Rosie O’Donnell mocks Asians with ching chong joke at Racialicious

Rosie O’Donnell mocks Asians with ching chong joke

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

The rumors have been confirmed. Rosie O’Donnell did indeed pander to the lowest common denominator by doing the ole ching chong routine on The View on Tuesday morning. Thanks very much to Geraly for being all over this!
The hosts were discussing how Danny DeVito’s drunken appearance had made their show particularly popular, and that it was probably even being shown in outer Mongolia. Rosie immediately started in with some “ching chong ching chong,” her interpretation apparently, of the Mongolian language.

You can view the video here. Click on the video labeled, “The View - Hot Topics - Danny DeVito”. It’s about 3 minutes long and around the 2:06 mark Rosie starts her “ching chong” thing.

Update: Okay sorry that my write-up of it a little inaccurate. As you might have guessed, I haven’t had the chance to actually watch the video yet. Luckily for us, it’s already up on YouTube! Enjoy… Also, it even made it to Gawker.

Trackbacks & Pings

Crocodile Caucus » Oh, Rosie… on 07 Dec 2006 at 11:07 pm

[…] UPDATE 2: Thanks to Gawker (via Rcialicious, again) here’s the clip: […]
TheThink on 08 Dec 2006 at 1:48 pm

[…] The Rosie O’Donnell “Ching Chong” Thing, Jenn also has it up, as well as Racialicious. This ties nicely into the first article that I linked. Again, “Liberal” is in no way a keyword for tolerant or respectful. Believe that. […]
The Primary Contradiction » It Comes Forth and it Shoots Through: Orientalism and American Discourse on 09 Dec 2006 at 1:45 am

[…] Rosie O’Donnell, a cherished figure of stay-at-home suburban moms from coast-to-coast, is currently NOT under enough damn fire to satisfy yours truly for a thoroughly orientalist “joke” she made on The View this past Tuesday. If you haven’t heard (which is most likely the case), O’Donnell mocked East Asian linguistic patterns on the Tuesday morning broadcast of the show by resurrecting the tired-ass “ching chong” meme-device. This “joke” was made in the context of a previous celebrity’s appearance on the show, but honestly, that’s beside the point. […]
Guy Aoki anoints Adam Carolla as an honorary Asian? at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture on 10 Dec 2006 at 12:57 am

[…] Huh interesting… Guy Aoki, co-founder and president of the media watchdog group Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) practically anointed Adam Carolla as an honorary Asian when he appeared on his show on Thursday to discuss the Rosie O’Donnell ching chong incident. […]
reappropriate » Blog Archive » The Rosie Round-Up on 11 Dec 2006 at 5:46 pm

[…] Racialicious […]
The Primary Contradiction » A Look Back at Seinfeld on 23 Dec 2006 at 10:25 pm

[…] Given recent media events, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that no, it is not the 1950s all over again. This is the newest media manifestation of something that has been around for well over a dozen decades. I am thinking now of Mel Gibson’s anti-Jewish film, The Passion Of The Christ: It Was The Jews Who Done It, his subsequent anti-Semitic remarks to a Jewish male cop, and his misogynistic remarks to a female cop. I am also thinking of Rosie O’Donnell’s most recent racist remarks on The View, making fun of how people from China allegedly speak by employing an old anti-Asian slur. And, of course, we have the footage of Michael Richards’ white male supremacist tirade against two African-American men: […]
thelesbianlifestyle.com » Blog Archive » Rosie: Not My Ideal by a Long Shot on 27 Dec 2007 at 3:12 pm

[…] you remember the Ching chong incident? If not let this refresh your memory. After she made her ching chong mockery she remained wholly […]

Comments

Jay wrote:

How surprising, Rosie O’Donnell is a hypocrite (what with her comments about Clay Aiken)

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 12:30 pm ¶
Rob wrote:

You’ll find that most people are hypocrites when it comes to issues like this.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 12:40 pm ¶
FrancesM wrote:

Recently Amy Sedaris was in town (Portland, OR) at Powells Books promoting her latest book. Amy kept referring to an Asian audience member as “ching-chong.” I found it annoying but the audience just laughed and laughed. And the Q&A portion of her promo I raised my hand and asked if she was racist or just trying to be un-PC. She said she didn’t think so, then paused and said she didn’t know. That she would get back to me on it. An honest answer. What I missed was that when she had called on me she to ask my question she had said “yes the negro in the back.” I didn’t hear her say it, only a bunch of laughing that I didn’t get at the time.

What was interesting was when I asked my question the audience fell completely silent. There was even a gasp. How funny (sad) that Amy’s racism was funny and my questioning it was…scary, weird, whatever it was I said was a show stopper. I hope someone gets to question Rosie directly on her saying ching-chong. And I hope she stops to answer honestly.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 3:58 pm ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:

FrancesM - interesting. I often find that hipster culture is intimately intertwined with racism.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 4:19 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

FrancesM: did the talk/book have anything to do with race, or old terms, or PC, or anything of the like? It’s bizarre that she’d use fake-Asian-speak AND “Negro” at the same time - I guess I just can’t believe it’s so common…

The silence may have been that wonderful uncomfortable hush - the crowd was totally willing to go along w/ it until you called them on it…

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 4:26 pm ¶
Ailurophile wrote:

To add further to Frances’ and Carmen’s comments: Yes, hipster culture often flirts with racism, even here in the Bay Area. It also flirts with anti-feminism.

I surmise this is so for the following reason: Anti-racists and feminists alike have been pigeonholed as frumpy, unattractive, shrill, overly earnest, dull, hairy-armpitted, take your pick of the above adjectives. Now before I upset anyone, I am NOT saying that this is how feminists and racial activists ARE, it’s how many people perceive them to be. So, unfortunately, being racist and/or anti-feminist acquires a certain glamour. And, let’s face it, people want to be perceived as pretty and glamorous, not homely and dull.

For the record: I don’t see how racial activism, not to mention feminism, can’t be perfectly paired with glamour, attractiveness, and fun. Perhaps activism needs a makeover?

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 4:48 pm ¶
Meg wrote:

Maybe she thinks it’s a way for her - the liberal, to bond with that other chick - the conservative? Throw in a few stereotypes about a group not big enough to cost you serious money and no one will care. She jumped all over that thing with the Idol guy for the mere suggestion of homophobia but acts like a tool to people who are ‘others’.

But cos i may be taking this personally due to my background, in fairness to the view i saw their thing on adoption/foster kids and there were interracial families. In particular a single white mum with a 2 african american kids. When asked about race she said something to the effect of “i can never teach her to be black and can’t ever know some things” and she sought out help from other people in the community who can give that identity to her kids. So thumbs up to the mum and Rosie i guess for not jumping in and saying “but i love them, i don’t see race.”

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 6:31 pm ¶
FrancesM wrote:

Amy’s book was on party planning and had nothing to do with racism or politics.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 6:35 pm ¶
Rob wrote:

This is why I view “liberals” with more suspicion than conservatives. All my life, the conservatives I know have fought for equal rights for everyone no matter what skin color they were. These days, I see more and more evidence of what I’ve thought all along. liberals don’t care at all about equal rights for everyone. They’re just fighting for what makes them look more “open-minded” and the easiest cause to get roped into is helping black Americans. The proof is in the pudding when they have discussions about race relations and conveniently leave out large demographics out of the discussion such as Latinos and Asian Americans.

Rosie is no different. All she cares about is gay rights but then goes out of her way to mock another minority group that has a history of being discriminated against in America. As far as I’m concerned, she has no grounds to complain about anything when it comes to gay rights.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 6:42 pm ¶
Gandalf Mantooth wrote:

They’re just fighting for what makes them look more “open-minded” and the easiest cause to get roped into is helping black Americans.

SO TRUE! Martin Luther King was so well known for his use of the LASSO.

(@_@) This is my “eye roll” emoticon. Please make a note of it.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 7:16 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

Rob: “conservative” and “liberal” are 2 overused (esp. this year) and vague terms that don’t have any exclusive claim, positive or negative, to things like ignorance, partiality/bias, wealth/opportunity, etc. A rich celebrity with their own personal saga? Doesn’t matter where they fall, they can easily slip into ignorance/partiality.

Someone can be fiscally conservative and socially liberal, or vice versa, fiscally and socially liberal/conservative. It’s an XY plane, and no one group, political or otherwise, fits completely into one quadrant.

Personally, I tend to be fiscally and socially liberal. My mother is fiscally conservative and socially moderate/in the middle. And so on and so on…

Get my point here?

Back to the topic though…
Just because someone is part of one minority doesn’t give them an automatic pass to understand or champion another minority. The level of racism and ignorance (and fetishism) in the gay community has been documented and is comparable to what you see in society in general. I’m not surprised. Annoyed, but not surprised.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 8:00 pm ¶
Y. Carrington wrote:

“They’re just fighting for what makes them look more “open-minded” and the easiest cause to get roped into is helping black Americans. The proof is in the pudding when they have discussions about race relations and conveniently leave out large demographics out of the discussion such as Latinos and Asian Americans.”

When I see a white person (or any person) that’s openly orientalist, I assume that they’re racist across the board as well. And I’m usually right.

Rob, one can appear to support equal rights for Black folks and still be viciously negrophobic. I’ve personally known more closet negrophobes in my life than I want to admit. In fact, if a white person appears to favor one ethnicity of color over another, that’s a clear indicator of white supremacy. Dividing people of color against each other is exactly how WS works. It’s the modus operandi of oppression in general.

As for Rosie O’Donnell, I knew what was up with her when she chastised Kelly Ripa for defending herself against Clay Aiken’s misogynist disrespect on her own show. So I ain’t exactly surprised by Ms. Rosie’s orientalism. Has she even “apologized” yet? I don’t watch the damn show, so I wouldn’t know.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 8:38 pm ¶
Anonymous Coward wrote:

I partially agree with you Rob, sadly some of the most outspoken proponents of liberalism think that just voicing the noble sentiments is equivalent to acting on them.

“They’re just fighting for what makes them look more “open-minded” and the easiest cause to get roped into is helping black Americans.

SO TRUE! Martin Luther King was so well known for his use of the LASSO.”

Not sure what your argument is Gandalf, doesn’t even make sense. Rob was putting the blame on the supposedly “open-minded” individual that rushes out to champion a cause they hold no real sincerity for. Rob never said anything about Martin Luther King or that Mr. King in any way coerced anybody to join the civil rights movement. However I disagree with your use of the term “roped” rob… you probably meant that the civil rights movement was very enticing for someone intent on being a liberal, however roped also has the negative connotation of enticing through deceptive means. You’re inferring that the civil rights movement was being disingenuous in their gathering of supporters, where i think you really mean the liberals who jumped on are the disingenuous ones.

oh, and (@_@)

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 8:54 pm ¶
Alicia wrote:

I’m not so sure on this one…. she was mocking the language more than the people, it seems. If she had been referring to Germany, and used “Sprachen machen gegen Danny DeVito schwimmen gehen drunk The View”, I doubt it would have been posted. However, I do admit that the use of a gong after her speaking (which was most likely added by someone else) was a horrible thing to do.

Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 10:26 pm ¶
Anonymous Coward wrote:

I have to disagree with you Alicia. That might be a valid point, if you would care to translate what ching chong, ching ching chong means. As far as I’m aware, it’s not a language. But it is a deeply-rooted historical method of mocking Asians.

I’m curious why you don’t see this as offensive? That would be like me “mooing” at a obese woman and you chastising me for mocking the language of cows instead of rightly criticizing me for mocking the woman.

Yes, the gong was added, but I’m not sure why you find that especially offensive (horrible?) and not the chop socky sing-song gibberish coming out of Rosie’s mouth? The gong in my mind is fairly benevolent in comparison. The only thing Rosie failed to do was take her fingers and slant her eyes to establish the full effect.

As one who identifies with an ethnic group, the language is regarded by many in the group as indistinguishable from the people. We have immense pride in our language and it’s symbolic of who we are. Mocking it is as tacky and disrespectful as taking the American flag and pissing on it.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 12:46 am ¶
Rob wrote:

When I used the term “liberal,” I meant for it to mean “socially liberal.” You know, the supposedly socially enlightened individuals.

These sort of people, to me, are even more dangerous because they’re not fighting for equal rights but rather fighting to make themselves look better. They could give a rat’s ass about which community is suffering from what but rather exploits minorities for their own benefit which is far worse than someone not caring at all which most stereotypical socially conservative individuals fall under.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 12:48 am ¶
HighJive wrote:

was the gong actually added by someone on the view? maybe it was just rosie’s dinner bell.

even though everyone hates him, jesse jackson was painfully prophetic when he recently commented on the growing racial insensitivity in hollywood.

didn’t the view used to feature an asian woman too? guess they don’t need her with rosie on the scene to represent that demographic.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 12:58 am ¶
Rebecca wrote:

Chignnc chiong ching chng the view thicn ching chong the view ching chong

LOLOLOL! Hahahahahaha. Rosy is funny as hell!

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 9:34 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:

Rob: I agree that there are hypocrites everywhere, but I hesitate to say that the average social conservative is MORE equality-minded than the average social liberal.

In my experience, a social conservative (over 40 now, since I think those labels are relatively meaningless and far more complicated for my generation and those after) is going to be less likely to support things I believe are part of a equal society: such as equal funding for public schools, equality in secular marriage (however you want to label it), equal opportunity in the workforce regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, or orientation, equal opportunity for religious worship, etc. Of course social liberals lose sight of those, esp. when they’re rich white isolated celebrities.

But most of the social liberals I know do not fall into that “Rosie ODonnell” category.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 10:24 am ¶
mamazilla wrote:

i’m having difficulty posting to my blog this morning. thought you might want to know that rosie o’donnell has apologized (sorta???) and answered some viewer questions re: the incident on her blog:

1) Rosie:
for someone who comes off to be so sensitive and aware of lgbt issues, why did you think it was alright to mock Chinese people and the language on The View (re:danny devito: ching chong …)???

it was not my intent to mock
just to say how odd it is
that danny drunk
was news all over the world
even in china

it was not meant to mock

2) hi rosie,
i thought your impression of the news in china was a little offensive! it’s ok, though, I still love you-

didnt mean it 2 b offensive
in any way

3) Rosie, what made you think it was okay to make fun of the way Chinese people speak?

the joke was about the danny devito drunk news
making headines all over the world
including china
just comedy folks
no intent 2 harm

peace

i dunno… ok, so she wasn’t trying to be offensive…

imho - it was racist thing to say and do, she should say so and she should apologize on the view since that’s where it happened.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 11:19 am ¶
mamazilla wrote:

also - i just noticed that the original clip that was on the view video page is now gone. so, thank you to whoever got it youtubed!

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 12:14 pm ¶
Yori Kim wrote:

well i’ll be dammed…….i thought she was against racism, well im asian and i find it especially offending, what the heck is with “ching, chong, ching, ching, chong” she has something f***ing wrong with her language skills if she thinks people from china speak like that, shame on her-hyopcrite rose O’donnel is an official racist b****, no offense, but it REALLY offended me

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 1:11 pm ¶
Gandalf Mantooth wrote:

Anonymous Coward,

(If ever there was a more apt nom de plume . . .)

Roped. Lasso? Get it? Please set sarcasm detector to “on.” Thanks for playing.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 1:25 pm ¶
kim wrote:

Rob: “…the supposedly socially enlightened individuals… to me, are even more dangerous because they’re not fighting for equal rights but rather fighting to make themselves look better.”

Rob, you seem to feel that most people are inherently bigoted and that it is an act of supreme hypocrisy to proffer that one works for equality for all people, exclusive of one’s own “group,” or works for the most politically expedient group (which for you, as you’ve stated elsewhere is Blacks).

The tone of your post here reminds me of the defensive reflexing of those who blast political correctness and choose instead to “put it all out there,” and say what they “really feel,” because, in their opinion, it’s more honest than pretending to believe that we can all seek to respect that certain terms and words are indeed offensive or inappropriate.

The gist is, “deep down, we really all feel the way I do, I’m just not afraid to show it,” and therefore the hypocrisy rests with those who genuinely seek to transform their thought processes and their behaviors.

Rosie O’Donnell notwithstanding. She represents Rosie O’Donnell, corporate entity.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 1:30 pm ¶
bertie wrote:

Why is this suprising. I know there is a tendancy/desire for GLBT folks to conflate their issues with racial issues–but they are separate and distinct. I do not expect a gay person to be any more sensitive to racial issues than a straight person. What does your view on other races have to do with your sexual preference? (except in regards to fetishes–which is a whole ‘nother can of worms).

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 1:32 pm ¶
Anonymous Coward wrote:

Mamazilla,

I agree with your kinda apologized sorta…
“didnt mean it 2 b offensive
in any way”

Wtf is this? I seriously hope she didn’t use 2b. This is what a 11 year old girl text messages to a friend. This is not an apology.

I too am very glad Gawker has the clip on Youtube. Someone else had originally put the clip on Youtube but it was pulled the last time i went back. This is odd, considering that Youtube has a hundred different clips from The View (potential copyright infringements), and it was this one that got removed. Must have been due to the inoffensive nature of the joke.

Bertie,
I half agree and half disagree with your statement. I don’t expect that a gay person is essentially non-racist… however I do expect them to be sensitive to racial issues far more than a straight person. It’s not so much their views on race as it is their experiences as a homosexual that accords them this understanding. Homosexual individuals know what it is to be mocked, to have unjust laws passed against them, to be ostracized and face vitriol passed off as harmless joking. I don’t expect any heightened sense of racial awareness from the gay community but i do expect some empathy at the very least. Many of the allies that support gay rights aren’t themselves gay. There is no direct benefit to them for supporting this marginalized group. And it’s certainly not sanctioned as morally religious altruism. Many support gay rights soly out of empathizing with their situation which has nothing to do with the supporters sexual preference.

Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 3:58 pm ¶
Gin wrote:

C’mon, who watches The View anyway? Bored, cultureless white mothers who like to listen to each other bitch and moan. Rosie is just speaking to her demographic, so let her.

Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 4:40 am ¶
Y. Carrington wrote:

Gin, I hear you and all, but her demographic of cultureless white soccer moms is part of the problem. The fact that they laughed without hesitation at her orientalism is scary.

Those same white moms laughing at Rosie’s “joke” could have kids that go to school next week and bully their Asian classmates. Many a Asian boy will hear some racist kid utter “ching chong” as they’re slamming his head into a toliet. I apologize for being so graphic, but let’s be real: this shit happens every day in US public schools. I can’t tell you how many times I witnessed white and Black boys make these jokes growing up.

White supremacy, white supremacy, white supremacy. I’ll say it again and again.

Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 5:29 am ¶
Christopher Hom wrote:

Racial stereotypes have no place on national television. She is being paid millions for her opinion, and what she said was offensive, ignorant, and racist. Being a lesbian does not give you a free pass on being a racist. If this is ABC’s view of Asians, then perhaps the Asian community ought to stop watching ABC.

Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 4:28 pm ¶
Alexandra wrote:

What Rosie said was completely hypocritical, as many of you have pointed out. I’m sure if she had adopted an asian child she’d be defending asian rights all day long. It’s disgusting.

I’m also disappointed to hear about Amy Sedaris’ blatantly racist behaviour while she was promoting her book. I don’t understand how referring to audience members by their ethnicity is supposed to be humourous. Is it now ironic to joke about negros and ching-chong chinese? If you’re gonna be racially insensitive, at least be inclusive. Something to the effect of “yes, the cracker in the purple sweater” or “whitey up front”. But gee, that might be considered offensive and in bad taste. Kudos to you for calling her on it, Frances! The R-word has an uncanny ability to create an awkward, uncomfortable silence. Funny, that.

Anyway, as far as the intersection of race and gay and lesbian discrimination, sadly in my experiences I, too have come across ignorance when dealing with people who are activists within the gay and lesbian community. A friend of friend once commented that asian men are all “faggy” looking and when I, in disbelief, called her on it her only defence was that she worked at a gender centre and the word has apparently been reclaimed. Right.. I’ll be sure to send the memo out to asian men (and my father) before they get all needlessly offended.

Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 5:21 pm ¶
Molly wrote:

I agree wholeheartedly with what Y. Carrington said - there is a trickle-down effect with seemingly innocuous or jokey remarks. They might be used ironically by hipsters (though the idea of Rosie as a hipster cracks me up!) but they aren’t taken that way by the majority of people who hear them, and especially by children.

Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 6:49 pm ¶
Kathy wrote:

I think the trickle down effect to children is so very
true here. For Rosie to say no harm intended?
WTF, how about saying she is sorry and trying
to figure out a way to make amends, like maybe
do a segment on her stupid ass show about how
racism and stereotyping hurt the kids she supposedly cares about.

Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 8:10 pm ¶
kim wrote:

Y. Carrington:

well said.

Posted 09 Dec 2006 at 10:23 pm ¶
SolShine7 wrote:

Rosie O’Donell has annoyed me for a while. This is just whack. She jumps all over Kelly Ripa for not wanting some man to put his hand on her mouth (which is gross) and called her homophia (although I think she’s just jealous of Ripa) but she can say this crap about Asian people. I say they hurry up and bring back Star Jones or somebody else.

Posted 10 Dec 2006 at 2:47 am ¶
Lyle wrote:

Personally, I’m not calling O’Donnel a hypocrite over this, just suffering from tunnel vision. Her ear is tuned to homophobic subtext because it affects her and she probably hasn’t given thought to racism because it doesn’t affect her. I’ve seen anti-racism activists show total cluelessness towards homophobia and/or sexism. Yelling “hypocrite” isn’t going to move the ball forward, as much as opening a dialogue about how these worlds intersect. (Especially since, nowadays, ‘hypocrite’ is shorthand for ‘I don’t have to give anything you ever say credence anymore.’)

Still, she bugs me for being in the ‘queer celebrities who waited until the risk was minimized to come out’.

As for Sedaris, it strikes me that white hipster culture tries to reappropriate racist words with that ironic wink and nudge. As allies who look like the oppressors, it’s an attempt to deal with that kind guilt-by-association. (There’s also facing the subtle racism of realizing that the majority of your friends and coworkers look like you, the uncomfortable subtext the majority hears in discussions about representation is “There should be less white/heterosexual/male people, here.” If, as in showbiz, you socialize with a lot of the people you work with, that brings up the question of “Do I associate with these people because they’re great comedians or because they’re white.”) Part of me doesn’t have a problem with that kind of joke, except that there are plenty of people in the audience who will take away “If Amy Sedaris said it and got a laugh, it’s okay to say anytime, in any context.”

Posted 10 Dec 2006 at 4:09 pm ¶
kim wrote:

I loved your post, Lyle, until the ” part of me doesn’t have a problem with that kind of joke,” portion, because…

why does part of you not have a problem with that kind of joke?

It is no less an act of the assumption of a language/societal powerplay than Michael Richards’ use of the n-word (though without the attendant rant as regards lynching), or the misguided turn that Black people use when seeking to re-define the word, demystifying the language and co-opting it from white supremacists.

Again, I bring up the book, The Cynic’s dictionary, and the author’s explanation of ethnic joke: something you may say in a room full of people that you assume to be devoid of any of the group of whom you are speaking, with the attendees all being of a like mind - so, what’s the harm?

Posted 10 Dec 2006 at 5:18 pm ¶
Y. Carrington wrote:

I swear folks…there needs to be a comprehensive critique on white hipster irony. We need to start studying that shit like we study affirmative action. I ain’t lying.

Hipster irony is one of the greatest threats to civilization right now. Along with “fair and balanced” journalism. Damn Damn Damn.

Posted 10 Dec 2006 at 6:35 pm ¶
Elaina wrote:

maybe it was just rosie’s dinner bell.

Ok. Now that comes just too terribly close to a fat joke made under the guise of combating racism, which is utter bullshit.

Rosie didn’t act like a moron because she’s fat. She owes her behavior to her white supremacist privilege, not her weight. Making fun of fat people is oppressive behavior, too.

I hope that wasn’t the point of the comment, but it sure sounds like it was. Could we not do that please? There’s enough material to tear up, when it comes to what Rosie O. said, without resorting to puerile fat jokes.

Posted 10 Dec 2006 at 9:43 pm ¶
Yori Kim wrote:

Kim, brilliant post. I also agree with Elaina on the fact that making fun of anyone won’t make you any better, it’ll probably make you worse as in terms person-wise. The fact that she mocked the Chinese language with a sad excuse for comedy upsets me. Honestly, I expected more actual comedy rather than her racial mockings. I was quite offended when she said “ching, chong, ching chong.” I man, it’s as almost as if she’s pulling her eyes back and saying “hey look I’m Chinese now!”. It’s sad, because kids used to look at my eyes and ask over and over again if I could see properly, and say ‘hey your Chinese!’ because of the fact I had angular shaped eyes–and how they thought the only way you were Asian was if you were Chinese, there was no other culture( I suspect it was influenced on them.). Media influences our daily lives, no matter what we say or do, it STILL does, and in conclusion I must say that this is probably going to end up some were in a school and kids will probably start to make fun of Asian kids by saying “ching chong” because they think it’s exceptional, when (while not knowing it) it’s really not at all, I used to know a kid who made fun of Asians, saying ‘ching chong’ while he himself, was half aboriginal (probably due to the fact he’s uncomfortable with his own race), but hey-thats one person’s opinion ;).

Posted 11 Dec 2006 at 7:17 pm ¶
rosie is fat wrote:

trust me rosie with her fatself on niptuck do not want any problems with the asian community-

Posted 12 Dec 2006 at 3:18 am ¶
Mystic_rebl wrote:

Ah, where is ol’ The View participant Lisa Ling when you need her? Her work at the National Geographic Channel is much more important.

Posted 12 Dec 2006 at 7:12 am ¶
LMK wrote:

Fuck hipster irony. Bottom line: white folks never cease to leap at the chance to say “nigger” or some other offensive term, all the while feigning liberal innocence. (”Who me? Racist? Not hardly!”
White racism clad in chic hipster garb—classic case of “old wine in new bottles”.
I call bullshit…

Posted 12 Dec 2006 at 2:02 pm ¶
james wrote:

right on, Yori. It is painful to see our kid grew up in especially in New York , the most diversify city, made fun of by other racial ethics kids in school.,Yes, asian is minority group and even among ourselves we are segregated and plus we are quiet and timid. We are not too vocal and it is alright for this fat w…p….o..shit to make this derogatory statement and I don’t find this funny or professional, being lesbian that she chose(Rosie ), but it is God gift of being Asian and proud of wouldn’t make up less human that everybody walk on by. So fat..p..of..s.. should stick her foot in her mouth before she make another statement like that.

Posted 12 Dec 2006 at 7:42 pm ¶
BK wrote:

Who should we contact at CBS or The View to discuss/comment on this. The stereotype is that we as Asians are going to be the “ideal minority” and just let it blow by. We are the meek and underspoken. The more we concede the more we confirm that stereotype.

I have a huge problem with someone like her making those comments and then coming up with a bland apology. She, The View, and ABC ought to know how upset and insensed we are about this.

If anyone has any more onfi on who and how to get a hold of these people please post so we can all voice our thoughts and opinions about this.

Posted 13 Dec 2006 at 10:57 am ¶
MBuck wrote:

Rosie O’Donnell is a comedian, haha, do I see anyone making huge complaints regarding Larry The Cable Guy or anyone on the blue collar comedy tour, they are 10 times offensive as Rosie.
Hey Rob ~ the day conservatives become open minded is the day that President Bush stops doing favors for his buddies in Washington DC and all the Republicans actually give a damn about what the people want and vote that way.
So what a flippin’ comedian made a joke that was offensive ~ happens all the time! How about we move on to a more important issue that is more meaningful like getting our troops home, fixing what’s wrong with America, which it’s obviously the stupidity of people to get their panties into a bunch over a joke.

Posted 13 Dec 2006 at 6:02 pm ¶
outraged wrote:

A COMPLETE ABSOLUTE BIGOT. CHINESE AMERICANS DON’T NEED THIS ANYMORE THAN THE OTHER RACIST COMMENTS THAT’S CAUSING A WAVE AMONGST THE CELEB COMMUNITY. ROSIE, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING INTERESTING TO SAY, THEN SHUT THE BLUBBER OF A TRAP YOU CALL A MOUTH AND SLAP IT WHERE YOU REALLY LIKE IT

Posted 14 Dec 2006 at 12:58 am ¶
Cindy wrote:

so i guess all chinese people say ching chong and all black people are niggers and all gay people have aids and all white people are trailer trash and all fat people deserve it because they eat too much? come on give me a fucken break. do you wanna know why we don’t get offended with chris rock and dave chapelle? because they make fun of themselves too. not only other people. she of all people should know its not easy being gay. we work everyday to provide a society of equal rights to everyone. everyday is a struggle. for her to say that is a disgrace to man kind. it was uncalled for. and to rebecca you think its funny don’t you? laugh bitch laugh it up.

Posted 14 Dec 2006 at 1:09 am ¶
Minter wrote:

Meh, who cares, she’s fat.

We can dismiss her fat blubberings just as easily as the chubbsters tries to do the same to asians.

Don’t trip over your belly love.

Posted 14 Dec 2006 at 1:53 am ¶
Minter wrote:

With regards to Amy Semolinaris, get this - she has an IMAGINARY BOYFRIEND.

“Amy said that Ricky had not really died, which is a good thing since she “couldn’t handle the pain.” ”

Best thing about racists is that if you dig deep enough, you’ll find something that shows they’re too fucked up to be worth bothering with.

Posted 14 Dec 2006 at 1:58 am ¶
Offended wrote:

I found this clip extremely offensive. I myself, am Asian; more specifically Chinese. I used to think of Rosie as an iconic figure that represented tolerance and understanding. Now, when I think of Rosie, “dirty racist cow” comes to mind.

Posted 15 Dec 2006 at 6:34 am ¶
SocKrit2Em wrote:

Wow, this is a great place to talk out the issues, and I agree with (cannot remember who) the person who raised the issue of making your talk count.

Someone here must be mobilizing around these SPECIFIC issues, right? Perhaps we should make a comprehensive list of all of the networks that continue to broadcast these “grocerismos” (a great Spanish word for gross-disgusting words/acts) and write an open letter or as someone suggested, form an anti-racist boycott.

Posted 15 Dec 2006 at 6:09 pm ¶
Jonny Chung wrote:

Please read this email that I wrote to Barbara Walters in response to this incident.

This is an email re: Rosie O’Donnell mocking the Chinese language.

There is no doubt in my mind that you have probably received many emails regarding this subject and it must be getting pretty old for you to be reading this email. However, I wanted to write an email because of my incredible anger at hearing of this, and also the tremendous amount of hurt that these sorts of comments make.

I don’t think that I need to write an email explaining how offensive her comments were – I think that she can understand what it is like to have people make jokes that are hurtful or offensive to her. Unfortunately in our society today, there are still people that do not think before making comments that could be harmful to others based on who they are, rather than the choices they make.

The point of my email, then, is to ask that you and Ms. O’Donnell act consistently with the ways you have so publicly acted in the past in similar situations. Rosie O’Donnell has acknowledged that she didn’t realize how hurtful these comments were, but I find that to be a little lacking when I look at past reactions from the two of you in similar instances:

In July, when news that Mel Gibson made incredibly anti-Semitic comments to a Jewish police officer (not knowing that he was Jewish), on air of your show, you said that you didn’t want anything to have to do with Mel Gibson anymore. If, in fact, you both really believe Ms. O’Donnell’s comments were that offensive, there should be a similar response from you rather than silence. At least acknowledge that something hurtful took place and that it was not right.

Rosie O’Donnell is one of the most public and outspoken figures on issues such as gun control and homosexual rights. She has been accused of being hypersensitive at times and even reversely offensive to someone who transgresses against the rights of homosexuals – be it intentionally or not. On her web page, Ms. O’Donnell said that she apologized and did not realize how offensive her comments were, which I’m grateful for. However, I wonder if that response is consistent with what she would expect from someone who made similarly offensive comments about homosexuals. Would she argue that ignorance is not an excuse? Would she say that someone is not really homophobic, but just being humorous? Or would she say that those jokes are indicative of a person and society that does not understand homosexuals and frankly, does not seem to want to understand or empathize with them?

As someone who has been hurt by these kinds of comments in the past, and has also made these sorts of comments – sometimes intentionally, other times not – I ask that you please do more than just remain silent on this issue. Please be consistent with the way that you have acted in the past, but more than that, please be consistent with what you know to be the right (usually the harder) course of action.

Thank you very much for reading this email and for what you do,

Jonny Chung

Posted 15 Dec 2006 at 6:31 pm ¶
Dennis wrote:

my pastor wrote this on his blog.
we simply need to raise a little hell (excuse the pun) and not be silent:

http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/2006/12/15/rosie-o-donnell-chinese-expert/

Posted 15 Dec 2006 at 10:02 pm ¶
zach wrote:

I find Amy Sedaris’ comments as hurtful and racists as Ms O’Donnell’s. The fact that both don’t understand what the uproar these comments created is really sad! Do these people live in a vaccum, or are they just flat out “dumb”????????

Posted 16 Dec 2006 at 12:03 am ¶
Minter wrote:

ignorance, zach, plain ignorance. Furthermore, it’s not even our job to teach them. Think about: a typical racist event:

1) Racist comment made
2) Minority makes themselves heard
3) racist asks why it was offensive (most of the times they know why, they’re just playing with their authority)
4) minority becomes the teacher
5) racist forgets, does it again, lives their life as happy and ignorant as before
6) minority spends a significant amount of their lives raising the issues while 5) occurs again and again

It is not our jobs to spend out entire lives informing others, to the point where it messes with out lives. So how to change views like this? Time. THere is no other way - let what you do in your daily life speak for themselves - get involved in active stuff, make an impact on society without going on racial issues.

If you’ve done that, the closet racists will notice you’ve led a great life, why they’ve been sulking with the thought that a minority managed to do something that they can’t. That’s how you win them over.

Posted 16 Dec 2006 at 8:21 am ¶
Minter wrote:

TO add, in the Sedaris case, that audience member should’ve just shouted, “stop being a racist bitch” or similar - something concise and makes a punch. It’ll shock the audience, and more importantly her, that she’ll think twice.

Posted 16 Dec 2006 at 8:22 am ¶
Yori Kim wrote:

I know everyone is offended as am I, but calling her fat and ugly (exteriorly) won’t help the situation. Rebecca, you should realize that you are are indeed, being rude and should consult yourself about your own humanity.

Please, please don’t start calling her fat, because we’ll start acting like her–do we REALLY want that? No, I don’t think so. Rosie doesn’t give a shit about the asian community, but that has NOTHING to do with being lesbian. I myself–have lesbian friends, and we should not make fun of people because of the way they are.

Instead of making fun of every racist person, and whining about it, let’s fight against it (with non-voilence of course ^-^) and show how we can get along in a friendly environment–no matter your race. Yes, I know it seems impossible, but come on’ are we really going to just stand there and WATCH it happen? HELL no I’m not, I’ll be the first in line to fight for the rights of everyone’ and I’m going to (try) not to make fun of anyone while doing it.

So please be mature, and don’t mock her–because if you do you’ll be just as bad as her. So instead of calling her fat and ugly (exteriorly) let’s talk about our opinions WITHOUT bringing up what she looks like, so please, be mature.

I am quite sorry if I offended anyone, I was just expressing my opinion, I hope everyone considers my comment as a good comment and not a stupid useless one,
kind regards
–

Yori ^-^

Posted 18 Dec 2006 at 12:13 pm ¶
subliminal wrote:

I still don’t think Rosie gets it. She’s not just another comedian on the show or even another co-host, she’s the moderator on the show. What she says really reflects on how the whole show is viewed. And her ‘my intention was to say even the Chinese were talking about it’ apology further segregated the Chinese. I think Elizabeth or someone on the show should rephase her statement with ‘even the lesbian community was talking about it…’ Vagina, Breasts, Vagina, Breasts, Danny DeVito, Vagina, Breasts, Vagina, Breast, the View… and finish it with the sound of a power tool running. Then have Elizabeth defending her comments by saying that how lesbians sound to her and had no idea vagina and breasts were offensive to lesbians… oh well.

Posted 18 Dec 2006 at 2:05 pm ¶
noho wrote:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Ching Chong is an ethnic slur directed at people of Chinese nationality or ancestry. It is most frequently encountered in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia

Sometimes “ching chong” is combined with “Chinaman;” the combination is often used in nursery-style rhymes, such as:

Ching Chong Chinaman sitting on a fence
Trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents.
Along came a choo-choo train,
Knocked him in the cuckoo-brain,
And that was the end of the fifteen cents.

Ching Chong, Chinaman,
Sitting on a wall.
Along came a white man,
And chopped his head off.

…nice going Rosie!

Posted 18 Dec 2006 at 2:16 pm ¶
Grant wrote:

Seems like some of you have really thin skins. I have never been a Rosie fan, but I do not see any bad intentions eminating from Rosie toward Asians. She was just admitting how the language sounds to someone not well versed in Chinese. I am in China at the moment. I have learned to love the Chinese. Their viewpoint on many things are completely different from the western. We all have a lot to offer each other. Frankly, on first glance it would appear that the Chinese people name their children by listening to the sounds that are made when you drop the silverware. Ching, Chang, Chong… Although I have learned this is not true since they do not use silverware. On the menu last night was Pigs feet with soup. Duck liver, Pig Intestines with BROWN sauce. (and I am not allowed to joke about the brown sauce?) These people look better than their Western counterparts… less obesity… which brings up the subject of Rosie again.. but we are not allowed to joke about that. We should just sit with our hands by our sides and pretend we are all the same and make no reference to our differences? Most all comedy is about our differences and it is funny if not done with mean intent. Anyone that watched Rosie could see she meant nothing demeaning in the comment. You will live longer if you lighten up… so I think.

Posted 21 Dec 2006 at 11:39 pm ¶
Dena wrote:

ANOTHER Amy Sedaris “Ching Chong” classic:

From some guy’s blog:

“WHAT DO YOU MOST COMMONLY WRITE IN PEOPLE’S BOOKS?
I write “Ching Chong” and draw a little guy with buck teeth…”"

Class act, that Sedaris.

Some idiot on Flickr has a Sedaris autograph (bottom of the pic): http://flickr.com/photos/halfbreedsarehotties/299609432/in/pool-hepburntribute/ with a “Ching Chong” signature. Sedaris really does this shit.

Posted 22 Dec 2006 at 4:20 am ¶
chadw wrote:

I really love what Minter had to say. Perfect.

With the large number of Asian Americans in the media today (I think maybe 30 people), it seems like the old stereotypes of Asians and how they talk are now kind of insignificant. Perhaps jokes about these stereotypes are funny now, maybe because Asians have reclaimed ‘Ching Chong’? It’s funny or harmless to those who are included in the joke that’s for sure, not so much for the ones being made fun of.

Posted 29 Dec 2006 at 5:34 am ¶
someone wrote:

If it’s so offensive, why, then, are chinese NAMED Ching-Chong?
I refer you to this report:
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:dN_gZ2uk3ZQJ:www2.nsysu.edu.tw/econo/Mrlai.pdf+ching+chong&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=93&client=firefox-a
Chang, Juin-jen, Ching-chong Lai and Chung-cheng Lin, 2003. 3, “Profit Sharing, Worker Effort, and
Double-Sided Moral Hazard in an Efficiency Wage Model,” Journal of Comparative Economics, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp.
75-93. (SSCI, EconLit)

Posted 05 Jan 2007 at 10:55 pm ¶
fgs_sfdg wrote:

Someone here is a retard.

Posted 05 Jan 2007 at 11:08 pm ¶
Boycott "THE VIEW" wrote:

“Ching Chong is an ethnic slur directed at people of Chinese ancestry.It is most frequently encountered in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Possible origin of the word is that of a bastardization of the Chinese noun Ching Chao, which literally translates as “Ching Dynasty.” The prevalant usage of this insult began during the gold-rush eras of 18th Century in Ballarat, Australia, when the Chinese gold-prospectors were of Ching Dynasty origin.

Sometimes “ching chong” is combined with “Chinaman”; the combination is often used in nursery-style rhymes, such as:
Ching Chong Chinaman sitting on a fence
Trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents.
Along came a choo-choo train,
Knocked him in the cuckoo-brain,
And that was the end of the fifteen cents.”

The gold rush incidents spur on a series of “HATE CRIMES” which resonates to this very day—as demonstated by ignorant usage of the word “CHING CHONG” by “Has Been” comedians.

SO, for all ignorant folks out there who think Asians should “Lighten up” –
Look into your ancestry and see if your ancestors were one of these idiots who tormented our “Chinese” brothers

ROSIE should show sincerity when she apologizes, I saw the catch up show where she did, but she also noted that she asked her “ASIAN AMERICAN” assistant if she was offended by her statement to which she said the assistant said no…. then Joy, who is also on the show proceeds to poll 2 asians in the audience the same question with the same answer…COME ON! VIEW, just apologize without the fanfare. ITS SO INSINCERE!!!!

Its these acts of idiocy that propels and keeps this stereotype alive and have ignorant people believe its ok to joke on offensive racial lines–and actually think its funny.

Posted 10 Jan 2007 at 12:36 pm ¶
John Clarke wrote:

This comment has been deleted by the moderator.

Posted 16 Jan 2007 at 11:18 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:

Brilliant, John, revenge an insult on one group by insulting another group.

Thanks for (not) contributing to the discussion.

Posted 16 Jan 2007 at 11:35 am ¶
Tygers Dream wrote:

I am half asian and half white.

when i am in north america, ppl jokingly tell me to go ‘home’.

when i am in asia, i have ppl telling me that i should leave and never come back.

racism, needless to say, is about the majority vs the minority regardless of color.

you can make fun of the majority “White men can’t dance… They sound like donkeys when they swear…” without any backlash.

Why is that? Is it because the insults aren’t as bad as “ching chong”? Is it because they have strength in numbers? Does this afford them some confidence and leniency? Is the majority some big elephant that doesn’t feel the sting of a minority mosquito?

Posted 01 Feb 2007 at 9:56 am ¶
UnDefined wrote:

i should have watched the youtube clip first, reading everybody else’s commentaries has coloured how i should feel about what rosie said. I’ve been TRYING to dredge up this feeling of outrage that i should feel, but i don’t. For the sake of comedic timing, i think she put too many ching chongs in. For the sake of the Chinese language, she looks narrow-minded, but her narrow-mindedness DOESN”T AFFECT ME. SHE looks like the idiot, if anything.

If we were all open-minded adults (or at least all of the same mind about race, religion and culture) her comment wouldn’t be seen as socially damaging. But I understand that those in the majority who LIKE being the majority try to protect their status quo by keeping the little people down through stereotyping (amongst others) so I see how kids or the ignorant will misunderstand her intention.

Although Rosie’s joke really DOES just focus on how embarassing DeVito was that everybody on the planet’s probably talking about it — I’m in Malaysia right now… Does it make you all feel better that those of us who DO speak Chinese don’t give two shits about the View over here, and Who the hell is Rosie O’Donnell?

For those ‘minority mosquitos’ out there who feel the weighty oppression of the majority, just remember -
Make fun of our language all you want. The Chinese found America way before that Columbus Dude. You wouldn’t have pasta if it weren’t for our noodles. Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism were founded before Christianity. And these are just the MAJOR religions, we’re forgetting about the OTHER minorities like Australian aborigines and Native Americans
whose belief systems started even EARLIER than 2000 BCE and Hinduism and Judaism.

Shit, there’s so much more to be offended by. But lemme ask you offended minorities a question: How are you taking care of your asian ‘cousins’ on the other side of the world? What do you think when you read “Made in China” or “Made in Indonesia” on the tag of your spanking new Nike running shoes?

Posted 01 Feb 2007 at 10:53 am ¶
xyz wrote:

I think Rosie didnt mean to offend the Chinese. She, like most Americans regardless of race, holds stereotypes of other races. However, all minorities in this country should realize that America will always harbor racism and hostility towards non-whites. Sadly, discrimination is a sacrifice minorities have to make if they want to live in America. I don’t see that aspect of America changing any time soon.

Posted 31 Mar 2007 at 7:05 pm ¶
Annie wrote:

I’ve lost all my respect for Rosie O’ Donnell ever since she said that.

Posted 01 Sep 2007 at 9:09 pm ¶
Janey wrote:

I think people do totaly become Hypocrites when it comes to this situation and very rude! I dont like it when my kids come home crying because they have called them the N word and i obviously get very disapointed! So people please if you want to be racist please keep your comments in so only you this they are amusing and please dont take them out on childen bcuz then you will be giveing them a Very bad Example! So if you have something to say keep it to your self ok!
Janey

Posted 19 Mar 2008 at 2:01 pm ¶