Is James Corden racist? Petition to remove 'anti-Asian' show segment gets over 12K signatures
Late night show host James Corden has come under fire for a popular segment on his show, titled 'Spill Your Guts'. The recurring part of 'The Late Late Show with James Corden' presents celebrity guests with a quiz. If they fail to answer correctly, they are forced to choose from a set of apparently 'unpalatable' and 'gross' foods, which they then have to eat.
However, many viewers are agreeing that most of the food items on 'Spill Your Guts' presented in the segment belong to traditional Asian cuisine. The segment has been dubbed culturally offensive for 'continuously mocking' Asian culture. A petition has been set up on Change.org demanding that Corden either removes the segment entirely from his show or change the foods presented to guests. Additionally, over 12,000 petitioners have demanded that Corden issues a formal apology for the same.
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Is James Corden racist?
In the 'Spill Your Guts' bit of his talk show, popular Asian foods are often offered on a platter. Items like balut (steamed duck embryo), century-old eggs, chicken feet, grasshopper, or fish eyes have been featured on the show as 'disgusting' foods, but these are regularly consumed by Asian people.
Corden has been accused of perpetuating 'anti-Asian' racism by terming the foods on 'Spill The Guts' segment as 'really disgusting' or 'horrific'. The petition states, "In the wake of the constant Asian hate crimes that have continuously been occurring, not only is this segment incredibly culturally offensive and insensitive, but it also encourages anti-Asian racism. So many Asian Americans are consistently bullied and mocked for their native foods, and this segment amplifies and encourages it."
It further adds, "....the Late Late show averages over 650,000 viewers per episode. That means, 650,000 people are being influenced to think that native foods from Asian countries are "disgusting," or "horrifying." Content like this continually perpetuates and encourages harm and racism against Asian Americans in our daily lives."
Corden is yet to address the controversy and issue any statement on his behalf.
In the past, Corden has been vocal against anti-Black racism, especially after the brutal custodial murder of George Floyd in May 2020. In one episode from June 2020, Corden shared an emotional discussion with his show's bandleader Reggie Watts, who tearfully recounted his struggles of growing up as a Black man.
"I've been struggling all weekend wondering what to say to you tonight, because who needs my opinion? Like, why is my voice relevant? There is not one person in the world who woke up this morning and thought, 'I need to know what James Corden thinks about all of this," he opened up.
He further added, "People like me have to speak up. And to be clear, I'm not talking about late-night hosts, or people who are fortunate enough to have a platform. I'm talking about white people."