Chris Rock’s performance Sunday night at the 88th Academy Awards sure had people talking, as the comedian full-on addressed the recent controversy over alleged race inequality in Hollywood.
He cracked jokes, took a stand and, in the process, also raised questions.
The Washington Post’s Jessica Contrera wondered in a story posted Monday why Rock primarily focused on the issue as it relates to black people — not a single actor nominated for an Oscar was black — when other minorities are facing the same thing.
A joke that Rock made about Asians only added to that bewilderment and even caused Jeremy Lin of the Charlotte Hornets to respond on Twitter. (Lin’s parents are from China.)
Seriously though, when is this going to change?!? Tired of it being "cool" and "ok" to bash Asians smh #Oscars https://t.co/1nBvAd3V0q
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) February 29, 2016
The joke (addressed in the video below) involved Rock bringing three Asian children on stage. The kids posed as bankers.
“They sent us their most dedicated, accurate and hard working representatives,” Rock said. “Please welcome Ming Zhu, Bao Ling and David Moskowitz.”
He then added: “If anybody’s upset about that joke, just tweet about it on your phone that was also made by these kids.”
Several people spoke out about the joke on Twitter, wondering how a show geared toward promoting racial equality could take such a dig at the Asian community. Lin’s response certainly is worth noting, though, as the former New York Knicks sensation has over 1.5 million followers.
See, we told you Rock had people talking.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
