Racist DJ makes fun of tsunami victims
I'm just going to quote several sources to tell this story. Easier that way. I've already lodged my complaint and called for this woman to lose her job with the radio station. I hope that more of you will feel the need to do the same.
Quote:
Call for federal fines, more apologies after station airs 'We Are the World' parody offensive to Asians
Hot 97 radio and morning personality Miss Jones are under fire for airing a racially charged parody song that City Council members yesterday said mocked tsunami victims and Asians.
Despite on-air apologies from Jones and the station yesterday, council members and Asian-American leaders called for federal fines, a stronger apology and for the hip-hop station to fire its morning crew.
The song, to the melody of "We are the World," was played several times since Jan. 18 until it was halted Friday amid complaints. Proceeds from the original song, recorded in 1985, were used for famine relief in Africa.
The parody's lyrics make reference to 20 foot waves and contain racial epithets.
In addition to Miss Jones, the other on-air crew includes DJ Envy, Todd Lynn and Miss Info, a Korean-American woman who was heard on air registering opposition to the song when it was first aired.
Councilman John Liu of Flushing was joined by several colleagues and Asian-Americans who denounced the hosts, Hot 97 and its parent company, Emmis Communications.
"This is utterly irreprehensible," Liu said. "It degrades the more than 200,000 victims, it demeans all of us here in New York City and throughout the world who are engaged in trying to help these victims of the tsunami, and it's an insult to humankind itself."
Liu said he was particularly offended by an on-air exchange in which Lynn said, "I'm gonna start shooting Asians."
After posting an apology on the station's Web site, Miss Jones and the station manager issued an on-air apology yesterday. The Web site said Jones and others on the show will donate a week's salary to tsunami relief efforts.
John Dimick, the station's program director, declined to elaborate yesterday except to say, "We regret the airing of it and we apologize to our listeners."
A spokesman for the Federal Communications Commission said he couldn't comment without a formal complaint and before listening to the lyrics.
The station was home to the controversial "Star and Buc Wild," who were yanked in 2003, but not before they were suspended for offensive comments. The two recently returned to the air on Power 105.
In addition to calling for a FCC probe, Liu said the company should donate a "substantial" amount of revenues to the relief effort.
"We have to go after their advertisers," said Councilman James Gennaro, (D-Fresh Meadows).
Hot 97 facts
Based: Manhattan
Owner: Emmis
Morning show hosts: leader Miss Jones, DJ Envy, gossip reporter Miss Info and comedian Todd Lynn
Taken from this site.
Quote:
01.23.05
Check out this longer clip from the now-infamous Hot 97 morning show. It gets pretty ugly. Before introducing the "Tsunami Song," Miss Jones and co-host Todd Lynn start attacking Miss Info (who is Asian) when she vocalizes her objections to the song. They get all into it, and Miss Jones finally tells Info she's only complaining because "you feel superior, probably because you're Asian." When Miss Info stands her ground, and makes it clear that the song is offensive to Asians, Lynn says, "I'm gonna start shooting Asians." What the hell? That's racist!
Taken from this site. This same link will provide the lyrics to the song.
The contact information for the radio station is:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
I hope that more of you will speak up with me and others who have done so. This woman doesn't deserve a public voice on American radio...or anywhere else.
