“Arrested Development” actor-comedian David Cross recently found himself in hot ham water after Asian American actress Charlyne Yi shared an uncomfortable memory with her Twitter followers:
I think about the first time I met David Cross ten years ago & he made fun of my pants (that were tattered because I was poor). Dumbfounded I stared at him speechless and he said to me "what's a matter? You don't speak English?? Ching-chong-ching-chong".
— Charlyne Yi (@charlyne_yi) October 16, 2017
Then after he saw I was offended he asked me if I was going to fight with him karate in a southern accent. Then a few years later he was re-introduced to me after my comedy show with his girlfriend at the time & he said "Hi nice to meet you".
— Charlyne Yi (@charlyne_yi) October 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/KathrynXian/status/919828064925753346
Yup, that's why I didn't wanna be introduced to him at Girlfest.
— Charlyne Yi (@charlyne_yi) October 16, 2017
I will say this:
-I can tell the difference between this man making a joke vs condescending me.
-This happened 10 years ago and I sure as hell hope he's changed (or at the very least, he's scared enough to not be his racist self).— Charlyne Yi (@charlyne_yi) October 16, 2017
HOWEVER it is very uncool that a 40+ man was being racist towards me, being a young 20 year old woman who was clearly on the verge of tears from his first racist comment.
— Charlyne Yi (@charlyne_yi) October 16, 2017
Yikes.
https://twitter.com/postordinary/status/920383673886760960
Very much. I have reached out to her to clear this up. I've reached out to others who were there when we met as well to get verification. https://t.co/yDuSkgngNO
— david cross (@davidcrosss) October 17, 2017
Charlene, i dont remember this at all! It's bonkers to me and WAY, way out of character. DM me so I can understand all of this.
— david cross (@davidcrosss) October 17, 2017
Evidently Cross had some time to understand all of it, because he posted this explanation last night:
— david cross (@davidcrosss) October 18, 2017
— david cross (@davidcrosss) October 18, 2017
Yi has yet to respond to Cross’ explanation, at least on Twitter. But from where a lot of people are sitting, it leaves quite a bit to be desired.
https://twitter.com/derbloodbruder/status/921064234192162816
I'm gonna call bullshit on this, David. I think you're just doing a pretty pathetic attempt at damage control.
— Jim Bevan (@JimB_85) October 18, 2017
A simple, “I honestly don’t remember the encounter but holy crap I’m so sorry” would have sufficed.
— InXanadu (@InXanadu) October 19, 2017
Dude. Seriously. This isn't about you. Stop making it about you. Literally all you need to say is "I'm sorry I hurt you."
That's all.— It’s just Bamm (@bammba_m) October 18, 2017
As conceptually well intended as the bit might've been, this reads as "I'm sorry you were offended by my inability to make you laugh"
— Bachman McHutchins (@jmartindustries) October 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/ResistanceBGSU/status/921061039239811072
I adore you, but DUDE. You just used the classic asshole excuse “It was just a joke & her fault for not getting it.”
— Christina Reese Fox (@aphasiac00) October 19, 2017
Did you actually read what he posted? It was a long winded diatribe with no actual apology that turned nasty at the end.
— Seoul Patch (서울페츠) (@DLohRidah) October 19, 2017
A person you'd never met before while openly mocking their race is so thin an excuse it appears you don't care enough to either come clean your were offensive or come up with/a better excuse.
— LKC (@LTSkinsFan) October 19, 2017
Oh it’s okay because you were in character being racist. Cool.
— Angelica (@crunchygel) October 19, 2017
I'm not racist, I just act like David Cross sometimes. https://t.co/xDMiKav7V4
— Wittorical (@Wittorical) October 19, 2017
David Cross says its ok to mock people for being from Shreveport, but not China… Unless you look Chinese.
— Ken Webster jr??? (@KenWebsterJrSho) October 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/ThatHamboFella/status/921038712804401153
https://twitter.com/AG_Conservative/status/921072571688374272
Best part is where he decides doing stereotypes jokes of the Asian girl is apology-worthy, but stereotyping LA residents as hicks = funny.
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) October 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/PartymanRandy/status/921078508222283779
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