Oscars Asian joke brings an apology

After the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, it seemed impossible the Oscars could slight under-represented groups more than they already had. Then host Chris Rock brought three Asian children to the stage portraying “bankers” from finance firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Now, Oscar has said sorry. “The Academy appreciates the concerns stated and regrets that any aspect of the Oscar telecast was offensive,” an academy spokesman told the Hollywood Reporter. “We are committed to doing our best to ensure that material in future shows be more culturally sensitive.”

Some also found the Academy’s apology wanting. “It was a bland, corporate response,” Asian actor George Takei told the New York Times. The Academy, meanwhile, announced Tuesday that it had appointed three new governors: Reginald Hudlin, Gregory Nava and Jennifer Yuh Nelson. The Los Angeles Times deemed the new governors “diverse.”