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.

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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

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Taken from this site.

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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!

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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.

Perhaps it would be better to file a complaint with the FCC.

Hate to say this, but that's just fascist. Just because you don't like her message doesn't mean this woman should lose her job. As an American she's entitled to say whatever floats her boat as long as it doesn't infringe on others' rights and since you have the choice of switching to a different station, I don't see any problem. Was what she said inapproriate? Sure, but since it's nothing harmful or dangerous, I see no reason to burn this woman at the stake as you suggest. I'll leave you with some words that our founding fathers thought were important:

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Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

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I'm not denying her right to say it. I'm denying her right to be on a public radio station being paid to say it. :) And exercising my right of free speech.

As you said, it's public, you have the choice of not listening or listening. She's paid to be a radio personality and that's exactly what she was doing. It's like e-mailing Air America saying that Al Franken is offensive and call for his resignation, it just doesn't work. My solution is simple, change the station.

And maybe delete the lyrics ...................

In this world we live in ...........................
There are ALWAYS going to be those that will cheer anothers misfortune.
That is human nature.

But it is also human nature to rise above things, to look to the future, and to try and find a better way.

Thankfully, [in my experience] there are a LOT more of the second catagory around.

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Hate to say this, but that's just fascist. Just because you don't like her message doesn't mean this woman should lose her job. As an American she's entitled to say whatever floats her boat as long as it doesn't infringe on others' rights and since you have the choice of switching to a different station, I don't see any problem.

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You're right. She has the right to say what she wants. Just as much as those that don't agree have the right to file a complaint (grievance) with the FCC (government) as well as stop buying from advertisers and stop listening to the radio station, which in turn will lose money and will have no choice but to cut back. That may result in a job(s) lost. So, if I was a radio station, I'd weigh the financial balance book versus 1st Admendement.

Additionally, there is a question of whether this is actually a freedom of expression. If she's apologized about it, then I'd think she doesn't agree with the statement and it's not an expression of her beliefs (which, IIRC, is what the 1st Amendment was designed for). Howard Stern was pulled over some of his more raunchier comments, AFAIK. How is this different?

I was always told that the right to free speech was of the utmost importance.............

But it doesn't mean you can scream FIRE, in a crowded theatre..................

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Originally posted here by MsMittens
You're right. She has the right to say what she wants. Just as much as those that don't agree have the right to file a complaint (grievance) with the FCC (government) as well as stop buying from advertisers and stop listening to the radio station, which in turn will lose money and will have no choice but to cut back. That may result in a job(s) lost. So, if I was a radio station, I'd weigh the financial balance book versus 1st Admendement.

Additionally, there is a question of whether this is actually a freedom of expression. If she's apologized about it, then I'd think she doesn't agree with the statement and it's not an expression of her beliefs (which, IIRC, is what the 1st Amendment was designed for). Howard Stern was pulled over some of his more raunchier comments, AFAIK. How is this different?

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Firstly, I doubt this incident will stop people from listening to the radio station. Odds are it'll just the opposite and increase numbers since the increase in publicity will tune more listeners to it.

And now I'm just going off an assumption here. I highly doubt her apology was one for playing a paraody on the radio, but rather a smart move to try to keep her job. Howard Stern wasn't yanked off anything, he was fined by the FCC and then signed a contract with Sirius or some other satellite radio company to do an unrated and uncensored show via satellite.

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I was always told that the right to free speech was of the utmost importance.............

But it doesn't mean you can scream FIRE, in a crowded theatre..................

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Freedom of speech without infringing on the rights of others or causing danger.

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...say whatever floats her boat as long as it doesn't infringe on others' rights...

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Clear Channel Communications did indeed "yank" Howard Stern from (IIRC) about 20 of their stations, which was what precipitated his move to Sirius.

By the broadcasters yes, but not by the government (FCC).

Hrmm... so here's a question: if the broadcasters or station decide to fire her, then is that not within their rights as per their agreement with her? I thought that the FCC was limited to imposing fines (and, from what I hear, they can be hefty if they add up).

At what point does her "Freedom of Expression" violate her contract with them? (and I wouldn't be suprised if they have a CYA clause just for this purpose).

[edit]

From the FCC website

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Obscene speech is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time. To be obscene, material must meet a three-prong test:

* An average person, applying contemporary community standards, must find that the material, as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest;

* The material must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable law; and

* The material, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

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So apparently this might not be considered 1st Amendement issue ..

Dave, no, not by the FCC directly. But the FCC did have a huge impact on their choosing to get rid of him, since he racked up a couple of million dollars worth of fines for the company. I'm going to see if I can't find the article about it, so I can stop saying IIRC. :p

Okay...here are a couple of different links. The fine to Clear Channel was $495,000 and there was a fine to Infinity radio for $1.5 million.

link

link

Yes Howard stern was fired, not yanked by an outside agency. Besides he actually broke FCC rules over and over. The FCC would say "don't do that again Howard" and he would anyway. I don't think they have a rule against "Asian Parody's" I bet it's funny as hell, but I haven't heard it. If it was on Saturday Night live we would all laugh. How many "white guys have no ass" jokes have a endured by laughing at it? But I can't find fault in the local community wanting to voice their opinions via democracy Why do we always get worked up and demand someone to be fired. They didn't mislead anyone into blieving false documents and testimorny or break any rules governing radio stations. They were trying to be funny, and get this... they actually apologized. But if they want to force her termination as a community they should be able too, through pressure on the radio station by get this... changing the channel. It's their community and radio stations only broadcast around 60 miles so why the workup all over the internet? Oh and then don't come screeming down the road about freedom of speech when it's your ass on the chopping block and you write a satirical book or produce a satirical movie.

//EDIT WTF? There are racists, biggots, discrimination, reverse discrimination and guys who have a serious axe to grind, like did anyone read the angry asian man site?

//EDIT AGAIN. OK I looked at the lyrics, it's not funny but I don't see how it is any different than the stuff all over the music world. In fact to be very frank, if I tuned into a rap station, I would expect this line of lyrics. Who wouln't? I mean has anyone listened to rap? What is the big issue? An asian was pissed off? This same line of lyrics is repeated over and over all across the Hip Hop world of radio. I guess if they sung about crack whores it would be ok. And smacking up some bitch would also be ok. Oh and pimping my bitches sold into slavery for a fix... To be honest I was shocked it wasnt' some white conservative christian station considering the ripples on liberal media on this. I looked at their daily play list. Damn too bad no one cares about what their kids, 12 and older are listening too. That is their target market ya know.

Road, clear channel couldn't fire Howard, he wasn't there employee. all they did was to stop syndicating his show on some of their stations (interestingly not all of their stations)....no good old Howard did read the writing on the wall and watched the man who was his protector (and the man who hired him) leave CBS radio(Howard’s employer) for satellite...Howard was just the second rat to flee the sinking ship (in his eyes) of broadcast radio...for on hell of a pay package in the wide open airwaves of satellite (FCC can touch it).

I think it was the new rule change in the FCC that they will now fine not only the stations millions but also the personality that made Howard run. In my area it has our local shock jock Man Cow terrified

Let's see... on April 1, 1989 two DJ's in Norfolk, Virginia were banned from ever broadcasting again by the FCC for airing a false news report stating that 'trash hill' - a former dump filled in with earth and turned into a popular Virginia Beach park, was going to explode from methane buildup beneath the surface of the ground. The april fool's joke caused the evacuation of over 100,000 citizens and the mobilization of the Navy units stationed there... (I know this because my unit was one of the ones mobilized.)

Now we have a station airing *very* racist statements and a song which is, in the best light, in extremely poor taste. Anything for publicity I suppose. I suggest taking this morning show nobody and her cohorts and turning them loose amidst a large crowd of angry asians, with signs proclaiming what they've done. MsMittens has a point with her 3 prong test - and the particular clip I listened to failed miserably. Hang them. Hang them high. Use a new rope.

I listened to this clip:
http://students.washington.edu/jeesu...97_tsunami.mp3

You know, all these fines, are just ****ing stupid. The company who owned Howard Stern's Radio Station made way more than that just on the fact that people, in large amounts, listened to him JUST to see what he would say next.

Whooooo! a half a million dollar fine? Big deal I just made 3 million dollars by the same people making that lawsuit because THEY TO listen to him even if it DOES offend him. They don't lose money if someone listening doesn't like what he says, but they do gain money by these idiots listening to make sure of what he's saying.

This thread gives me an idea though, I'm going to grab a lawsuit on most rap artists for saying cracker, slave owner, honkey, nigger and bitch.

Hell if this bitch gets fired my peoplez will be set free y0, and then I be gettin' rich off these dumb niggaz.

Remember NWA? Everyone protested and what did that do? Give them a platinum ****ing album. **** I can't wait for a record deal, I'll piss people off so bad it'll make Eminem seem like a Republican, because you gotta buy my album to listen to it and bitch about it, and if you don't buy it and still bitch I'll send the ****ing RIAA after you saying you downloaded it without me saying it was OK just to whine about it. Buahahaha.


Gore does not give a **** what you think. By reading this post, you have just kissed my ass. Pucker up conservatives.

Mancow kicks the hell out of howard stern anyday but I cant believe you would call him a shock jock bballad. Yea some of his stuff is provocative but for the most part he just says what alot of us are thinking. He has mellowed out over the years. And for refernce I have been a listener since he was on 103.5 when it was the blaze. :)

I think the bottom line is that yes they have the right to say whatever they want as long as it doesnt violate FCC regulations but that doesnt mean they can disregard the feelings of the general public. She knew damned good and well what would happen before she played the song. ALL publicity is GOOD publicity. Cause there are just enough jack asses like me who will say "Well lets see whats so bad about these people before I make a judgement."

On the otherhand does she pull stunts like this ona regular basis or is it an isolated incident? If it is an isolated incident she should be reprimanded or punished in some way but would you like to loose your job over one screw up?

Well in the UK the broadcaster could be fined, but the firing would be for violating the broadcaster's code of conduct.

She would certainly be fired , far bigger fish have been toasted for far less over here. Kilroy-Silk for example. .............A sort of Oprah Winfrey type over here? One careless remark and he was out..............

EDIT: we have standards you might find strange; you can take the piss out of sports personalities, politicians, even the Royal Family but racial and religious prejudice is a definite no,no.

ZomBieMann77: sure he’s mellowed but I still miss Erma...can't stand the new token girl. the problem morning guys like stern and mancow and this lady faces is twofold. There target audience is basically drive time 18-40 year old males, but because they are on in the am there shows must be basically rated G or the FCC comes and gets them. You are correct in saying as long as they don't violate FCC regulations they are fine, unfortunately FCC regulations are so nebulous that they basically brake down to "If Focus on the Family complained about it its obscene". They have no definition of what is obscene and as a federal regulatory board having unclear definitions is a bad thing.

While I fell that the airwaves should be free and open for anyone’s use (and no regulations would lead to those of us who enjoy the ham and open fm spectrums SOL) perhaps its time to move to satellite and cable and screw the FCC.

Even Stern, in the depths of his depravity (And how we love him for it) never slammed the tsunami victims. He had sense enough NOT to make jokes about 9/11. There is a line folks, and Fox97 crossed it in a major way.

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we have standards you might find strange; you can take the piss out of sports personalities, politicians, even the Royal Family but racial and religious prejudice is a definite no,no.

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I think Canada goes a little farther than that. The song in question (lyrics that Deb posted earlier in this thread) might go as far as being considered a hate crime and promoting hatred.

To me it's simple...you don't change people's attitudes by suppressing them but by educating them...our education on this issue in Canada began before the underground railroad and it was those changing attitudes that allowed for the underground railroad to exist...America has only begun their education in the last 60 years...suppressing what people say will not change what they think...I agree that the station had a right to air the piece...and I also agree that it is the job of other Americans to educate them that this cannot be tolerated in any society by voicing their complaints...that is how America needs to deal with this issue. :)

As for MsMittens comments and link...I think I need to clarify that these laws ( our hate crime law ) is a reflection of our society and history...rather than a law designed to suppress speech.

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you don't change people's attitudes by suppressing them but by educating them.

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All very nice in theory, but you have not seen our British National Party/National Front in action..........the only way you will educate those people is with a full frontal lobotomy..........

MsM. I see what you are saying.Canada seems to have much more clearly defined laws than we do, but I am sure it is much easier to get a conviction over here, due to that lack of precision.

Now, as anti racism/sexism etc is part of the employment terms and even organisations' mission statements over here; your employment prospects would be severely limited were you to have such a conviction.

Hey gore, I am not kissing your pimply ass because I agree with you and I am what most call a conservative. I also agree with bballad that the airwaves should be a free forum. Unfortunately they were our only form of information for decades so there were regulations drawn up to let families choose their own programming. Those days are over, radio is a pure entertainment meduim controlled by a little dial. Poor taste doesn't deserve someone to lose their job on it's own. I never did like Howard Stern much but I have only heard him a few times.

Thanks for correcting me on the syndication issue bballad. OK I am going to poke fun at him now. "Hey bballad, did you take a grammer and spelling class or something? :D good on ya. I think I need one.

I know nearly everyone will have followed the links and read the words of the " song?" but for those who havent and have mainly followed the part of this discussion about your right to say what you want here they are.

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There was a time, when the sun was shining bright
So I went down to the beach to catch me a tan
Then the next thing I knew, a wave 20 feet high
Came and washed your whole country away

And all at once, you can hear the screaming chinks
And no one was saved from the wave
There were Africans drowning, little Chinamen swept away
You can hear God laughing, 'Swim you bitches swim.'

[Chorus]
So now you're screwed, it's the tsunami,
You better run and kiss your ass away, go find your mommy
I just saw her float by, a tree went through her head
And now your children will be sold to child slavery

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Reading the lyrics it has no musical or artisic merit. It doesnt even use an original tune. If it wasnt for the fact that it is playing on the east asian disater it probably wouldnt even get air time.
just to make a comparision after 9/11 I remember being back in Ireland. If we leave aside the political implications of the attack the whole country was shut down for a full day to mourn the 3000 dead. When i say the country was shut down i mean you couldnt even get a drink as there wasnt a pub open. The 250000+ immediate vistims of the tsunami got 3 minutes.
What i am saying is as far as i am concerned it comes down to respect. I am sure that if this song was about either the victims of the hurricains hitting the east caost or the victims of 9/11 the conversation here would not be about weather this comes under freedom of spreech but rather would be along the lines of " who the Fu*k are these Sh*ts mocking those poor people. They should be strung up by their B**ls".
So i would agree with debwalin on this she should be hung out to dry.

I agree MURACU completely...but we're not talking about Ireland, Canada, the UK, etc...this is about America...the reason why these people and groups flourish in the open is because of the issue of free speech and expression...personally I think the U.S. would be worse off by trying to suppress these people ( and forcing them underground ) than to just let them mouth off...there's an old saying that I'm sure everyone's heard " keep your friends close and your enemies even closer "...Americans can't deal with the problem if they hide it...America has a problem with racism...Americans need to deal with it in the open.
I see this as another opportunity for Americans to voice their complaints and get more people on the bandwagon against racism...without suppressing it...the veiws of the Americans in this thread are a testament to the changing attitudes...if they ( racists ) weren't allowed to speak...then this conversation would not exist...and that would be a worse thing for Americans.

Remember kids, the Patriot Act whipes it's ass with Freedom of Speech after it **** out the Bill of Rights.


I just made that up, pretty cool huh?

Now Playing -

Anal **** - I kicked you in the stomache because you were pregnant.

=o

That means other people say things like that bitch on CDs! Oh no! The Republicans are right! If we let free speech stay we are ****ed!

Hmm, what's worse? A republican like Bush as President saying Gynocologists should spread their love to our woman or a punk band making fun of everything.

**** just last week I was playing Doom and told my cousin I got my ass kicked so bad by monsters I made it seem like Rodney King was in a pillow fight.

Wooooo take away my radio show!

And the other day someone wasn't talking when I walked by and I asked what was wrong and they said nothing and I was like well you're quieter than Sonny Bono's Tree Detector.

The Dixi Chicks said they were ashamed to be from the same state as bush and people dozed their albums and wouldn't play them on the radio, you going to run my number 1 hit over too? HAHAHAHAHA :flip:

i believe this is in order: *rimshot*

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MsM. I see what you are saying.Canada seems to have much more clearly defined laws than we do, but I am sure it is much easier to get a conviction over here, due to that lack of precision.

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Actually, they were rather effective at shutting down the Heritage Front (sort of a Canadian version of Church of the Creator). That said, Holocaust revisionist Zundel and crew are challenging some of this stuff under our Constitution. It will be interesting to see how it fares once all is said and done.

I believe in freedom of speech, and people can say whatever they want to say. The thing is, with what you say, there is responsibility and consequences to it. Fines, bad name, people pissed off at you, etc.

What amazes me is ciritcs would tune in more than the fans. Why? To see what the shock jock would say next.

Yes, that show was in bad taste, and will piss off many people. So does a lot of other shows. 700 Club, Bill O'Reilly, etc...

I'll throw in a couple of observations for a giggle and see where they go..... :D

1. I listened to Howard for many years, (at least 10, I was in Washington and then Philly when he came there and beat out their current joke of a morning DJ in about 6 months, the funeral he held for him was hilarious). Does Howard "push the envelope"? Yes, of course... That's how he and the radio stations that carry him make their money. But seriously, there was never anything particularly outrageous about anything Howard did... it was all 'run of the mill" close to the edge, tasteless stuff for the most part. The draw of his show was that it was publicly aired content that the majority of the country laugh and joke about quietly every day.... no big deal. He got withdrawn from those Clear Channel stations because of Janet Jackson and her stunt at the Superbowl. Whether it was an accident or intentional, (though I tend to the latter), it was too stupid to risk having happen on the most broadly watched show in the world. Clear Channel simply cut the risk of losses by fines by refusing to carry him..... It was a business decision not a moral one....

2. Someone said she shouldn't lose her job over it..... If she were to be fired because of what she said by the radio station or the FCC that would be wrong. But, just like the Dixie Chicks whined and complained that the general public and radio stations boycotting their work would put them out of work the same applies here.... If the general public cause the listenership of the radio station to decline to the point that the profits drop then they should fire her... that's fair.... and it takes into account the freedom of speech of both the sayer and the listener..... I call that justice.

3. Looking at the lyrics there I really don't see anything that comes close to most of the lyrics in the rap **** that kids listen to today.... In this case it's a dismal attempt at humor that exploits a major disaster.... Folks, think back... After every disaster there are a bunch of jokes that go around, even about 911... and we all snikker behind our hands and forget them as quickly as we forget the event and it's significance..... But it seems to me that the rap lyrics are written with intended malice.... there's a difference folks... learn to see it.

4. Final thought..... For the "all powerful" beings we think we are this planet truly shows us for the insignificant little ants we really are. We "control" nothing about our environment and we certainly won't in any of our lifetimes. Hurricanes, Tsunamis, earthquakes, forest fires, tornados, rain, snow, wind, ice, heat ...... We have no control and, for the most part, can't even predict them accurately.....

Point 2 of Tiger Shark.

Yes that is fair. But just firing her the next day to me is not fair. Otherwise, no one would have a job or have room for error in judgment.

I was the one who posted that. :D Now if they say, don't do that again and she says "F Off" then it is fair to terminate. She was given a "choice" then. But she did apologize. And I don't see how what she said is any different from the music they play 24.7. Oh hey that is point 3. I guess I am with you on all well spoken points. To take one point frther... Now who remembers the Columbia Space Shuttle jokes. They are funny now come on....

How many astronauts can fit in an VW Beetle?

Twelve

2 in the front, 3 in the back and 7 in the ashtray.

Damn that is tasteless but comical, oui?

//EDIT oh thought of another one... what does N A S A stand for? Needs Another Seven Astronauts.

In the UK, a football [soccer] pundit, Rodney Marsh, [player in the 70's ] has been fired for his 'humour' in regard to the Tsunami. And it was just the one joke.

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Ex-England star Marsh outraged viewers during a late night phone-in show. Speaking about speculation that David Beckham could leave Real Madrid for Premiership side Newcastle United, he joked the England captain would not move to the North East, because of the devastation caused by the "Toon Army", the nickname given to fans.

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Full article here

Yoink!

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Source: CNN

Radio station pulls show over tsunami slur
HOT 97 morning show ridiculed victims

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The entire staff of the New York radio show "Miss Jones in the Morning" was taken off the air on Wednesday after broadcasting a song that ridiculed victims of the tsunami in South Asia, the radio station said.

New York FM radio station WQHT, or HOT 97, repeatedly ran the segment last week on the show, hosted by deejay Tarsha Nicole Jones who uses the on-air name Miss Jones.

Jones and her team were suspended indefinitely, according to publicist Lizzie Grubman, who declined to say whether Jones would feature in another show at a later date.

"What happened is morally and socially indefensible," said Rick Cummings, president of Emmis Radio. The station is owned by Emmis Communications Corp.

"All involved, myself included, are ashamed and deeply sorry. I know the members of the morning show are truly contrite. They know their actions here are inexcusable," Cummings said in a statement.

The piece used racial slurs to describe people swept away in the disaster, made jokes about child slavery and people watching their mothers die.

"You can hear God laughing, 'Swim you b**ches swim,' " was one line in the song, sung by staff of the show to the melody of the 1985 famine relief song "We Are the World."

On Monday, the hip-hop and R&B radio station and the deejay apologized and the seven-member morning show crew agreed to donate one week's pay to relief efforts. The tsunami struck on December 26, leaving nearly 300,000 dead or missing around the Indian Ocean from Somalia to Thailand.

The incident is not the first time HOT 97 has been accused of racism and poor taste. The station made headlines when deejay Star, now at another radio station, called Jennifer Lopez a "rice-and-bean eater" and satirized the plane crash that killed R&B singer Aaliyah in 2001.

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I'm in search of a copy of the song. If anyone has a copy or would like to share an exact location where to get it, please do post or PM me.

Should be able to find an mp3 of it here

Heh, I thought it was clever and funny. Well that's just me. And like someone said before, if it was put on as a skit on SNL, I doubt there'd be any controversy.

What's better is the song by Rapper Jin. It's well done and this is coming from someone who hates rap. http://www.alljin.com/Audio/Exclusiv...i_response.mp3

I actualy sat and listened to the garbage that got this broad fired and I gotta say it was crap. i would have changed the channel. Now with that ebing said I have heard worse on the mancow show and the real ironic thing is both shows are owned by the same company. Kind of a double standard but then again "Miss Jones" isnt syndicated so she doenst bring in as much revenue.

It ain't over yet folks - here comes round three...

from here:
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...3p-237107c.htm

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'Tsunami Song' fallout:
3 suspended, 2 fired

Radio

By DAVID HINCKLEY
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Hoping to quell the storm over its "Tsunami Song," WQHT yesterday fired morning-show producer Rick Del Gado, who created the song, and morning-team member Todd Lynn, who cracked on the air, "I'm gonna start shooting some Asians."

But Hot-97 did not meet the demands of some critics and fire the rest of the Miss Jones morning show, which aired the parody for four days last month.

Miss Jones, DJ Envy and production assistant Tasha Hightower will all be suspended for two weeks, said the station. They have been off since last Wednesday.

Reaction from critics was swift yesterday and not all favorable.

"Their statement is a joke," said City Councilman John Liu (D-Queens). "They need to fire Miss Jones, but even more important, they need to accept corporate responsibility."

Noting that Hot-97 pledged a million dollars to tsunami relief, Liu said, "That's a joke, too. It should be $10 million. They said employees will donate a week's pay to relief funds. Fine. So they should donate a week of corporate profits."

Hot-97's statement yesterday cited Del Gado for the song and Lynn for "offensive, racially insensitive comments," calling them "singularly egregious."

Miss Info, the other member of the morning team, was not suspended, though she also has been off the air since last week. Miss Info, who is Asian, said on the air that the song offended her - which sparked the heated exchange during which Lynn made his "shooting" remark.

Racial banter and exaggeration are not uncommon on morning shows, but critics said Lynn went way over the top.

The "Tsunami Song" itself, set to the tune of "We Are the World," has been blasted for use of racial slurs and for making light of tsunami victims.

Kai Yu of the group Asian Media Watch called Hot-97's actions yesterday "a start," but said they fall short of "full accountability ... all the way up to the people who approved this going on the air."

Liu said further protest actions are planned: "We're only getting started."

Several Hot-97 advertisers temporarily withdrew after the initial controversy.

"The actions of the morning show were socially and morally indefensible," said Emmis President Rick Cummings. "The entire Emmis family is ashamed. Our decision ... sends a message that this type of insensitivity is utterly unacceptable."

Jay Smooth, whose hiphopmusic.com has been bulldogging the case and has recorded a half-million hits, had a sharp E-mail exchange yesterday with Lynn, who told Smooth that his on-air remarks were "taken out of context."

In the exchange, Lynn called the episode "one of the biggest mistakes of my life," describing the song as "very poor taste and bad judgment."

But, he added, "None of us are bigots."

Meanwhile, Miss Info will co-host an Asia Relief Fund Benefit on Saturday at Capitale on the Bowery with rapper Jin, who recorded a track blasting Hot-97.

Originally published on February 2, 2005

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And here:
http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/39286.htm

Quote:

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February 2, 2005 -- Hot 97 radio fired two staffers and pledged $1 million for tsunami relief yesterday, hoping to quell the firestorm over a song that mocked victims of the catastrophe and used an ethnic slur to describe them.

"The actions of the morning show crew were socially and morally indefensible and the entire Emmis family is ashamed by this," said Rick Cummings, president of Emmis Communications, which owns the station, WQHT/97.1 FM.

Cummings said "Miss Jones in the Morning" producer Rick Delgado and on-air sidekick Todd Lynn were axed to send a message that "this type of insensitivity is utterly unacceptable."

Emmis blamed Delgado for "writing, producing and airing" the "We Are the World" parody and Lynn for "offensive, racially insensitive comments."

Cummings said Miss (Tarsha) Jones, along with sidekicks DJ Envy and Tasha Hightower, will be back on the air a week from today, but must donate two weeks' salary to Give2Asia tsunami relief.

That's also where Emmis will send its $1 million "lump-sum" donation.

"This response, as with all their previous responses, is inadequate," said Queens Councilman John Liu, the most vocal critic of Hot 97's parody.

"I have made it very clear to Emmis that they need to give up a week's worth of advertising revenues to the relief efforts and, by my calculation, that's not $1 million.

"Give me a freakin' break — it's $10 million," Liu said.

Delgado and Lynn couldn't be reached for comment.

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Just keeps getting better and better, no?