FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 October 2013
CONTACT
Tom Hayashi | Executive Director
202 223 5500 | thayashi@ocanational.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, a national membership driven organization dedicated to advancing the political, social, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting swift action to address the genocide comments on the Jimmy Kimmel Show’s “Kids Table” segment.
On October 16, 2013, the Jimmy Kimmel Show aired a skit titled “Kids Table” discussing the government shutdown with four children. During the segment, one child declared that an alternative to solving the United States’ debt to China was to “kill all the Chinese.” This was later picked up by Kimmel as a discussion topic, and the position was reiterated again by the same child and supported by another.
“Although Kimmel dismissed the views of the children, such expressions that demonize Asian Pacific Americans are unacceptable. A pre-recorded segment referencing genocide as a political solution, even stated by children in jest should never be aired on network television,” says Tom Hayashi, OCA Executive Director, “The producers of the show could not have predicted the response of the children taking part in the bit; however, the Jimmy Kimmel Show and the ABC Network should have taken responsibility to ensure that such a segment not be aired and that the children co-opted are properly educated on diversity and cultural sensitivity. It is on these grounds that OCA filed a complaint with the FCC. We are also seeking a dialogue with the representatives of ABC Network and the Jimmy Kimmel Show.”
In addition to filling a complaint with the FCC, OCA will also be seeking a dialogue with representatives of the ABC Network and the producers of the Jimmy Kimmel Show. Through the meeting, OCA will request that:
- The producers issue an apology to the children, their family, the viewers, and the Asian Pacific American community;
- And that the American Broadcasting Company include an action plan to prevent incidents such as this from occurring again.
Individuals outraged at the show have created a “We the People” petition calling for the investigation of the Jimmy Kimmel and the Kid’s Table segment. The petition currently has over 35,000 signatures. Additional petitions have also been created on Change.org.
“This incident has upset a large portion of the Asian Pacific American community,” says Sharon M. Wong, “The Jimmy Kimmel Show and ABC cannot invalidate the concerns of our community. Though we strongly respect the value of free speech, as protected under the United States Constitution, we believe that the show and the network, as a licensed media organization under the FCC, should stay clear of broadcasting content which contain hate speech, especially when it involves children.”
FCC complaints can be submitted athttps://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form2000!formSelection.action
