Japanese Comedy Duo ‘Apologizes’
Japanese comedy duo “A Masso” has issued an apology for making racist remarks about two-time tennis Grand Slam champion and world #four Naomi Osaka.
Throughout a dwell occasion the duo stated Osaka, who’s Japanese, “wanted some bleach” and is ‘“too sunburned,” in keeping with Reuters.
Osaka was born in Japan to a Japanese mom and Haitan father. The “sunburned” remark an apparent reference to her Black heritage.
In an announcement discovered on the web site of the duo’s administration firm, Watanabe Leisure Co Ltd, the ladies apologized for making “inappropriate, hurtful remarks.”
Ai Murakami of “A Masso” wrote,
“Although we must always have considered it, we made remarks that harm many individuals, one thing we are going to by no means do once more. We sincerely apologise for making the precise particular person really feel uncomfortable, in addition to for everybody else linked to the occasion. We additionally sincerely apologize for inflicting hassle.”
Neither the assertion from the group or its administration referenced Osaka by identify.
After all that’s the issue with the “apology.”
The Asian tradition has an extended historical past of discovering darkish pores and skin to be undesirable. By referring to Osaka’s pores and skin tone as one thing lower than fascinating they took away her humanity. Whether or not it was meant in jest or not.
When confronted with the backlash and the chance to get it proper, her humanity is once more not acknowledged as they don’t even consult with Osaka by her identify, wherever.
Osaka was in Japan the previous few weeks and received the Pan Pacific Open on Sunday (September 22nd) defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight units for her first title in her native nation.
