Following the rise of violence against Asians, Jay Leno is apologizing for jokes he made during his career aimed at Asian communities.
E! Online reports that the comedian and late-night host participated in a Zoom call with Media Action Network for Asian Americans. While speaking with the group’s leader, Guy Aoki, Leno admitted his wrongdoing.
“At the time I did those jokes, I genuinely thought them to be harmless,” Leno told Variety in a joint statement with Aoki. “I was making fun of our enemy North Korea, and like most jokes, there was a ring of truth to them.”
“At the time, there was a prevailing attitude that some group is always complaining about something, so don’t worry about it,” he continued. “Whenever we received a complaint, there would be two sides to the discussion: Either’ We need to deal with this’ or ‘Screw ’em if they can’t take a joke.’ Too many times, I sided with the latter even when in my heart I knew it was wrong.”
Aoki reached out to Leno’s current employers at Fox, who then connected the two. MANAA has accepted his apology and hopes that the Asian American community will be open to his apology.
“I am issuing this apology,” he explained. “I do not consider this particular case to be another example of cancel culture but a legitimate wrong that was done on my part…I hope that the Asian American community will be able to accept it as well, and I hope I can live up to their expectations in the future.”
