Topline:
Asian American media leaders are demanding broadcasting giant iHeartMedia take action over repeated "anti-Asian" comments made by one of its longtime L.A. radio hosts.
The backstory: The local and national chapters of Asian American Journalists Association and Media Action Network for Asian Americans say that KFI AM 640 morning host Bill Handel has a history of promoting harmful Asian stereotypes dating back to the 1990s when he said he was “tired of seeing slanted-eyed figure skaters winning all the time.”
Why now: This year has seen Handel make a string of derogatory comments about Asians and Asian Americans that the media groups say promote stereotypes.
What’s being said: In one instance, Handel was discussing the Trump campaign’s false claim that Haitian immigrants were eating pets, when he introduced Asians into the conversation:
“Dog meat soup and fiery Szechuan cat stir fry with full instructions on how to cook cats and dogs. Now, what’s kinda weird is Korean and Chinese — I’m trying for the life of me to look at a Haitian recipe for dogs and cats and I cannot find one!”
Here is a compilation of Handel's comments.
What's next: Media Action Network for Asian Americans, which was the first group to bring attention to Handel's latest comments, is calling for the host's suspension.
The group's leader Guy Aoki said in a statement: "By repeatedly spouting cheap jokes at their expense, this opens all Asian Americans up to ridicule and violence, as we have seen especially since the outbreak of COVID."
What Handel's bosses say: LAist has also reached out to management at KFI, located in Burbank, and iHeartMedia for comment, but has not heard back.