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House star accuses David Cross of racism

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Digital Spy

Update: In a follow-up and unfortunately unwoke Twitter post, David Cross has attempted to justify his first encounter with Charlyne Yi by claiming that he did a bit playing an "asshole redneck racist character".

"Charlyne did not understand I was doing my 'Welcome to Shreveport' greeting," he said. "As well, I had NO IDEA she was upset or I would've apologised to both her and Michael [Cera, her boyfriend at the time]."

Cross's post received criticism from some users.

"Sorry excuse for an apology or explanation," said one person. "If you make a 'joke' & the people around you could confuse you as being a racist, you're being a racist. You didn't burn a cross, but you further added to the racist stereotyping of already marginalized communities. Do better."

Meanwhile, Cross's wife Amber Tamblyn – who coincidentally starred alongside Yi on House – said that she has reached out to Yi and said that she believes her.

"I spoke to Charlyne. I believe her," she wrote, responding to one Twitter user. "I'm about HER feelings/emotional health right now, not Twitter's."


Original story: Charlyne Yi has accused Arrested Development's David Cross of racism, as she recounted an encounter the pair shared on social media.

House actress Yi, whose mother is part-Filipino and whose father is part-Korean, said that years ago, Cross made racist Asian jokes aimed at her, including mockingly saying "ching-chong-ching-chong" and asking if she was going to fight him with karate.

"I think about the first time I met David Cross ten years ago & he made fun of my pants (that were tattered because I was poor)," she wrote.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

"Dumbfounded I stared at him speechless and he said to me, 'What's a matter? You don't speak English?? Ching-chong-ching-chong'.

"Then after he saw I was offended he asked me if I was going to fight with him karate in a Southern accent."

Yi added that Cross either pretended to or had no recollection of their first meeting the next time that they met.

"A few years later he was re-introduced to me after my comedy show with his girlfriend at the time & he said 'Hi nice to meet you'."

Obviously this behaviour is completely unacceptable.

The post was brought to Cross's attention, and he had his say, replying that he doesn't remember the encounter. (He also misspelt her name.)

He later posted a full statement, arguing that he "[does] not remember it like she remembers it" and insisting that he is "not a racist nor a bully", before ending his message hashtagging #Rashomon – alluding to a Japanese movie in which several characters have differing versions of the same event.

You can read his full response in the tweet below:

Yi opening up about her experience comes as women are sharing stories of sexual harassment and assault through the hashtag #MeToo, with many others using the hashtag #IBelieveYou to show their support.


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