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China’s foreign ministry denied the CCTV comedy sketch was racist. Photo: CCTV/AP

Beijing yesterday said it was against any form of racism but dismissed widespread criticism of state broadcaster CCTV’s annual holiday variety show as an attempt to drive a wedge between China and African nations.

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SCMP, February 23

My colleague Michael Chugani earlier wrote about this incident, suggesting it provided a good opportunity for Beijing to show that it can apologise for its own blunders as well as demanding that others apologise for theirs.

He now has his answer to his suggestion.

In the new year show in question, which can attract as many as 800 million viewers, a skit featured a Chinese actress in blackface and giant fake buttocks depicting an African character and a black performer playing a monkey.

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It was racist. Let’s make that plain. As Michael put it: “Imagine if a major American TV network aired a show featuring white actors with painted yellow skin, slant eyes and a stereotype Chinese accent. You can bet there would be deafening outrage from the mainland’s army of netizens demanding an apology.”

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