A radio host on KIRO News Talk radio in Seattle called the controversy over kimono and sushi chef costumes sold by Pottery Barn “manufactured outrage.” reports My Northwest.
The comments by Dori Monson came during his interview with Ling Woo Liu with Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the organization which successfully pushed for Pottery Barn to apologize and remove the costumes from sale.
“The reason why we found Pottery Barn’s costumes problematic is not with the attire themselves, these outfits are just traditional Japanese outfits. The problem that we found was that they were being packaged as costumes, as Halloween costumes, and that a national retailer was profiting from them,” says Liu.
That prompted Monson’s response about “manufactured outrage.”
“I have seen a Swiss Miss at a Halloween party. When I was back in college, Crocodile Dundee was big and I saw people wearing what was perceived to be Australian garb. I’ve seen people wearing Mexican clothing with the sombrero and all that,” says Monson. “I guess I get what you’re saying, but it sure seems like manufactured outrage to me when it happens to a lot of other cultures come Halloween time.”
Liu contended such costumes only reinforce the stereotype that Asian American are foreigners to which Monson replied that he sees the stereotypes of Asian Americans as largely positive.
You can read more about the contentious interview in My Northwest.