Asian Americans blasted a taxpayer funded video of non-Asian actors playing geishas at the Los Angeles City Council meeting Monday, reports CBS LA.
The video was produced by the City’s Public Works Department to promote the city’s water conservation efforts at a Japanese garden. It was widely condemned as racist for not only featuring non-Asians in geisha-styled make up, but for the character’s bad Asian accents.
“When I found out it was through the city, I think I wanted to gag. It was disgusting, especially for Los Angeles.” said Los Angeles resident Sean Yee.
Mark Masaoka of the Asian Pacific Policy Council added “It played and reinforced very demeaning racial stereotypes for Japanese Americans.”
The video was uncovered by CBS LA
You can find out what the Public Works Department is saying about the video on CBS LA..