Desperate Housewives Producers and ABC Network Apologize
Many Filipinos have expressed outrage over a dialogue in the hit TV show Desperate Housewives. The remark has drawn a lot of attention from the Filipino community, tagging it as “racist” and “offensive.”
Now, ABC and the producers of the show have issued an apology to the Filipino people amid the complaints they got.
“The producers of ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines.”
“As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs,” it concluded.
I find this one a bit…how do I say this?…makapal though (for clarity’s sake, I’m referring to what Nadal said about the “more substantial gesture,” not the apology itself nor the demand for a public apology). I honestly think this is taking it too far. Given that we’ve also thrown far more insulting remarks their way (even if sometimes, they haven’t done anything to seriously offend us, and they’re not even complaining), I’d say quits na tayo.
Nadal also suggested that the show’s producers and ABC executives could make a more substantial gesture than an apology, through scholarships or donations for Filipino and Filipino-Americans and community groups.
Filipinos and other minorities also should be depicted on TV as “prominent, positive role models,” Nadal said.
Hey, Nadal, I suggest we show them that we are “prominent, positive role models” first before making such a bold “request,” don’t you think?
Well, can we get on our lives and prove them wrong with action now? Like, say, fight for something with a cause? Like, say, the Free Burma campaign? 
[...] Continue Reading » [...]
Shari,
We, Filipinos, are only reacting to what Desperate Housewives aired on their show. Yeah true we say offensive things but they were not said in a worldwide television show as something to laugh about. When we make remarks about them, it’s mostly on the news, rallies, etc. And matagal ng quits kasi matagal na din naman silang nagsasabi ng masasama against us and our country. Pero ganun din, mostly sa news, politics-related, etc.
As I said to Kris, I dont remember us, Filipinos, insulting graduates of U.S. or any other country for that matter in a show televised to almost all countries in Asia, America and Europe. I believe ABC should really be apologetic. Para alam din nila na hindi pwedeng basta-basta lang laitin ang mga Pinoy. We also have pride and hindi porket thirld world country lang tayo eh kaya na nila (first world country) tayong apak-apakan.
Yes, this may be a simple thing, but to show to the world that we unite against any offensive lines said against us is a good projection that we are not apathetic and we have pride which we are taking good care of also.
Although yeah I admit, natawa ako sa comment ni Nadal.
[...] shari: Given that we’ve also thrown far more insulting remarks their way, I’d say quits na tayo. [...]
I know what you mean. I kind of think everything was blown out of proportion. I mean, it’s just a TV show and everything is fictional, the dialog should have been fictional.
No it’s not fictional. It is not something like Da Vinci Code or whatsoever. It’s a TV show, yes. But they don’t have any disclaimer or anything tagged on their foreheads that their show is fictional. Hindi mo control ang utak ng mga nanonood Juice. So hindi mo pwedeng i conclude agad na “IT’S FICTIONAL” Some viewers, even Americans themeselves, do not rally take this show as quote-and-unquote-fictional. Some of them would even quote lines from tv shows at work. Wala kasi sigurong ka work na kano or from first world country kaya hindi mo naiintindihan.
Let me say na OA nga si Nadal. Napa-”Huwatt?” ako sa statement niya na yun.
For me, an apology is enough.
[...] in Desperate Housewives TV series. Apparently, the line goes something like this — Quoating Misteryosa.Com “In this particular scene, Susan Mayer Delfino, played by actress Teri Hatcher, is talking [...]
sharmaine said,
IMHO, an offensive remark is an offensive remark is an offensive remark, no matter where, when, or how it was said. That’s why I was mildly offended by the line in the first place. Doesn’t make any difference for me if the show only aired in the US, or in the whole world. That’s presumptuous. But again, that’s my opinion.
sharmaine said,
I wish people wouldn’t choose when to be a apathetic and when to not be apathetic. There are a lot more instances where we should be united, but nadah. But that’s human nature, I guess.
Anyway, I added something in the post lest I be taken wrongly again. I wasn’t referring to the apology; I was referring to Nadal’s statement
I actually don’t want to have a say anymore, if you read my previous comment in the previous post, then that’s all I had to say. People are being taken the wrong way all the time.
Coy said,
Buti ka pa “Huwatt?” lang. Ako, talagang “HUWAAAAAAATTTTTTT?!?!?!?!”
Haha!
@sharmaine: STFU and move on already. Apologies have been offered, for crying out loud. Sheesh.
And yes, I believe that Pinoys are seriously guilty of racism as well. It’s just that our objects of racism just usually shrug everything off ’cause they’ve got better things to do than bitching and complaining.
And by George, Nadal is shameless WTFWTF!!!11111
Free Burma, baby! ;-p
Amen at Talamsca!!
The whole “fictional” rant gave me a headache.
It’s those spurious diplomas generated by sleazeballs in Quiapo.
I’ve read a lot of reactions,mostly in the form of an uproar because of that episode. I saw only a fragment of the episode on YouTube.
It’s good that the producers and networks issued an apology but to seek for scholarships and donations is pushing it too far.
Oo nga, Burma needs more attention that Desperate Housewives. I don’t watch it anyway. Maka 24(Jack Bauer, not Mike Enriquez. Hehe) ako at Ugly Betty eh. LOL.
The issue went off the track. Ama namin, even Malacañang wanted apology. If only they spend their time and money uplifting the education status in the country. Mahilig ata sa chismis ang palasyo. Naki-The Buzz! Buzzing Malacañang!
If you look at it, the apology was quite quick. I think the staff of DH didn’t really mean to offend. It’s not a Malu-like thing where she justified her article. Move on, noh?
@sharmaine: I am not pertaining to the discrimination against graduates in general, but discrimination by Filipinos in general. It exist. I want to stop blabbering about his but many years ago Lucy Torres had this script in her sitcom(matagal nang wala yun): Ang pangit mo naman, Igorot siguro parents mo. What do you think about this? I am not saying we should condone discrimination against Filipinos. What I am trying to point out is that it’s better to go against ANY form of discrimination against ANY people/ethnicity/race/religion. Like cease forwarding racist jokes in text messages. A lot are still circulating.
@Coy I know right? I almost didn’t get it.
[...] on the Desperate Housewives Issue Amid all the complaints and violent reactions, the producers of the show Desperate Housewives have issued a statement of apology for the “racial slur” made on the show’s season premier, aired on September 30, [...]
[...] Shari 02:34 pmAdd comment2 Views Amid all the complaints and violent reactions, the producers of the show Desperate Housewives have issued a statement of apology for the “racial slur” made on the show’s season premier, aired on September 30, [...]
[...] just early this morning, the producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Network issued an apology for the comment saying “The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our [...]
dapat teri hatcher should apologize also. she is a dumb actress. she should have studied her line first kung discrimanatory ba itits or not. what if the writer required her to utter the line, bush is an asshole. will she do it. teri is just pretty but between her ears, walang laman.
romel said,
I’m sure there are numerous films and shows who already used the “Bush is an asshole” line. And it’s no biggie.
Teri Hatcher was just doing her job. Let’s leave her alone. If her character requires her to say certain lines of “offensive” dialogue then it’s not really her fault. Let’s not prosecute people for being simply professional on what they do.
as a fil-am, i’m glad the filipinos united and demanded for an apology on this. i know it’s intended to be funny, but if we let this go, our country and our culture could become a regular punchline. i know a country and it’s people being used regularly as a punchline in a lot of shows. their people are not doing anything about it, and it’s just shameful. lets make everybody know that we are not going to allow them diss our country and the filipino.
AMERICANS = A- $$ H 0LE….
newton law of RAc1sm……
hey american go back to Great Britian prison. wer you came from. leave the american indian alone… you CRIMINALS……
I think that everything begins smalls, which eventually explodes to larger issues. Why was filipinos even isolated by such an offensive remark? Why even raise that issue? It is pathetic, as Americans seeks the assistance from overseas such as the Philippines to create the shortgage of what the Americans cannot handle. While many use the education as a vehicle to gain that american dream, they do not neglect what is ethically, morally and legally property.
If we really want to band together, we need to not only boycott ABC, Desperate Housewive, but also DISNEY, which is the parent company. Remember, Filipino’s IS one of the largest immigrant population, which means many are f affluent financial status that can choose where to go, and by choosing NOT to go and support Disney, ABC, and other venue’s will make the realization of how much they really need US, the Filipino
Hit it where it hurts, in the pocket books! In thei Rating!
When I saw the clip, I was also slightly offensive, but if they did apologized, then i think its enough. Discrimination is everywhere naman. Especially we filipinos, mahigpit tayo…i noticed back then in the philippines that some…filipinos are very blunt and say things very offended for instance:qoute ni ate kris….. Ang pangit mo naman, Igorot siguro parents mo. see, we do discriminate too…like i said mas matindi pa! But of course, they should have not qoute it that way to make fun of the Meds in the Philippines.
There are some amirican meds too that make mistakes….hay nako! Why can’t just we people put in our mind that no one is Perfect and just keep their ugly comments to themselves.
[...] all know about the racial slur from Desperate Housewives, and a lot of Filipinos were really really got pissed off because of that. I understand why they [...]
[...] 126,000 people have signed this online petition. And Shari blogged about it not once… but twice… then thrice. It’s a good thing she didn’t write a 4th entry because [...]