1.24.2005

disgusting

So there are something like 150,000 people dead, thousands of children orphaned and even more people left homeless as a result of the tsunami. Whole towns have been swept away, people are injured, diseased and starving and aid workers can hardly keep up with the need for help.

And one morning radio show in NYC, Hot 97 hosted by Miss Jones, decided to "make light of the situation" by airing a song with lyrics like:

"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. Child slavery."
Listen to it now

When an Asian American co-host, Miss Info, said on the air that she couldn't support or get involved in the production of that piece, Miss Jones who is African American went off on a tirade about how she (Miss Info) is always separating herself from the rest of the crew because she is Asian and thinks she is superior. Miss Info couldn't even get a word in edgewise. Listen to the clip of the argument. In it, you might hear another host, Todd Lynn say "I'm going to start shooting Asians."

More info at http://www.asianmediawatch.net/missjones/update2.html

The station issued an apology on its website, but not on the air. The hosts donated a week's pay to tsunami relief (probably their slap on the wrist at the advice of their PR manager) but have not made on-air apologies.

If this pisses you off (and frankly I'd be pissed off if it didn't piss you off) write directly to the station and to the FCC.

Hot 97 WQHT-FM
395 Hudson Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10014
Phone: 212-229-9797
Fax: 212-929-8559
E-mail: hot97@hot97.com
E-mail: morningshow@hot97.com

Barry Mayo, General Manager, Hot 97 WQHT-FM
John Dimick, Program Director, Hot 97 WQHT-FM

Emmis Communications
One Emmis Plaza
40 Monument Circle, Suite 700
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-266-0100
Fax: 317-631-3750
E-mail: IR@emmis.com
Jeffrey H Smulyan, Chairman and CEO, Emmis Communications

Federal Communications Commission
Enforcement Bureau, Investigations and Hearings Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC
E-mail: fccinfo@fcc.gov
Web: www.fcc.gov/parents/content.html

3 comments:

Syndromes said...

I disagree on bringing the FCC into it. I don't think they (should) have any business being the thought police. They're bad enough as it is. It's not illegal to offend or be offended, but it seems like we're going down that path a lot recently...

But what in the HELL were those morons thinking at that station?! Oi. And the song was crap anyways, regardless of it's content, it just lacked any comedic value. If I was an intern or something there, i'd walk out of that place in a heartbeat. Who wants to be surrounded by people who play the race card like that (re: asian superiority). Bleh.

Fumbling said...

FCC got all into it when Janet flashed her tit. I think this song is by far more offensive. If they'll fine for a flash, they should fine for this in my opinion.

.:missy:. said...

What is wrong with people? I just don't get it.