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New York hip-hop radio station airs song mocking tsunami victims
Hip-hop radio station HOT 97 has sparked outrage across the city by airing a twisted song that shockingly mocks the 200,000 victims of the South Asian tsunami.The radio station, WQHT, was forced to air an apology yesterday after the insulting song - whose lyrics include racial epithets aimed at Asians - was played for four days last week by morning deejay Miss Jones. The nasty parody, sung to the tune of "We Are the World," makes light of how the killer tsunami "washed your whole country away." Some of the other tasteless lyrics refer jokingly to orphaned children being sold into slavery. Before one airing of the song, the station's news reader, Miss Info, who is of Asian descent, objected to the song, only to be attacked by Jones and her cohorts. "That song is really offensive to me, and I opted not to involve myself," Miss Info said. Jones replied, "I know you feel you're superior because you're Asian, but you're not." Later, co-host Todd Lyn, incensed at Miss Info's criticism, said, "I'm going to start shooting Asians." Councilman John Liu (D-Queens) said it was outrageous that the station, owned by Emmis Communications Corp., aired the song for four days. Four days? There's malice aforethought there. Jones and program director John Dimick both read apologies on the air yesterday. "HOT 97 regrets the airing of material that made light of a serious and tragic event," Dimick said. "We apologize to our listeners and anyone who was offended." Songs like this will be created and spread over the Internet. While they will always exist, airing them on the public airwaves should be a hate crime. The station had the song up on its website for download. Rank: No. 2 among listeners 12 and older for the past two ratings periods, ending Jan. 1, according to Arbitron. Download a clip of the song being aired on Hot 97, it includes the hosts berating the Asian host, Miss Info. Choice quote: "If you feel that way, why are you even on the show?" Posted by: gromky 2005-01-26 |
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