KPCC: OWWTT? Asian American Frat Performs in Blackface

This falls under the category of OWWTT–Oh, what were they thinking? Or OWWTDST–Oh, what were the dumb s**ts thinking?

An Asian American fraternity at UC Irvine released a video meant to parody Justin Timberlake and Jay Z’s collaboration, but used a character in blackface to do it, reports  KPCC.

The video by Lambda Theta Delta fraternity has sparked a firestorm of protest, including from members of the school’s Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA).

“The use of blackface by LTD is blatantly ignorant and the Asian Pacific Student Association at UC Irvine strongly condemns the fraternity’s actions,” the group said. APSA called for diversity training as well as an “evaluation of our institution.”

Even Asian American blogger Angry Asian Man has chimed in. “I don’t care about intentions. This video is some ignorant sh*t, and the people responsible need to know it.” Angry Asian Man tweeted.

Actor Steve Yeun of Walking Dead fame simply tweeted. “dudes are idiot.”

Performing in blackface is just as dump as putting scotch tape on white actors in a futile attempt to pass them off as Asian. Both are not acceptable. We can’t be condemning one without deep sixing the other.

Lambda Theta Delta has quickly issued an apology.

First and foremost, Lambda Theta Delta sincerely apologizes for the extremely racist content of the “Suit and Tie” video. The use of black face in the video is incredibly offensive as well as insensitive. This behavior is simply unacceptable and the individuals responsible for the video have already been reprimanded within the organization prior to the public outcry to which this formal apology is responding.”

You can see what the uproar is about for yourself on KPCC.