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George Takei, Ang Lee and More Speak Out Against Asian Jokes at Oscars

#OscarsSoWhite isn't over yet

malcolmvenable.jpg
Malcolm Venable

The #OscarsSoWhite campaign intended to bring attention to the lack of diversity among nominees did make an impact, including changed voting requirements at the Academy and of course, Chris Rock's scathing monologue on the issue.

Unfortunately, not everybody felt that that inclusiveness the campaign was supposed to reflect extended to all people of color -- particularly Asians, who say that the ceremony included offensive material that made jokes at Asians' expense.

Now a group of more than 20 influential Asians who are members of the Academy, including Ang Lee and George Takei have banded together to protest the jokes and have sent a letter to the organization protesting "tasteless and offensive skits," The Hollywood Reporter notes.

Jada Pinkett Smith finally responds to Chris Rock's Oscars burn

One such skit occurred halfway through last month's broadcast, when Rock partook in a bit involving a handful of Asian children portrayed as accountants. In another, Sacha Baron Cohen made a crack about Asians' genitalia.

"We'd like to know how such tasteless and offensive skits could have happened and what process you have in place to preclude such unconscious or outright bias and racism toward any group in future Oscars telecasts," stated the letter, adding, "We are proud that the Oscars reach several hundred million people around the world of whom 60% are Asians and potential moviegoers."

The Academy later responded, saying, "The Academy appreciates the concerns stated, and regrets that any aspect of the Oscar telecast was offensive. We are committed to doing our best to ensure that material in future shows be more culturally sensitive."

See what Travis Smiley had to say on the #OscarsSoWhite debate: