by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
editor@charactermedia.com
Well, we should have seen this coming.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler kicked off last night’s Golden Globes with jokes about the cyberattack on Sony Pictures, calling the room full of celebrities “spoiled, minimally talented brats,” a reference to Scott Rudin’s leaked comment about Angelina Jolie.
After calling The Interview “the biggest story in Hollywood this year,” Poehler joked that North Korea’s threat over the film’s theatrical release had forced “us all to pretend we wanted to see it.”
The gag didn’t stop there. The two hosts then introduced Cho Yung Ja, a gruff North Korean journalist and army general played by Margaret Cho, as the “newest Hollywood Foreign Press Association member.”
Cho’s character, dressed in full military regalia, toted a fake magazine cover featuring Kim Jong-un’s face and demanded a picture with Meryl Streep. As Michael Keaton snapped the photo, which Benedict Cumberbatch expertly photobombed, Fey joked that Streep should cooperate because they have “a lot of weird emails that can’t get out.”
Gif courtesy of The Star.com
Later in the evening, Cho commented on Orange is the New Black, declared the show a failure for not having Dennis Rodman and goose-stepped across stage. The North Korean general then closed the show by declaring, “Show over. I host next year.”
Obviously, Cho’s bit on the Golden Globes stirred a strong response from social media. Many critics cited the skit as racist while others applauded Cho for her satirical performance.
Just when you think Hollywood is changing, here comes #MargaretCho at the #GoldenGIobes in full stereotype mode.
— LushLife21 (@LushLife243) January 12, 2015
Whiter faced & slantier eyed #MargaretCho resurfaced every indiscretion & stereotype many #AsianAmerican actors fought to end in Hollywood
— Jigme (@JigmeUgen) January 12, 2015
Of course, let's promote #Asian stereotyping. #SoOver #GoldenGIobes #MargaretCho #racism
— Kim Rescate 🏳️🌈 (@krescate) January 12, 2015
Just watched the #MargaretCho bit from last night's #GoldenGlobes. Eek. They couldn't get Mickey Rooney to do it? https://t.co/8lZHRyQZgO
— Joyce Wu 吳 元 欣 (@oneandonlyjoyce) January 12, 2015
C'mon people, the #MargaretCho bit on Golden Globes was satire. Only racist if Republicans do it. Please re-read the hypocrisy handbook.
— FakeNewsCNN (@RBreck3) January 12, 2015
Hilarious irony > those objecting to #MargaretCho's satire in making fun of N. Korea at the Globes. I can't think of a more perfect venue.
— Ｇｉｒｌ Ｆｕｔｕｒｉｓｔ @ spoutible 🇺🇦🇺🇸🇫🇷🌎 (@GirlFuturist) January 12, 2015
#MargaretCho mocking a cruel dictator who has gout from eating expensive imported cheeses while his people starve to death= awesome
— Sue (she/her) (@suekimnyc) January 12, 2015
“That bit with Maraget Cho as the Kim regime’s representative … managed a trio of awards-show sins: It was unfunny, racist and incredibly long,” one Vulture editor wrote. “Twenty years ago, Cho was the first Asian-American woman to headline her own sitcom — how did we end up here?”
However, Cho remained unapologetic about her bit and defended it as an extension of her stand-up in an interview with Buzzfeed News.
“I’m of North and South Korean descent, and I do impressions of my family and my work all the time, and this is just another example of that,” Cho said. “I am from this culture. I am from this tribe. And so I’m able to comment on it.
“If it’s Asian-Americans making fun of Asians, we’re claiming our own voice, we’re claiming our heritage. We’re claiming all of the aspects of our own culture, and we’re allowed to. Even though it may get us put in a labor camp,” she added.
I'm of mixed North/South Korean descent – you imprison, starve and brainwash my people you get made fun of by me #hatersgonhate #FreeSpeech
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) January 12, 2015
What do you think of Margaret Cho’s bit at the Golden Globes? Let us know in the comments below!
