04.24.07
::OPEN LETTER TO CBS RADIO:: FIRE JV & ELVIS — NOW!
FALLOUT CENTRAL uncovers JV & Elvis’ HISTORY of anti-Asian remarks and fires off an email to CBS Radio to demand their immediate termination. Here it is:
From: Telly Wong
Subject: FIRE JV & ELVIS — NOW!
Date: April 24, 2007 8:26:40 PM EDT
To: john.mainelli@cbsradio.com, karen.mateo@cbsradio.com,
dogswild@aol.com, tchiusano@923freefm.com
Cc: Albert, George, Vicki, William
Dear Mr. Chiusano, Mr. Mainelli and Ms. Mateo:
After listening to Mr. Jeff Vandergrift (a.k.a. “JV”) and Mr. Dan Lay’s (a.k.a. “Elvis”) racist and sexist prank phone call to a Chinese restaurant (Click here to listen), I was absolutely shocked and appalled to learn that what I was hearing was actually a re-airing of the segment. Apparently these men thought this bit of “comedy” (originally aired on April 5, 2007) –in which restaurant employees are verbally abused with racist, vulgar and sexist comments that range from mock Chinese accents (”flied lice”) to sexual harassment (telling a female employee they want to see her “hot Asian spicy ass”)– was so uproarious that they felt the irresistible need, and perhaps even more disturbing, had the permission, to replay it on April 19 — just a week after Don Imus was fired for his “nappy-headed hos” comment. There is absolutely no excuse for this type of vile and unabashed racial hatred to be allowed on public airwaves nor is there one for your company’s blatant double standard when it comes to public displays of racism. As a concerned Asian American and a former CBS Radio employee (I worked in the public relations department of Westwood One from 1999-2000), I am demanding nothing less than the immediate termination of Mr. Vandergrift and Mr. Lay for their history of racist and derogatory remarks towards Asians.
Yes, I said “history”.
After conducting some research on Mr. Vandergrift and Mr. Lay’s program, it appears that this recent prank call wasn’t the first time they have degraded Asian women and the Asian American community. In addition to frequently discussing Asian massage parlors, during the April 19, 2007 show (Listen Here), the duo used a mock Korean accent to “recreate” Seung Hui Cho’s confession tape while also tossing in a variety of stereotypical non-sequiturs (”you rike a fortune cookie?” and “no tickey, no raun-ree”, among others), which inadvertently and carelessly implicated all Asians in Cho’s lone horrendous act.
Additionally, during an August 28, 2006 interview with New York City Councilman John Liu (Listen Here) to debate racial segregation on that season’s Survivor, the hosts repeatedly insulted the Councilman’s ethnicity with mock Asian accents (telling him to quiet down by shouting “Sirence!” and “Risten!” and then taking calls from “Frushing Meadows” and “Rong Isrand”) and overtly racist remarks (referring to Asian men as having “rice pickles” and saying how Councilman Liu can “barely see”). From listening closely to the segment, it’s also apparent that Mr. Vandergrift and Mr. Lay cowardly turned down the audio on Councilman Liu’s reception so he couldn’t hear what they were uttering.
While I’m sure Mr. Vandergrift and Mr. Lay will defend the aforementioned antics in the name of comedy and the First Amendment, I dare them to pull similar stunts when speaking with a leader from the African American or Jewish community.
And although I am fully aware that Mr. Vandergrift’s spouse is Asian (www.natashayi.com), neither I, nor any of my peers, believe that being in a relationship with an Asian person gives their non-Asian partner license to insult, humiliate and belittle our entire race. On the contrary, I believe this fact only provides further evidence of Mr. Vandergrift’s complete and utter lack of respect for our community, our heritage, and, perhaps most of all, his wife. Furthermore, if you or any of Mr. Vandergrift’s supporters still think he should be given a free pass based on his dating preferences, you should be reminded of the public pummeling that Ted Danson received in 1993, after he showed up to a Friars Club roast in blackface — even though he was dating Whoopi Goldberg at the time.
In the press release announcing the dismissal of Don Imus (http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/04/12/publiceye/entry2678036.shtml), CBS President and CEO Les Moonves responds to Mr. Imus’ controversial remarks by saying, “there has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society.” Later Mr. Moonves adds that, due to that whole ordeal, CBS Radio is “presented with a significant opportunity to expand on our record on issues of diversity, race and gender. We intend to seize that opportunity as we move forward together.”
My colleagues and I are holding Mr. Moonves and CBS Radio accountable for his words and demand the prompt firing of Mr. Vandergrift and Mr. Lay for their long history of racist comments as you did with Don Imus for his recent one. If you choose to ignore our community’s concerns, your company will be sending out a very dangerous and socially irresponsible message, which is, “CBS Radio will not tolerate racism!! (…unless it’s directed at Asians).” Additionally, if you expect the Asian community to be satisfied with a measly two-week suspension and to just “go away”, we look forward to surprising you with our response.
The days of attacking, marginalizing and dehumanizing Asians in the media without any repercussions are over.
Thank you.
Telly Wong
Producer
FALLOUT CENTRAL
www.falloutcentral.com
Caroline Hugh said,
April 27, 2007 at 9:54 am
Thank you so much. You are the leadership and the voice the Asian American community has been waiting for. I laud your call for justice especially because there aren’t enough people who would stand up against hypocrisy and moral depravity. I will see you this Friday at 12 noon!
Brucely said,
May 1, 2007 at 2:25 pm
F*** U Vandergrift!!!!
long wang said,
May 1, 2007 at 7:21 pm
me n* ****y jv he hate chinese so much he marry korean woman to make us mad
JV'S WIFE said,
May 1, 2007 at 7:26 pm
JV HATES ASIANS SO MUCH HE MARRIED ONE WWW.NATASHAYI.COM
WWW.NATASHAYI.COM
WWW.NATASHAYI.COM
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Songbird said,
May 1, 2007 at 7:59 pm
^ Yup, just like Senator Thurman knocking up that black woman! That proved he wasn’t racist too, right?!
long wang said,
May 1, 2007 at 8:18 pm
don’t be delusional there’s a big difference between having sex with a woman during a period of racial segregation by a true bigot and a comedian marrying an asian woman.
Songbird said,
May 2, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Right, if a staunch segregationist racist can break miscegenation laws to knock up a Black woman during Jim Crow days…that proves beyond all doubt that sex is not an alibi for racism. If anything, it often serves as evidence of a man trying to act superior to another race by ***king its women.
So, JV ***king an Asian woman is certainly no alibi, either. Especially in a far more tolerant era where he doesn’t even have to go far out of his way to do so.
BenBenXiong said,
May 2, 2007 at 9:51 pm
From: Albert Wang
To: vicki_shu@yahoo.com ; et al
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: Power 92.3 Update - SHOULD ROSIE O’DONNELL AND JV AND ELVIS HAVE BEEN “IMUSED”????????????????????????????????????????/
See attached article written by an American Born Chinese.
Interesting perspective, but not focusing on the most important issue: WHAT SPEECH IS PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES??????
Federal Communications Act and FCC regulations imposes reasonable restrictions on the broadcasting of INDECENT, OBSCENE and PROFANE material.
While I understand that JV and ELVIS have their Freedom of Speech, they should also respect my right to privacy–my right not be involuntarily exposed to INDECENT, OBSCENE and PROFANE materials in the privacy of my home, so that hopefully I can raise my kids in a DEMOCRATIC society without exposure to such materials.
Warren said,
May 3, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Telly,
Thank you for speaking up for Chinese Americans. Bigotry and hate must be stopped!
I also wrote to the those CBS executives. Keep us posted and let us know what else we can do.
Warren
AJ said,
May 7, 2007 at 1:13 pm
All of you whiny babies make me sad…dont listen if you dont like it. Its a shame that the world has to deal with all of this crap nowadays.
tom said,
May 7, 2007 at 2:01 pm
If you dont like the joke, dont listen. Stop ruining fun for everyone else. Everyday everybody gets made fun of, its freedom of speech.
Justin said,
May 7, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I thing you all need to lighten up. It was a joke. you people need to get over yourselves. I am a Chinese American and i thought it was hilarious. They way your making this sound is that it is alright for me to say racist words about my own race but it isn’t when someone not in our race does. In fact i find it insulting that you have such a problem with it.
moron said,
May 7, 2007 at 2:33 pm
can people seriously stop taking everything to heart. you are a moron
jon said,
May 7, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Note to all asians who contributed to the firing of CBS’s show “JV and ELVIS show” GO back to YOUR own country if you find OURS so offensive. Otherwise, shut up and cook our take-out and do our drycleaning. please keep your opinions and views to youself. thankyou
Offended by democrats said,
May 7, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Wow. The first amendment’s ink is getting fainter and fainter. Perhaps you’d like it better in you communist 3 cents an hour society. Stop ruining our country. Freedom of speech. I’m not eating any more General Tso’s, the chinese’s greatest contribution to earth.
move to china!! said,
May 7, 2007 at 9:17 pm
rook, arr you peopr need to get a sense of humol, its carred an off button, make use of it. YOU RACK DISSAPRIN!!!!!!
humpy said,
May 8, 2007 at 9:00 am
“They way your making this sound is that it is alright for me to say racist words about my own race…”
only sellouts and self-hating bottom feeders make fun of their own race. either you’re a whitey or seriously have some self-esteem issues to make fun of your own ethnicity.
and for all the crakkkkerjack racists: GO BACK TO EUROPE!
Idiots should be silenced said,
May 8, 2007 at 2:34 pm
You people cannot be serious. It was a joke you should all get over it. Just like the “White” man gets over it when MxC is on and Asian people are voice overed to sound white and make obviously racist jokes about white people. Its all comedy, I doubt the people who dub MxC hate white people, and i dount JV and Elvis hate Asian people. Why cant anyone take something for what its worth, or from where it comes from. If you hate JV and Elvis that much guess what there is a dial, that dial turns, and when you turn that dial you can LISTEN TO SOMETHING ELSE. This is just another example of millitant acts to shut down the 1st ammendment. You should all form a group and team up with Sharpten and perhaps over the next 5 years together you can re-write the constitution since that is what your doing anyone.
Idiots.
Chris said,
May 8, 2007 at 5:23 pm
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Remember this? This does not mean that nobody can offend you jackass. You have the right to say what you want and they have the right to say what they want. You, sir, are a douche bag. If this offended you, turn the station to something else? What about when Chinease people make fun of white people are you just as pissed? What if white people asked for the firing of Chinease people when things like that would be said. If you like a dictator ship go back to China and enjoy. UGH you make me sick!
anti child molesters said,
May 8, 2007 at 6:23 pm
f**k all u inbreeding, child molesting, donkey f**king, sister r**ing, welfare relying, food stamp claiming, mother f**king,megan’s law appearing, uneducated, ignorant, racist, self hating, society parasites. u claim u know the difference between communists and other type of governments but, trust me, u really don’t. minorities came to this country because their countries were SUCKED DRY by w**te parasites such as yourselves. and yes, smallpox, tb, AIDS, mad cow disease, and birds that carried sars DID came from europe. check your f**king history and stop going to south east asia to f**k little boys (wonder why we call you c**k-asians you desperate white f**ks) or other poor barnyard animals. stop marrying so many wives and have so many children (Utah) while complaining about how the asians and mexicans are taking your jobs when all the homeless people under the freeway begging for money from me are u dirty, lazy, h**ks. and if you want to CLEAN our race like your so called master race, don’t declare war on the one asian guy in your hood, come to K-town, san gabriel valley, westminster or san fran if got the f**king balls u f**kin rankers. got the balls to bang when u out number us but the minute shit hits the fen you call the cops and act like the f**kin little b**ch u are. if all you kkk and neo nazis and minute men and other welfare relying and unemployed redn**ks are so down fo ur s**t, why bang on people who u know won’t strike back. come down to our communities and kick us out. u claim we can’t fight, but u only pick on someone smaller than u, and that the f**kin u.s. marine hires asians to teach u guys how to fight since all you obese fat f**ks can only shoot a shot gun and tag walls when no one is looking at night. a nation that was built on slavery and prejudice have no rights to say what is freedom of speech when u guys prevented asians, blacks, native americans (not INDIANS u dumb lost f**ks) and hispanics from testifying in court up until the 1960’s, but of course u wouldn’t know that happened in u.s. history since your literacy rate is so f**kin low compared to us u f**kin leeches. true immigrants built this country’s ecnonmy, (Black=sugar cane fields, cotton fields, etc.) (Chinese=silicon valley, railroads, etc.) (Mexicans&Pinoys=agricultural developoment) (Japanese&Koreans=Cars and electronics and technology) WHITES=KKK, Minutemen, Neon**is, Slavery, bullshit laws, abusive cops, and too many IMPORANT contributions to name. oh yeah, and for those who think asian car companies are ruining america, think again. american cars sucks so don’t blame japanese people for your own incompetence and inferiority in mechanics. people who drive over size red n**k trucks are the ones who TRULY support terrorism since half of those oil companies have ties to saudi families who fund terror groups. before u want to talk s**t, (including self hating asians) know your facts and history first before u make an a** out of yourselves.
AJ said,
May 10, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Youre just as racist as anyone you just called out. Maybe waste less time being angry all the time and go out and get laid. Do something to relax a bit…unbelievable
Gavine McCloud said,
May 10, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Telly Wong Son, you clearly have no sense of humor. The bit was funny, all these kinds of bits are funny. Your problem is that you cant see that. Perhaps it’s because of those slanty little eye slats you have. You’re just an uptight liberal. These are public airwaves and you want them censored? Unpucker that uptight butthole of yours and relax once in awhile. This letter could go on for pages but in the end I win because when i look at myself in the mirror, I’m not asian (thank god)… so I win!!! Bottom line, this is my country not yours. Go home you whinney liberal gook, nobody wants you here anyway…
Brian said,
May 11, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I guess it was only a matter of time before the uneducated bigots came and took over the comments section. This isn’t a matter of “free speech”, it’s a matter of “hate speech.” Hate speech is the reason why you can’t say “god damn n**ger, go back to africa” on TV or radio. I can’t believe people can take this so lightly. What do you think will happen if we let this s**t slide by on the airwaves, given that there is still anti-asian sentiment that exists in our country today? Given that asian-americans are seen as “foreigners” when many of us were born right here in the same hospital as you were?
Nia said,
May 11, 2007 at 10:09 pm
What’s comedy is that you always get the white dudes showin’ up and sayin’ “get a sense of humor” or just plain racist remarks. Don’t you have something better to do like troll for porn? F’in Cr**kers. That was a joke…get a sense of…ah forget it.
Scott said,
May 12, 2007 at 5:23 am
I can’t understand why someone would be offended by the clip - I mean TRULY offended… I’ve listened and still can’t understand. Nevertheless — if someone says something that offends me I simply don’t listen. I can’t imagine what good can come of removing these two from the radio — I personally don’t believe that ANY movements towards a higher degree of political correctness in media is desirable… and the ‘George Bush’ method (abstinence) of radio wouldn’t attract any sponsorship whatsoever. Doesn’t anyone remember that Howard Stern — the first truly successful shock jock — was successful because of the size of his following (not because a select few were offended). It was US who made the system the way it is. If you want the system changed you have to change US first.
And why is it that only the people who are offended seem to have a voice in this situation? Isn’t it that the few who have a problem with this kind of humor are savagely overshadowed by the army of listeners who choose this kind of entertainment — why aren’t the hundreds of thousands of us as important as those who were offended?
I, like everyone else, can be categorized by race, ethnicity or social standing — and even when these groups are assaulted I don’t take it personally. Please don’t take away my entertainment because you can’t differentiate between humor and hate speach. I seem to remember that there were quitea few (indeed a whole country I believe) offeneded by the remarks of people who, today, are revered as heroes of social reform…
Nevertheless I still can’t help feeling like this is all the studio’s fault — after all, people have been complaining about things like this for as long as there’s been radio. It’s only now that the conglomerates listen for fear of a fiscal backlash. I also can’t help feeling like you’re taking advantage of the situation regardless of your intentions.
Scott -- method5440@hotmail.com said,
May 12, 2007 at 5:28 am
What does everyone here think? Doesn’t anyone agree with me (see previous) anymore?? Write me, let me know. Lets use this board to become socially active ourselves.
Tina said,
May 13, 2007 at 3:23 pm
OK.. So I’m not going to say anything negative about Telly Wong like some of the others because that’s not what I’m about.. Everyone has the right to their opinion. I just want to say thanks for taking away the 2 guys who I look forward to everday to put a smile on my face when I’m away from home.
If everything was canceled because someone was offended we would have no comedians.. no music.. and no TV. You had no right to demand the firing of this show. When I’m offended I turn the channel or just stop being a fan. NEVER would I think the person who offends me doesn’t deserve the right to be out there for the people who do enjoy listening or watching them. Georg Lopez..Chris Rock are always cracking white jokes and who demands their firing?? Noone, because we know it’s comedy and it’s their right and we can laugh at ourselves I guess. Maybe it’s a confidence issue (who knows)
From listening the past 2 years I’ve learned JV and Elvis are 2 amazing guys who actually care about their fans and I feel you ruined their lives for one juvenile joke and a few stereotypes that EVERYONE has heard tons of times before.
Thanks for the opputunity to express my opinion..
Rey Solo said,
May 13, 2007 at 6:41 pm
It’s not a free speech issue, no one is preventing JV and Elvis from making anti-Asian slurs, they just can’t make them on CBS radio anymore. Fox News is defending these guys- they should hire them.
It’s a business issue. Adam Corolla made racist comments against Asians about a year ago and his company was told Progressive Insurance among others would remove their sponsorship if he didn’t apologize- Corolla was told in blunt terms by his management he will be fired if he didn’t apologize.
Sakura said,
May 13, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Way to go,”anti child molesters” is right, (well, minus the profanities) he/she stated all the history facts, all you WHITE EUROPEANS need to first respect us minorities before asking for respect. what you dish out to minorities comes back ten folds, so retrospect on american history before you call us racist and belittle our roots. Oh, yeah, this country belongs to ALL of us, not just WHITE EUROPEANS! again, READ YOUR HISTORY BOOKS.
Neal said,
May 15, 2007 at 11:44 am
One thing that has to be kept in mind, is that free speech, and commercial speech, are two completely different things.
When you’re at work, on the clock, if you exert your right to free speech, by saying something offensive, it can, and should, get you fired.
A radio station is a commercial entity, in the business of selling advertising. If an employee damages their ability to sell advertising, like these guys did, then the company has the right to fire them.
End of story. All these free speech comments, do not apply, because they are on the clock.
John Lewd said,
May 15, 2007 at 10:25 pm
What could be funnier than a couple of toothless, in**ed, redn**k radio jocks standing in the unemployment line? That s**t cracks me up. So lighten the f**k up yourselves, racists. You’re just sad that you’ll have to spin the dial a little to find some more simplistic s**t to laugh to.
humpy said,
May 16, 2007 at 7:27 am
again, to the doghouse fans: there’s nothing preventing you from pooling your resources together and make your own podcasts.
you say that these protest groups are censoring and stopping your rights to listen, but you can’t tell CBS that they have a broadcast standard to follow and violate their own corporate policy.
so go make your own websites and podcasts for JV&elvis and donate money to the podcast.
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