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Blackface Fraternity Is Redfaced, Suspends Itself

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The UC Irvine fraternity involved in a controversial blackface video that went viral last week has voluntarily suspended its status as a registered campus organization until fall 2014. As we originally reported, the video, set to Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z's 'Suit and Tie,' featured a member of the Lambda Theta Delta fraternity in blackface.

The university has since launched an investigation into whether any disciplinary action is needed.

As ABC7 reports, the fraternity issued a statement on Wednesday, saying: "This decision is mainly due to the abhorrent, insensitive and highly offensive blackface video created by our members that has been circulated widely on the Internet. We are aware that the campus has initiated an investigation of our behavior in several videos involving racial insensitivity and alcohol use. We are cooperating fully with the University's investigation."

The article goes on to state, "Members say they remain committed to repairing the harm they created."

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We just hope that's enough to placate Angry Asian Man, whose Tweets today included the following:

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According to the LA Times, "Lambda Theta Delta President Darius Obana said the 'Suit and Tie' video was made by a small group of members unaware of the video's racist implications."

Really? We can only assume the booze was clouding their judgment.

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