The Chinese government is now demanding an apology for a segment of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in which four children joked about killing everyone in China so the United States won’t have to pay back its debt.
The Washington Times reported last month that ABC first apologized for the segment, reminiscent of “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” when Mr. Kimmel asked his panel of youngsters what the U.S. should do about its debt to China.
ABC issued a second public apology on Friday, stating, “The simple fact is, the segment should never have been broadcast. Systems we have in place for these types of things did not function properly, and steps have been made to try and prevent this kind of egregious mistake from occurring in the future.”
The segment also sparked a White House petition, which reached the necessary 100,000-signature threshold requiring a response from the Obama administration, Mediaite.com reported.
But now the Chinese want a separate apology.
At a press briefing in Beijing on Monday Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters, “ABC should face up to its mistake and respond with a sincere attitude to the reasonable demands by Chinese people in America, and prevent a similar incident from occurring again,” The Hollywood Reporter said.
SEE ALSO: ABC apologizes for child’s ‘kill everyone in China’ comment on ‘Kimmel’
More than 1,000 people picketed outside the ABC headquarters in Burbank , Calif. on Saturday, calling for Kimmel to resign or be fired, the Associated Press reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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