Oh Martin

[webofevil]

TV journalist Martin Bashir has apologised for making what he called a “tasteless” comment about Asian women.

Speaking at the Asian American Journalists Association annual banquet in Chicago, he said: “I’m happy to be in the midst of so many Asian babes. In fact, I’m happy that the podium covers me from the waist down.”

But in a letter published in New York magazine, the 45-year-old said: “Upon reflection, it was a tasteless remark that I now bitterly regret.”

Bashir currently hosts the news documentary show 20/20 on US TV network ABC. Jeffrey Schneider, a spokesman for the channel, said: “This kind of remark has no place in any setting and Martin knows that and is truly sorry for his serious error in judgment.”

Bashir made the speech last month with his 20/20 co-presenter Juju Chang standing nearby on the stage. He went on to say that a speech should be “like a dress on a beautiful woman, long enough to cover the important parts and short enough to keep your interest—like my colleague Juju’s”.

As audience members booed the comment, Ms Chang said: “See what I have to put up with?” [BBC]

Comments

[offensive-mango.livejournal.com]

This kind of remark has no place in any setting

ANY setting? Is he sure?

I think this is an example of a cultural misunderstanding. Americans don't tolerate casual sexism as well as English people do, in the same way that English people don't tolerate casual racism as well as Americans do. Both shouldn't happen at all, and definitely shouldn't happen in a speech at a banquet, but I imagine something like that wouldn't have ruffled feathers quite so badly in the UK.

I say this as an American woman whose only experiences of feeling squirmily uncomfortable about casual woman-related remarks have happened in the UK for the past 10 years, but who was glad to trade that for the lack of squirmily uncomfortable casual race-related remarks that happened so often in the US.

[webofevil.livejournal.com]

But doesn't "Asian babes" have a nuance all of its own? Its pornographic origin arguably makes it intrinsically demeaning for both race and gender. Good work there, Martin!

[offensive-mango.livejournal.com]

In that case it's proper setting is somewhere between Chicago and London. Unfortunately I imagine the ocean is rather deep there. Oh, Martin!