OCA, an advocacy group that seeks to “advance the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans” has issued a statement regarding that offensive photo we saw yesterday of Miley Cyrus, Justin Gaston and friends mimicking Asian features in a seemingly mocking way. The group finds no humor in the photo and expresses its disappointment in the statement. Here is the full text of the statement released by George Wu of OCA:
“The photograph of Miley Cyrus and other individuals slanting their eyes currently circulating the Internet is offensive to the Asian Pacific American community and sets a terrible example for her many young fans. This image falls within a long and unfortunate history of people mocking and denigrating individuals of Asian descent…
…Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans, said George Wu, executive director of OCA. The inclusion of an Asian Pacific American individual in the photo does not make it acceptable.
OCA hopes that Miley Cyrus will apologize to her fans and the APA community for this lapse in judgment and takes the opportunity to better understand why the gesture is offensive.”
I absolutely agree, as I stated yesterday, I am just as offended and disappointed in this kind of behavior. I’m also very disappointed and saddened to read all the comments on the blog condoning or, at the very least, laughing off this behavior as “it’s only a joke”. For me, the issue isn’t about being PC to a fault, it’s about respect for other people. Making fun of people, even if you think they’re laughing with you, is just wrong … plain and simple. It’s not a “liberal” matter, it’s not a “PC” matter — it’s a common sense matter. Very young children, who are Hannah Montana fans, learn to mimic things they see and hear. Even tho you may not be offended and you may not think it’s a big deal, it is offensive and a very big deal for other people. Making fun of Asian features, calling someone “retarded”, saying “you’re so gay” is offensive — even if you think it’s funny. I feel sorry for the people who think that saying “lighten up” and “get a life” is a way to explain away this sort of hurtful behavior. It would seem that they don’t understand the hurt and pain that this kind of mocking behavior can cause. As I said yesterday, my biggest concern is that young children might see this sort of behavior and feel validated to emulate it because they think it’s funny, since Miley Cyrus does it. If people would just think about the things they say and do at the expense of others, they might realize that what they intend to be funny is actually pretty harmful.
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I agreed with Trent. You may find it funny but it’s disrespectful and offensive to others. This is also why I don’t use the word “retarded” which I think is very rude.
Seriously this Miley girl has got to grow up. I used to think she was kind of cute but now I think she has got serious immaturity issues.
thank you
Thank you, Trent.
thank you trent.
She’s apparently and unfortunately considered a “role model” to many young girls, right? Yeah, I would love my daughter to know that it’s okay to bash people on YouTube, pose half naked on Vanity Fair at 15, put up slutty pictures of her 16 year old self on MySpace, hang around with people who are obviously older than her who drink, and whatever things she does that make her a good “role model.” Her parents need to teach her to have better control of her life or at least have better sense, which she obviously doesn’t have.
It may not be considered racist to some but it is absolutely disrespectful. Why do some people still feel the need to tell other people here that it is essentially wrong to feel offended? PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE OFFENDED AT THIS PICTURE. LET THEM BE.
Miley did something wrong and she should apologize to the Asian Community and her fans. She should think twice before doing these type of things. You are right about words or mockery can hurt people deeply.
I agree.
whats the bet miley and her friends were so wasted they don’t even REMEMBER this photo! have her parents reprimanded her over this? it’s most unchristian like behaviour!
i’m a asian and it hurts to see that teasing with asian facial features are being viewed as a joke!
Once again, well said, Trent!
@Ella
You’re being pretty asinine for assuming that just because she’s a celebrity the spotlight is on her ALL the time. That’s a lot of pressure for someone. YouTube videos are purposely put up so there’s a difference. Being a teenager isn’t an excuse for continuous bad behavior, but it does mean that she’s young and she’s going to mess up once in while, so everyone should cut her some slack. You can get all high and holy on me if you told me you spent your teen years being perfect in a secluded nunnery somewhere.
Trent, you are my hero. You have the best manners! In this post you really remind me of why I read your blog. Thanks for calling out hurtful comments for what they are.
thank you pitnb. thank you for not excusing this racist picture as an immature joke. 16 is not young… 16 year olds are popping out babies, driving cars. they are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. thank you for being genuinely disgusted in the spoiled brat miley and the commentators who are just as ignorant as she is. love you~!
@Crystal – Asian people aren’t just “thinking” the joke is about them. It obviously IS about them. You laughed at at kath’s comment because it was far from the truth, and you’re comfortable in knowing that you aren’t what kath is saying you are.
However, Asian people DO have different shaped eyes than white people. That is not an offensive comment, it is a fact. And that’s why it hurts. Because someone is taking something that is true about you, something that is a part of who you are, and making it a joke. Telling you it’s funny. That what you look like is funny. That your parents, family, history, culture are funny. I don’t know what it’s like to feel like that, but I can’t imagine it feels good.
(I am obviously not saying it is funny, and that’s why I don’t really “get” this joke, but it’s what Miley and her friends are implying)
I’m Asian too, and while sometimes my friends and I do joke about this kind of stuff, the thing that Miley needs to realize is that she is a Disney superstar and she definitely DOES have to take responsibility for her actions. She knows that she’s a role model for many young girls and her behavior is, as others have said, despicable. I can understand that they were joking around (and probably drinking), but she should have had the better judgement by now (or Justin should have, if he’s such a good “friend” to her!) to realize that things like this make her look BAD. And that when they get out, people WILL be offended. After all, I’m sure that if someone random came up to me on the street and made that gesture at me, I would absolutely punch them in the face.
BTW does anybody else notice Justin’s hand on Miley’s butt?
Yes Trent you said it beautifully, I have also read the blogs and how its not a big deal. But truly it is very hurtful as an asian to see that. I remember people around me including close friends would do that to me and I would PRETEND to laugh along because its embarrassing to admit that your are hurt. its seem as such a common and casual thing, but really underlying that is just pure shame. I has taken me MANY years to accept my asian eyes. People please think more before acting.
hey trent. Good on you for standing up against such issues…i commented before on this issue the other day and i mentioned that “we laugh at ourselves sometimes” being asian and all and to be “diplomatic” in that sense..but if its one thing i’ve realized and thoroughly agree with is that such behavior should not be condoned…be it to asians or gays or to any minority groups..I live in Nz a country where Caucasians are the majority and sometimes such “teasing” or “mocking” occur even among friends…and at times Asian people take the easy way out by laughing along or keeping quiet even though those jokes are hurtful…but in order to reverse the stereotypes and to stop the white superiority mentality we have to stand up for ourselves and stop condoning this type of behavior…thank you for taking a strong stand against this…and to all who think that this is a small laughable issue, think again.
as much a i personally love miley, i think its very interesting that she is hanging out with her boyfriend and other friends that are drinking. i dunno if anyone noticed but the guy on the far right is holding a glass of wine. i’m sure billy ray isn’t too pleased with that. i hope miley shapes up and its really too bad that this photo is getting blown out of proportion. we’ve all done funny things like that, unfortunitly she’s a public figure and gets more heat when others see it.