to solving the United States’ national debt crisis was to “kill everyone in China.”
OCA, a national organization devoted to advancing the well being of Asian Pacific Americans, does not think that ABC and Jimmy Kimmel did enough to address the situation.
Tom Hayashi, executive director of OCA National Center, said OCA wants ABC and Kimmel to take initiative in pursuing cultural sensitivity training for staff and setting new standards for their staff when reviewing what is broadcasted.
OCA representatives had a meeting with FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai regarding the complaint OCA filed calling for an investigation of the incident.
Hayashi said ABC and Kimmel have the obligation to ensure that the children involved in the skit are debriefed about the incident along with their families. OCA also thinks that the FCC has a role to ensure that children are not exploited.
More than one week after the skit aired, Jimmy Kimmel apologized on his show and said, “I thought it was obvious that I didn’t agree with that statement, but apparently it wasn’t … I just want to say I am sorry. I apologize. It was certainly not my intent to upset anyone.”
ABC published an apology that said the network “would never purposefully broadcast anything to upset the Chinese community, Asian community, anyone of Chinese descent or any community at large,” reported CNN.
However, Hayashi said the apologies were not substantive and did not indicate that ABC or Kimmel will make sure the children in the skit are debriefed.
“We’re in the business of ending the cycle of hate crimes and it starts with children,” he said. “If that’s not addressed, then those apologies are hollow as far as I’m concerned.”
During OCA’s conversation with Commissioner Pai, Pai explained the three standards by which the FCC will either act or not act on their regulatory mandate to ensure that material is appropriate are if the material is considered obscene, profane or indecent.
In the meeting, Pai said the Kimmel skit did not rise to a certain level of profanity, obscenity or indecency, although the skit was in poor taste.
OCA is also considering filing a legal complaint that follows the 2000E form, which is a consumer complaint. It would be an organizational complaint levied primarily against the network, Hayashi said.
“We would have to make a strong argument around the indecency framework. The concern is there is not a whole lot of precedence for this kind of filing and really no active regulation that will strengthen our arguments,” Hayashi explained. “Do we file just so we can be on record to object to this type of rhetoric … or do we not file because there’s not a lot of legal backing for it? “
Hayashi said it is important for consumers to contact networks and the FCC directly if any forms of hate speech occur.
“I think doing nothing whatsoever is extremely detrimental in the long term in terms of how hate speech is promulgated,” he said. “When these kinds of incidents happen, getting some demonstrations and being very upfront about getting the message across… is also something folks from the community can and should do.”
Because ABC did not arrange a meeting within 30 days of the episode, Hayashi said there was the impression that because this is an AAPI incident that it did not deserve the attention it possibly would have received if it was an incident against certain communities.
At the time of publication, OCA, as well as other AAPI organizations including the Japanese American Citizens League and the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, was arranging a face-to-face meeting with ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee.
