吉米金莫(前右)在脫口秀錄影棚露面,兩度鞠躬,以個人名義向華人社區、中國民眾道歉。(駱舒嫻攝影)
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吉米金莫在脫口秀位於好萊塢大道的錄影棚露面,回應洛杉磯抗議華人,雙手合十,身穿寫有中文「平」的T恤,兩度當著抗議者和眾多華語媒體面前鞠躬,以個人名義向華人社區、中國民眾道歉。(駱舒嫻/攝影)
美國廣播公司(ABC)深夜節目「吉米金莫直播秀」(Jimmy Kimmel Live)主持人吉米金莫30日在洛杉磯首度露面,為日前他節目裡的童言「殺光中國人」公開道歉。他雙手合十、身穿胸前寫有中文「平」字T恤,兩度鞠躬,以個人名義向華人社區、中國民眾表示再三道歉,承諾將取消「兒童圓桌會議」,改進節目管理程序,保證下不為例。
金莫更祭出親情牌,表示他的侄子侄女都是華裔,強調絕無不尊重或辱華之意,「我想這是一種誤解」,當天更特地穿上助手替他找來一件寫有中文「平」字的T恤,希望傳遞出「和平」(peace)訴求。
近百南加華人民眾透過網路論壇「未名空間」發起集結,30日上午11時到金莫脫口秀錄影棚外集結抗議,聲勢浩大。
中午12點40分時,金莫露面,抗議現場氛圍頓時沸騰。金莫先與活動發起者之一、北京愛國同鄉會會長王湉以及華文媒體、部分抗議者代表在錄影棚大廳見面,以個人名義再度向華人社區道歉,「我非常誠懇地向大家道歉,我感到非常抱歉」。
金莫表示,節目中孩子「殺光中國人」的言論是「荒唐的」(preposterous),而他當時所說的是想表達一種「反諷」(satirical)的態度,無意冒犯任何人或族裔。作為節目的主持人和執行製作人,金莫承認他對節目正式播出的內容有最後決定權,也負有責任。他承認,沒有刪掉這個孩子的言論,「是因為我當時覺得這是有娛樂效果的」。
金莫包承諾,脫口秀將取消「兒童圓桌會議」,加強後期製作管理,保證將來不會出現類似狀況。
但對於抗議者要求ABC開除他、關閉節目的呼聲,金莫表示不會考慮辭職,也不會透過在ABC官網上貼出書面道歉函的方式道歉,「我當面向大家道歉,你們從我口中聽到了道歉,不接受是你們的選擇,但我的確已經做了其他媒體不會做的事」。
前往抗議的民眾指,金莫28日在深夜節目中語焉不詳的道歉毫無誠意,必須在節目中將前因後果、道歉對象都說清楚,在嚴肅正式的環境下作出道歉。金莫表示,「我總不能一直在節目裡道歉」。
對有華人準備採取法律行動的打算,他回應,「媒體受言論自由保護,他們這麼做只會浪費金錢」。
金莫隨後走出錄影棚,到錄影棚門口行人道上與抗議民眾見面,在持續大約20分鐘的見面中,金莫一直雙手合十,先後兩次向抗議民眾90度鞠躬道歉,重申道歉和承諾砍掉「兒童圓桌會議」等,並回應抗議者質問。
金莫說,向抗議者當面道歉是他自己的決定,沒有受到ABC壓力,ABC反而勸他不要露面,擔心「會有危險」,並重申這是以個人名義道歉。
Violence Is Not A Joking Matter
We come together today to condemn ABC Network’s promotion of racial intolerance and violence in our multi-cultural society.
On October 16, during the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show, a six-year-old boy proposed the idea of solving America's debt crisis by "killing everyone in China." Mr. Kimmel responded, "That's an interesting idea.” He then asked the kids, “Should we allow the Chinese to live?"
By airing this program, ABC Network is promoting a culture of racial intolerance and hatred. A joke about killing an entire ethnic group is not a laughing topic. While the 6 year old boy may not understand the full impact of what he was saying, the ABC producers should know that the comment "Killing all the Chinese" is NOT a joke, no matter who says it. Jimmy Kimmel and the ABC network have an ethical responsibility to edit out racist and hate speech content. Instead, by airing the show, ABC Network gives the impression to those young children that participated in the show and the viewing public that killing Chinese is an idea worthy of consideration, and that one can solve problems through ethnic cleansing!
At a time when our country is being hit by an endless wave of mass shootings, the promotion of violence as a way to solve problems insults the victim’s families. By promoting violence is ABC sowing the seeds for more mass shootings?
Enough is enough! It is time to say NO to ABC’s manipulation of children to further their own agenda. It is time to say NO to ABC Network’s promotion of hate speech and violence to the public.
We demand that ABC Network:
· Issue a public apology on air and online, acknowledging its wrongdoing.
· Dismiss Mr. Kimmel and provide a detailed explanation of the dismissal to the public.
· Publish specific procedures and institute a training program to encourage racial tolerance and advise the Chinese American community of its plan.
Join us in our fight against racial intolerance! TOGETHER we will make America a better place to live for us ALL!
Time: 11/9/2013(Saturday)10AM
Protest Location:ABC Headquarter
500 S Buena vista St., Burbank, CA 91521