Actors, directors pen letter criticizing Oscars' offensive Asian jokes

UPDATE: Mar. 15, 4:17 p.m. ET: An Academy spokesperson has responded to the letter with the following statement: "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." 

Twenty-five prominent artists are speaking out against the Academy Awards. 

In a new letter addressed to Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, CEO Dawn Hudson, members of the board of governors and producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin, dozens of filmmakers, actors and Academy members, largely of Asian descent, are addressing their disappointment with this year's Oscars and the "tasteless and offensive" jokes made about the Asian community. 

Two-time Oscar winner Ang Lee, George Takei, Sandra Oh and longtime Academy governors Don Hall (sound branch) and Freida Lee Mock (documentary branch) are among those who signed it. 

One Oscars skit the letter is likely referring to is this Chris Rock joke that portrayed three young Asian children as accountants. 

The telecast was guilty of perpetuating "racist stereotypes," the letter begins. 

"We’d like to know how such tasteless and offensive skits could have happened," the letter reads.

"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," the letter reads. 

Here's the letter: 

Dear Cheryl, Dawn, Members of the Board of Governors, Reginald and David:

We are writing as Academy members of Asian descent to express our complete surprise and disappointment with the targeting of Asians at the 88th Oscars telecast and its perpetuation of racist stereotypes.

In light of criticism over #OscarsSoWhite, we were hopeful that the telecast would provide the Academy a way forward and the chance to present a spectacular example of inclusion and diversity. Instead, the Oscars show was marred by a tone-deaf approach to its portrayal of Asians.

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.

We look forward to hearing from you about this matter and about the concrete steps to ensure that all people are portrayed with dignity and respect.

We are proud that the Oscars reach several hundred million people around the world of whom 60% are Asians and potential moviegoers.

Sincerely,

Don Hall, Sound Branch, John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation, Academy Governor, 18 years

Freida Lee Mock, Documentary Branch, Academy Award@ winner, Academy Governor, 6 years

Arthur Dong, Documentary Branch, Academy Award@ nominee, Academy Governor, 4 years

Ang Lee, Directors Branch, Two-time Academy Award@ winner

Chris Tashima, Shorts and Feature Animation Branch, Academy Award@ winner

Christine Choy, Documentary Branch, Academy Award@ nominee

David Magdael, Public Relations Branch

France Nuyen, Actors Branch

George Takei, Actors Branch

Janet Yang, Producers Branch

Jessica Yu, Documentary Branch, Academy Award winner@AMPAS

Jodi Long, Actors Branch

Laura Kim, Public Relations Branch

Marcus Hu, Executives Branch

Maysie Hoy, Film Editors Branch

Nancy Kwan, Actors Branch

Peter Kwong, Actors Branch

Renee Tajima-Pena, Documentary Branch, Academy Award® nominee

Rithy Panh, Documentary Branch, Academy Award® nominee

Ruby Yang, Documentary Branch, Academy Award@ winner

Sandra Oh, Actors Branch

Steven Okazaki, Documentary Branch, Academy Award® winner

Teddy Zee, Executives Branch

William Hoy, Film Editors Branch

Yung Chang, Documentary Branch

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