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Rosie O'Donnell Apologizes For Her Fake Chinese

2006_12_odonnell.jpgA week after her spectacularly failed attempt at the Chinese language, Rosie O'Donnell apologized for reducing Chinese to "ching chong" on The View this morning. From People:

After running a clip of the offending segment, which originally ran Dec. 5, she said, "This apparently was very offensive to a lot of Asian people. So I asked Judy, who's Asian and works here in our hair and makeup department. I said, 'Was it offensive to you?' And she said, 'Well, kinda. When I was a kid people did tease me by saying ching-chong.'

"So apparently 'ching-chong,' unbeknownst to me, is a very offensive way to make fun, quote-unquote, or mock, Asian accents. Some people have told me it's as bad as the n-word. I was like, really? I didn't know that.

O'Donnell said that her joke was "never intended to hurt anyone, and I'm sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground," but added that in the future, "there's a good chance that I'll do something like that again ... Not on purpose."

Way to set expectations! But at least she apologized (in a way). And didn't say "solly." Or mention anything about "no tickee, no laundry." We're curious about what newscasters in China have been saying about her (have they been calling her a "gwei lo" - white devil?) or whether anyone in China really cares.

Was Rosie's apology enough? We think it's time for City Councilman John Liu to respond!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • VinceScott

    Rosie is not dumb. She's been around for awhile. To play dumb by stating that some stereotypical childish phoneticized version of one ethnicity's language is offensive, is insulting to the people she's already offended. And let's face it, her prime audience is NOT necessarily the most sensitive and sophisticated beings around. (Not to offend her audience, but, much of her delivery and sensibility is about the stuff that made us laugh in elementary school - let's grow up - even a little.)

    If Rosie wants the rest of the world to be sensitive to the feelings and needs of specially (sexually) oriented people, then, she should try to show the same sensitivity to others who are different from her as well.

    Rosie, "be the change you envision for the rest of us."

    Yeah, we all laugh from time to time at childish stuff and yeah many of us are overly sensitive, but, maybe we can advance from what made us laugh in the second grade and look at other aspects of what's funny about the human condition.

  • frosty

    Rosie has really made "the view" go downhill, she is a big moron just spouting off never giving anyone else a chance to speak.Nobody cares Rosie! ABC should fire you.

  • stanley coleman

    Not only is she racist but she's a complete hypocrite. She gets so defensive over anti-gay slurs so it just goes to show she can dish hate but she can't take it.

  • Asian Girl Kicks Ass

    Sick and tired of being voiceless, now is the time to stand up and speak out. Call me chink, call me gook, we will not be moved.

    We may be small, but we are strong. Don't underestimate us.

    If you drive a Honda, Mazda, hey, that's from us. And all those damn games you play; hey even the playstation.

    Sick and tired of being voiceless. This time, we will be heard. We will not be moved.

  • all_outta_angst

    LET ME EXPLAIN ONE THING!!!!! if rosie had cited a german or italian, or whatever accent..the HUGE difference is this....CHING AND CHONG is a very Racially oppressive term, because it has a history behind it much like African americans being equated with monkey sounds..or the N word...A lot of Hate is present in these words and to use them again (even without intent) is offensive to many asians...don't tell us to lighten up unless we can call you the names that you were taunted with. Than maybe all of us minorities will stereotype all white people like you. Not every white person is a F*ckin redneck, so don't lable all asians you stupid pricks. And if you never felt alienated because you've never known what it's like to be judged on the color of your skin, or the shape of your eyes...then don't post anything on this page unless you willingly accept that your a no good f*ck up.....ooooooor just have a point to make....hmmm....i'm hungry.....

  • 1 tv viewer

    Rosie should learn to tell more tasteful jokes instead of crude ones that are reminiscent of the racial ones from the last century. Ellen is a much more hip and cool lesibian woman.

  • Brendan

    罗姿说狗屁。(Luózī shuō gǒupì.)

    That's Mandarin for "Rosie speaks bullshit."

  • john

    man...the first clip she said didnt bother me that much. what really ticked me off was her apology that basically said "wow...you asians are too sensitive" like when she talked about how someone told her it was like saying the N word to a black person. and those two girls in the audience piss me off too. how can they even face their asian friends and family from now on...

  • December

    Rosie has a big mouth that doesn't know where to stop is what she is. This isn't about lawyers or her being an unintelligent being, it is about the big words that could or could not be offensive coming out of her stupid LOUD face. Perhaps if you were speaking to a few million Americans (that could possibly be Asian) you wouldn't comment with that "I don't give a sh*t about who this might be offending" additude.

    And it really makes me angry imagining her face attempting to apologize about it. She should shut her fat face.

  • sugarplums

    thanks #94 !!!!

    You know what , when I drive out of Brooklyn there is a sign that says "now leaving Brooklyn. Fuggedaboutit " ... When I am going over the Willie B Bridge, it says now leaving Brooklyn " Oy Vay"....That is quite interesting that there isn't some huge news coverage about the Italians and the Jews rioting or causing drama over that.

    I don't see any signs in Harlem that say "now leaving Harlem...Lata N***A !!!! I think it would be great if there were.

    Bottom line is that people need to stop taking things so personally and so seriously. I work with so many ethnicities and we have a good laugh about our differences. That is life.

    Soon we won't talk to each other , we'll just have lawyers do it for us. Or before each conversation we can sign a disclosure.

    Lsst I remember Rosie was a comedian , I don't think she meant any harm. I just think she is used to pushing buttons and getting a positive reaction like laughter.

  • Guest

    c'mon....... let's curse out everyone...

    hispanics = MEXICAN

    blacks = KFC (too many out there... can't choose)

    asians = CHINESE

    whites = REDNECKS

    oh, hey! you! do you happen to be one of the above and not liking your social equivalence? when i call chinese people chinese, they usually explain to me that they're not; this is usually followed up by them being born here and being koreans... most rednecks totally ignore you if you call them redneck. but call mexicans or the kfc people mexican or kfc... i've seen these people pull out their hair, eyes widening, and about to kill you... etc, etc, etc.

    everyone should lighten up, if anyone here's telling people to lighten up, and I MEAN EVERYONE! after all, john liu is only a result of over-protecting the hispanics and blacks.

  • I think that Rosie's comment about having been teased on the playground, was a derogative comment. I think she was belittling that anyone would be hurt over what she had said. It is amazing considering how she feels about homosexuals being teased. Look at how she reacted to what Kelly Ripa said about not knowing where that guy's hand had been.

    Debra...

  • jd taipei

    "or whether anyone in China really cares."

    i don't know about China but in Taiwan nothing could be less surprising than that a TV personality would make a joke like that making fun of the way another language sounds. considering what was actually said, and what can daily be seen on TV here, it would be positively banal. wouldn't even register.

  • Reginald Moore

    Racism,prejudice,and jealousy is taught, and go back to biblical days. Remember the lady at the well? "Jesus" asked her for a cup of water,her response was,why are you a "Jew" asking me a "Samaritan" to draw water from the well. The woman was taught, "Jews" had no such dealings with "Samaritans." Why? because the Samaritans married outside of the Jewish nation and was deemed ("unpure". I'm glad Jesus had no such bias. Jewish people believed in those times they were better than Samaritans, i can only "hope" that is no longer true today.

    Hatred and Jealousy is an age old device that has been passed down from (Satan) to Cain)to(Miriam and Aaron)and Yes, our very own Parents.(Bare with me everyone I'm trying to make a point). Cain slew is brother out of jealousy because he felt "God" was pleased with his brothers gift more than his own. Look at how "Moses" very own brother and sister complained about his marriage to the Ethiopian woman. (Numbers12:1)

    This is so we all understand Racism, discrimination, and prejudiced has been around for a very long time.

    People have been conditioned to believe their race is better than others.

    How many white Americans have been raised believing they are better than African Americans. Just take a moment and think about that statement. It is scary when we look at ourselves, and some of the beliefs we have about others.

    Statements such as O'Donnell's were mere suppressed, opinions or (table jokes) that leaked out without her knowledge.

    Things that are thought about others, but never intended to speak in public. (Conditioning)

    The problem is how insensitive a person becomes over the years of practiced, stereotyping of others.

    If i was given the opportunity to talk with O'Donnell i would tell her there is an advocate (Jesus) that will forgives us for all our "sins" and shortcomings.

    No one should point the finger at anyone if they still have issues in their own life.

    (No one is perfect)

    Those of you who are wise out there. Which would be the best thing to do or (investment)to live believing it is a "God", or live according to your own plan or desires of the (flesh) and die and wake and find out it truly is a living God and receive the reward of and unbeliever. What harm is it to just live right . We are only here for a short period of time 70+ if we are blessed, these number of years can not be compared to eternity. Due the Math

    " A thought for the wise investor." and a Message on Love

  • blame kanada

    You mean like how Florida voted?

  • anonymass

    At least we get to choose our dictators.

  • Jimmy Chong

    Wow, you Americans are so undereducated. It's a good thing a lot of American TV stays in America, not because we'd be insulted by it, but because we wouldn't understand why they'd be considered entertainment. Just like we don't understand how your people voted Bush Jr to be president. Twice. It must be undereducation.

    Comment from China

  • SandyB

    Rosie is the modern day Hitler, who propagates hate and perpetuates ignorance. If she could she'd have us killed, segregated/ Ostracized & tortured too. Having a Jewish mother Rosie, you should know better than to target any one race or anyone else for that matter, it's wrong, it's evil, it's unacceptable.

    I seriously doubt your mother taught you to hate like Hitler. You are a disgrace just like Hitler is to his ancestors. The show the "View", and ABC, by standing behind her are no better. It's unacceptable and underlies her deeper ignorance and hatred towards Asian Americans and yours if you allow these racial rants/comments, and don't do anything appropriate immediately to remedy this situation.

    My family have lived here for 11 generations and yet our children still experience the same taunts. This is outrageous! We are still made to feel as if we are second class citizens. We are just as American as anyone else, but haven't been given the same respect as other Americans.

    No matter if you are a 1st or 11th generation American, we are all the same, our families came here in hopes of a better life. We all want love, respect, a good life and happiness, regardless of race. All of us, when it comes down to the core of who and what we are as human beings essentially are the same.

    Just b/c my Chinese family came here in the 1800's, doesn't make me think we're superior, or entitled more than anyone or any people of any race or religion who came here after us. We don't discriminate, why do some feel it's okay to spread ignorance, hate, and think they are superior? Why is there a double standard? Don't take this lightly, racism in ANY FORM to ANY DEGREE is RACISM and EVIL, it only leads to more racism. It propagates and fosters further ignorance and discrimination.

    Make the Rosies(anti-Asian American) and Michael Richards (anti-Black/African American) in the world liable for their racial rants/comments by donating their money where their mouths are to organizations that help fight racism and/or promotes awareness and education.

    Silence=Death, if you don't speak out, speak up and take action, it's as if you don't exist...and no one will care. No one will care if you, yourself don't care and don't take it seriously and brush it off as it's not a big deal. To these Asians I say, stop the self-hate.

    Asians who have experienced racism on a regular basis first hand understands, and those who haven't, you've been VERY lucky and perhaps haven't traveled as much as I have in our country, America, or abroad extensively- Believe me, it's exist on a large scale even if some of you haven't experienced it or don't realize it.

    Anyone who is racist & propagate it should get out of America, b/c we are a beautiful country with supreme diversity that is unmatched anywhere else, we should be proud and praise it instead of hating one another and causing a divide for whatever stupid and ignorant reason. Great Americans exist, Asian, Black, Latino, White, etc... It's not limited to just 1 particular race, we all bring a magnitude of contributions, wisdom, creativity, intelligence that better the lives of all of us in this world. Ignorant people are the evil seeds that spoil it for the rest of us.

    Her so called "apology" is as lame and fake as she is. We can see right through you Rosie, you must really think we are stupid. Stop being fake. If it wasn't for the fact that you buy your audience's love and co-hosts, who would really love you? you have an annoying voice, you're rude, low class (personality wise), barely ever funny, these people just don't realize that you are playing them like a puppet.

    You were so harsh on Kelly Ripa too, everyone in the gay and lesbian community in California and NYC I know, which are many, think you are ridiculous and you most certainly dont speak for any of us. We felt this way long before this current stupidity of yours. Kelly in no way was implying about his sexuality, that's you jumping to crazy conclusions, what a hypercrite you are.

    It was just down right rude what Clay did by covering her mouth, but being a bigger rude person yourself, you couldnt see that clearly. Is your mind always so clouded and warped? obviously so...

    Your attack on Kelly Ripa was unwarranted and stop trying to lessen it by saying afterwards, "but you know I love you(kelly)..." stop being fake and down playing things by telling people you love them, Rosie. You are pathetic, and I'm ashamed you're in our community, as a lesbian and as a woman.

  • CHUD

    Michael,

    Use your brain. I was referring to whites as "non-minorities." Clearly, gays are minorities.

  • nyc kiddy

    Not gothamist, Only NYC gothamist.

    You'll see very few comments on SFist. I think it's really deep in NYC culture to be racist.

    O'donnell is from Long Island. Probably never knew any people of colour.

    NYC is the most racially segregated city when it comes to where groups live.

    Look at the Italians, they'll do anything to get away from the blacks, so much so, they have their own Island, the isle of Staten.

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