(Editor Note: This story has been updated at 3 p.m. Eastern Time with response from KFI and a KFI listener).
KFI-AM 640 radio host Tim Conway Jr. has been suspended after listeners and organizations like Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) complained about a racist Asian sketch.
Conway and producer/voice talent Sheron Bellio will be suspended for a week until June 1st.
AsAmNews first published a story on the sketch after seeing social media posts from KFI listener Keith Kawamoto.
The sketch, which aired on May 3, involved Conway “interviewing” Yuko Sakamoto, the wife of sportscaster Vic the Brick Jacobs. Bellio played Sakamoto. Kawamoto said the sketch involved stereotypical impressions.
“The imitation was so stereotypical with the character saying “Moshi-moshi” & “Ah-so” type comments in a sing-song voice interspersed with karate screams with gongs gonging in the background,” Kawamoto said to AsAmNews back then.
His stance hasn’t changed since then.
“This broadcast would have been very offensive & inappropriate at any time but in the wake of all the anti-Asian hate it is extremely egregious,” he told AsAmNews in an email today. “No one would dare do anything like this regarding people of a different race but they think they can get away with it with Asians!? Everybody should be treated with the same respect!”
In an email to Kawamoto, Conway said that the sketch was not an attack on Asian Americans. Assistant Program Director Neil Saavedra and Program Director Robin Bertolucci also told AsAmNews that the sketch was not intended to offend Asian Americans.
On May 17, MANAA Founding President Guy Aoki had a phone meeting with Saavedra and Bertolucci.
“I told them I’ve been doing this for 29 years and as far as L.A. radio goes, that’s one of the worst things I’ve ever heard,” Aoki said according to a press release.
Aoki says Saavedra suggested the station do a two-hour Sunday special with MANAA focusing on the issue of anti-Asian violence. The special will air this Sunday. Since last Friday, the station has also been airing two new public service announcements about anti-Asian violence.
On Friday night, Conway and Bellio issued on-air apologies for the sketch and announced their suspensions.
“On May 3rd during our show, I did an impression in which I perpetuated stereotypes of Asian Americans, only adding to an already difficult time for many,” Bellio said, according to a MANAA press release. “I want to sincerely apologize for my actions that have offended & hurt listeners & anyone in the Asian American/Pacific Islander community. I am deeply sorry that my failed attempt at humor was insensitive and I feel horrible about that. My words tonight will never convey the shame that I’m feeling because of my actions & I just —I really want to apologize.”
Conway acknowledged the recent rise in hate crimes against Asians.
“Now, we believe it’s important to take this time to recognize the issue of hate crimes against Asians that have significantly increased over the last few months. In fact, these crimes have doubled in the last month,” Conway said, according to a press release from MANAA. “And over the last year and a half, Asian Americans across this country including in our very own Southland communities, have endured despicable and sickening acts of hate & violence, fearing for their safety and the safety of their families.”
“Both Sheron & I will be off next week—yep, suspended! Now, we whole heartedly agreed with that decision and again, we are both incredibly sorry,” he continued. “We will look forward to returning to the show on Tuesday, June 1st, with a fresh perspective. So next week, Wayne Resnick & Mark Thompson will be holding down the fort.”
Aoki says he wished the apology included more details about the sketch that led to their suspension.
“We were disappointed that they didn’t mention to their audience what they’d done, so those who weren’t listening when the bit originally aired had no idea why Tim and Sheron are getting suspended,” Aoki said in a press release. “However, MANAA hopes we’ve educated people in the radio industry about the dangers of on-air stereotyping and they will think twice before doing something like that again.”
Today, KFI program director Bertolucci told AsAmNews in an email “We want to make things right and to move forward. Our response is not only deeply apologetic, but we felt it needed to be educational, and most importantly, focused on the community. We also feel it is imperative to take even further action to help combat racism against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.”
The two hour special is already being produced and will run on 5/30/2021 between 4 and 6pm.
“I just hope that people learn from this & that it will increase their awareness of equality for all in the future,” said Kawamoto. “I just want to thank AsAmNews and MANAA for your support.:
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or making a financial contribution to support us.
The days of having fun is over and the days of everyone taking themselves too seriously are in full effect.
It’s humor people, like the fog that forms on the edges of your car windows in the spring and fall; a few minutes in the sunlight, and,what should be no more than a minor distraction, is gone. As a person who, on one occasion, was the only holder of an orange FCC license; and, because Tim’s employer took the easy way out, I would like to apologize for this betrayal. If it is any consolation Tim, my own betrayal, by my employer, was even more personal and much more harmful. Stay strong and speak for all of us. – “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one. – A. J. Liebling