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The apology by Leno, the former host of U.S.
television's popular "Tonight Show," follows a long campaign by
the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) and a spike
in hate crimes against the community that has received renewed
attention since a shooting in Atlanta last week that left eight
people dead, six of them Asian-American women.
MANAA said that between 2002 and 2012 Leno made at least nine
documented jokes about Koreans or Chinese people eating dogs or
cats. The group has been seeking an apology ever since 2002 and
said on Wednesday that it received one in a February call with
Leno.
"At the time I did those jokes, I genuinely thought them to be
harmless," Leno said in the call, according to a statement
issued by MANAA that it said had been agreed with Leno. "I was
making fun of our enemy North Korea, and like most jokes, there
was a ring of truth to them.
"At the time, there was a prevailing attitude that some group is
always complaining about something, so don't worry about it.
Whenever we received a complaint, there would be two sides to
the discussion: either 'We need to deal with this' or 'Screw 'em
if they can't take a joke.'
"Too many times I sided with the latter even when in my heart I
knew it was wrong. That is why I am issuing this apology. I do
not consider this particular case to be another example of
cancel culture but a legitimate wrong that was done on my part,"
Leno added.
Leno, now 70, hosted "The Tonight Show" for more than 20 years
until he bowed out in 2014. He is due to host a revival later
this year of the 1950s radio and TV quiz show "You Bet Your
Life."
MANAA said Leno's apology had resolved the group's grievances
with the comedian. Representatives for Leno did not return
requests on Wednesday for further comment.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
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