Margaret Cho Responds To Golden Globes Backlash Over ‘Racist’ Cho Young Ja Impression
Margaret Cho is sounding off after her Golden Globes impression left some people sour.
If there was one consistent theme throughout the Golden Globes, it was a bit that saw comedian Margaret Cho impersonating a stoic North Korean named Cho Young Ja.
During the Golden Globes, some people pointed out that Margaret Cho’s impression was racist and insensitive. On the heels of these comments, Cho, who often impersonates her own relatives in her stand up routines, released a comment through Buzzfeed.
The comedian stood by her Golden Globes impression, stating, “I’m of North and South Korean descent, and I do impressions of my family and my work all the time, and this is just another example of that. I am from this culture. I am from this tribe. And so I’m able to comment on it.”
The 46-year-old continued, “I can do whatever I want when it comes to Koreans — North Koreans, South Korean. I’m not playing the race card, I’m playing the rice card. I’m the only person in the world, probably, that can make these jokes and not be placed in a labor camp.”
She continued to explain the double standard that exists within the Asian community in entertainment. “When we have British people playing American icons, and there’s no backlash. But for Asian Americans, it’s a very particular set of expectations that we are set to maintain, and that in itself is racist. If it’s Asian Americans making fun of Asians, we’re claiming our own voice, we’re claiming our heritage.”
Throughout the ceremony, and afterward, some took to Twitter to vent their disappointment in the bit.
That Margaret Cho bit was pretty horrible on a lot of levels. #GoldenGlobes
— Dan Ko (@_Dan_Ko) January 12, 2015
the running margaret cho ‘gag’ during last night’s #goldenglobes was not only incredibly racist but also incredibly overdrawn
— Julia Blakey (@juliablakey) January 12, 2015
The Margaret Cho bit wouldn’t have been that bad if there was a diverse array of audience members to begin with. http://t.co/uSmfhRMEla
— Sofiya Ballin (@sofiyaballin) January 12, 2015
Anyone know where I can find something on TV that’s racist and unfunny and involves Margaret Cho? #GoldenGlobes
— Dave Nelsen (@DaveNelsen2) January 12, 2015
Umm, I feel some kind of way about this Margaret Cho bit. #racist #GoldenGlobes
— Flo (@flojothehojo) January 12, 2015
Oh my God do you SEE how racist the North Korea bit is now that they had Margaret Cho AN AMERICAN talk in that VOICE? #GoldenGlobes
— Angie Manfredi (@misskubelik) January 12, 2015
In addition to her statement, Cho has been retweeting support of others who enjoyed her Cho Young Ja impression.
If a German mocked Hitler, are you going to say, “That could be offensive to Germans”? @margaretcho mocked the oppressors, not the victims.
— Chloe Newsom (@ChloesThinking) January 12, 2015
@margaretcho Thought your performance last night was hysterical! If anyone has the right to joke & criticize NK, it’s you. #FreeSpeech
— Jim DeTore, Jr (@jimjrdetore) January 12, 2015
What do you think about Margaret Cho’s Golden Globes performance?
[Image via NBC]
