Fox News’ Jesse Watters posted an apology Wednesday for a “O’Reilly Factor” segment that aired earlier in the week, in which he visited New York’s Chinatown to interview residents about Donald Trump’s China policies.
Watters World goes downtown to Chinatown tonight!!! pic.twitter.com/G904zmtKQv
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) October 3, 2016
.@jessebwatters' World: How Does Chinatown Feel About Trump's China Policies? @oreillyfactor https://t.co/lhpxJ8Pftr pic.twitter.com/E8UvnF9Vu7
— FoxNewsInsider (@FoxNewsInsider) October 4, 2016
It was billed as hilarious in a tweet from Fox News Insider, but not everyone saw it that way.
As a political humorist, the Chinatown segment was intended to be a light piece, as all Watters World segments are.
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) October 5, 2016
My man-on-the-street interviews are meant to be taken as tongue-in-cheek and I regret if anyone found offense.
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) October 5, 2016
The president of the Asian American Journalists Association, for one, found offense, writing in a statement to Media Matters that the segment was “rife with racist stereotypes, drew on thoughtless tropes and openly ridiculed Asian Americans.”
https://twitter.com/bobbymacReports/status/783797651900858372
Wonder what @rupertmurdoch's two youngest kids think of the @oreillyfactor Chinatown video, or Rupert himself for that matter.
— Edmund Lee (@edmundlee) October 5, 2016
Paul Cheung, Pres. of Asian American Journalists Association, calls Watters’ segment "rife with racist stereotypes”… https://t.co/g1owVhsOUD
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) October 5, 2016
Recommended
CNN also cited criticism from reporters for Politico, Vox, The Intercept, and the New York Times, as well as tweets from politicians.
.@jessebwatters segment in Chinatown offensive & unacceptable. Welcome to my district — hope you don't come back. https://t.co/pvgQFNhCKU
— Daniel Squadron (@DanielSquadron) October 5, 2016
Jesse Watters is unfunny and mean. He should be ashamed of himself. Also, he's not welcome to Honolulu Chinatown.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) October 5, 2016
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, perhaps still operating on “cautious politician” time, weighed in a few hours after Watters had posted his apology, telling Fox News to take Watters off TV, but whether that expression of regret would change his stance? Probably not is a good bet.
The vile, racist behavior of Fox’s Jesse Watters in Chinatown has no place in our city. @FoxNews – keep this guy off TV.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) October 6, 2016
Come on, now: there’s still plenty of room in New York City for vile behavior. Racism certainly has no place within or outside city limits, but the line between it and humor is tough to pin down — even when it comes to the mayor’s own comedy stylings.
@KeithOlbermann @FoxNews @jessebwatters is the epitome of smug white male privilege from a long Ailes line. @oreillyfactor
— Noma Faingold (@Nomawrites) October 6, 2016
And it wasn't funny…just embarrassing and uncomfortable to watch…
— Paul Ginsberg (@ProAudioLabs) October 6, 2016
screw you! He's funny as hell. If we can't poke fun at ourselves. .. stop being so pc.#lovewatters
— Ruth B (@iadorescotland) October 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/nurserenee1/status/783835065583185921
Easy on the “T” word, there; that bombing might have been an intentional act, but not necessarily terrorism.
Get over yourself, I seem to recall your, " CP time" skit.. That was racist. #hypocrisymuch
— TMG65 (@TexasPixe65) October 6, 2016
Shouldn't you be telling people to protest Chik Fil A
— All American Dad (@allamericancoll) October 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/Theoxiphos/status/783832771516968960
As of this writing, the segment is still available on the Fox News website — stay tuned for developments.
* * *
Related:
Mayor who waged war on salt, sodas succeeded by mayor who tells citizens where they shouldn’t eat https://t.co/PrtmEWXl7o
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 5, 2016