WARMINGTON: CP24 star uses comedy to shout down ‘racist’ Cookie Kwan Simpsons’ reference

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Published Sep 04, 2024  •  4 minute read

Jennifer Hsiung at the red carpet event for the 25th Anniversary Canada's Walk of Fame at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Dec. 2, 2023. Photo by Nick Kozak /Special to Postmedia Network

Move over Marge Simpson and Cookie Kwan because CP24 Breakfast host Jennifer Hsiung is sharing the stage with you.

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And the laughs, tears and spotlight!

Sometimes the best way to deal with racism is to employ humour. And that’s exactly what the morning show host did on social media in what she called her “Labour Day PSA” to remind people “don’t be racist at work. Or racist at all maybe. But especially not at work.”

It all stemmed from an email she said she received in which an Asian stereotype was used to describe her.

Hsiung said in a TikTok video posted on her X account: “Something happened to me at work last week which I thought I would share because maybe it’s a learning moment. I got an email that was circulated, saying Jennifer is giving Cookie Kwan vibes today.”

Ouch!

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Hsiung then showed a clip from The Simpsons of that character – an Asian realtor who in the animated skit is wearing a red blazer and with a mocking Asian accent tells Marge Simpson in a competitive way to “stay off the west side.”

Hsiung said “I was wearing a red blazer. That’s about the only similarity I have with this photo according to myself I guess because this person obviously thought, ‘Hey, two Asians and a red coat, that is Cookie Kwan.’”

She added “I am not sure if the sender knew the context of it or how offensive it was, but it was offensive, and I just want to say (in a similar Cookie Kwan voice) stay out of the west side.”

“I am joking,” added Hsiung. “That was racist but I can do it because I am Chinese, right? But anyway, that was not cool.”

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It was kind of a mic drop moment out of Saturday Night Live. Or The Simpsons. She nailed it. Hsiung has always used humour in her approach – often posting fun, self-deprecating and comedic memes, pictures and videos on her accounts.

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Perhaps The Simpsons should hire her? She’s talented. You have to remember, in addition to her television duties, her X profile says she’s a “mom of three boys” an “actor/comedian.”

It’s clear she was also offended being compared to an animated character based on Asian stereotypes.

Who knows, perhaps The Simpsons, ready for their 36th season on Sept. 29, could bring in Jennifer to voice some episodes to replace voice actor Tress MacNeille who has been the voice for Cookie Kwan over the years. In a CNN story from 2020 it quoted Fox spokesman Les Eisner’s statement saying “moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters.”

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The story also quoted star Hank Azaria saying he would no longer voice the Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian-American character who runs the Kwik-E-Mart.

The Simpsons returns for its 35th season Oct. 1. Photo by Fox

“All we know there is I won’t be doing the voice anymore . . . we all agreed on it. We all feel like it’s the right thing and good about it,” Azaria said.

“The idea that anybody – young or old, past or present – was bullied or teased based on the character of Apu, it just really makes me sad,” Azaria said. “It was certainly not my intention. I wanted to spread laughter and joy with this character, and the idea that it’s brought pain and suffering in any way, that it was used to marginalize people, it’s upsetting.”

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Most of the time, I see charges of racism in comedy as over the top virtual-signalling. The Simpsons lampoon everybody and mandating gender or racial equity to such a show seems like heading down a path toward authoritarianism. Sometimes people need to lighten up. If you can’t laugh at things, there’s no freedom. That said, however, you hate to see someone you respect feeling they are being targeted for their race.

The reference to Cookie Kwan certainly has seemed to upset Hsiung who told the Sun, “I honestly just did the TikTok as a way to release my feelings” and said she did not want to pursue it further.

Niether CP24 nor Bell Media have not responded to requests for comment.

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Still, I thought it was important for Jennifer to know that many people respect her abilities and feel she is an outstanding television personality with a bright future who should not face any racial profiling or any bad vibes coming from the public or within the industry. It’s not clear if it was meant to be racial or funny but perhaps the person can apologize to her either way.

While it’s not known who sent the email to her or why, but it clearly seemed to hurt her feelings.

But it was classic how she chose to handle it with humour. Sometimes you have to be serious and not so serious at the same time.

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