02/14/2018
AALAM CONDEMNS WEEI HOST CHRISTIAN FAURIA’S RACIST BEHAVIOR
The Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM) strongly condemns the recent offensive, racist, and insensitive conduct of WEEI sports-talk radio host Christian Fauria on his last Friday’s program (2/9/18) wherein he mocked sports agent Don Yee, the agent for NFL players Tom Brady and Jimmy Garappolo, by imitating him using a racially stereotyped, over-the-top Asian accent. Such behavior was not only hateful, ill-conceived and repugnant, but also perpetuates ignorant, inaccurate stereotypes about Asian Americans. This was not only an insult to Don Yee (who is U.S.-born and speaks English without an accent), but it also belittles all Asian Americans and minorities despite their accomplishments.
While AALAM appreciates that Fauria has personally apologized to Don Yee for his conduct and that WEEI timely responded to criticism by issuing a 5-day suspension to Fauria, this is not the first time WEEI hosts have used disparaging and derogatory language during their radio shows and we call upon management and the larger community to take steps to ensure that WEEI and its employees reflect the values of inclusion, acceptance and mutual respect of their diverse audience.
To that end, AALAM applauds the recent actions of City of Boston Credit Union, Comcast Corp., Citizens Bank, MA State Lottery Commission, and the MA Health Connector in suspending their advertising on WEEI following the Fauria incident and encourages other advertisers and contributors to follow suit.
As an affinity bar association, we stand firmly against divisive, racist and discriminatory behavior in all its forms. We urge WEEI and the sports and media community to stand tall with us to make clear that there is no place for racism in our community.
