This Fox News ‘humor’ segment on Chinatown has baffled and angered viewers

World Today

Screenshot from Jesse Watters segment in New York City’s Chinatown that aired on Fox News.
Published October 6, 2016 at 1:23 PM
Updated October 12, 2016 at 12:17 PM

A Fox News humor segment that aired Monday on the “The O’Reilly Factor” has many people not laughing.

In his latest version of the “Watter’s World”, host Jesse Watters visited Chinatown in New York City and asked people on the street their thoughts on the U.S. presidential election — all while using Asian stereotypes and finding ways to make fun of the subjects interviewed.

CCTV America’s Sean Callebs reports.

Some of the questions he asked were:

“Am I supposed to bow to say hello?”
“Is it the year of the dragon?”
“Do you know karate?”

Screenshot from Jesse Watters segment in New York City's Chinatown that aired on Fox News.

Screenshot from Jesse Watters segment in New York City’s Chinatown that aired on Fox News.

He also asked a a vendor if he was selling stolen goods, and a shopowner if they sold herbs to improve performance. At one point in the nearly five-minute segment, an elderly woman’s silence in response to a query was paired with a clip from Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” in which Madeline Kahn shouts, “Speak, speak, why don’t you speak?!”

It’s unclear if that woman even spoke English.

Watch the cringe-inducing show here:

Shortly after it aired, viewers and organizations including Asian American Advancing Justice, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, and the Asian American Journalists Association expressed criticism and anger at the piece.

U.S. Rep. Ted W. Lieu, along with many others, has called on Fox News to apologize:

Opus Moreschi, head writer for “The late Show with Stephen Colbert” called Watters “unfunny”:

Paul Cheung, the president of the Asian American Journalists Association has also called for an apology:

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio called the video “vile”:

A sampling of other tweets about the segment:

In response, Watters issued two statements on his Twitter account expressing regret for causing offense but defending his segment nonetheless.

Anticipating some outrage, right after the piece aired O’Reilly Factor host Bill O’Reilly said to Watters: “It’s gentle fun, I know were going to get letters inevitably, but it was gentle fun.”

“It was all in good fun,” Watters responded.

CCTV America asked people in DC’s Chinatown what they thought of the video:

Members of Asian Americans Advancing Justice said in a statement that the piece ridicules people, including some who were limited English proficient.

The statement added that more than 9.3 million newly eligible voters are Asian American, and 37 percent of Asian American respondents in their 2016 Voter Survey identify as independents.

“We demand a formal apology from Fox News and The O’Reilly Factor for airing such an offensive segment,” the statement said.

“Our community stands to play an important role in this election and the future of politics as the fastest growing racial group in the United States. We, as a community, refuse to be mocked and trivialized.”

Story by CCTV America with information from the Associated Press.

Christopher Kang on Fox News’ controversial Chinatown segment

So, why are people angered over Fox News ‘Chinatown’ segment? CCTV America’s Elaine Reyes interviewed Christopher Kang, the national director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans to discuss the controversy.

Paul Cheung on Fox News’ controversial Chinatown segment

To discuss Fox News’ controversial Chinatown segment and Asian-American stereotyping  CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke to Paul Cheung, president of the Asian-American Journalists Association.