TMZ reported this morning that some people in Dominican and Latino cultures plan on protesting today’s Regis and Kelly show over comments they perceive referenced them to "donkeys," in the "a-word" sense. As of this afternoon, TMZ interviewed Regis and said that there were just over a dozen protesters demanding an apology.
In the video, Regis and Kelly were engaged in a discussion about politics and children. Kelly Ripa goes on to tell a cute story about her young daughter. Like any good parent, Ripa quizzes her little one on her understanding of the topic. She asks, "Do you know the two parties?" Her daughter replies, "Yes, the elephants and the donkeys."
Ripa then quizzed her daughter further and asked who the elephants and donkeys represented. Kelly’s little one said that the elephants represent the Republicans and the donkeys represent the "Dominicans." Laughter ensued amongst the audience and Regis, who quickly replied, "She’s [Ripa’s daughter] pretty close."
Regis and Kelly, as well as the audience got a good chuckle after that comment, which is the one that has a few Dominicans and Latinos upset enough to protest the Regis and Kelly show.
Personally, and with all due respect to Dominicans and Latinos, though I’m not a viewer, I think this is a case of political correctness gone wild. Considering the context of the discussion, I’m positive that Regis, as well as the Regis and Kelly audience, were not associating Dominicans with donkies as a$$es but, rather the fact the majority of American Dominicans and Latinos are Democrats—meaning the "donkey party."
Political Talk Show Controversies
‘Republicans and Dominicans' on Regis and Kelly
Trend Themes
1. Political Correctness Controversies - There is an opportunity for companies to capitalize on the controversy and the public's growing fatigue with political correctness, by creating products or services that poke fun at or push back against overly sensitive attitudes.
2. Cultural Sensitivity Training - There is an opportunity here for consulting firms and HR departments to create more effective cultural sensitivity training modules, to help prevent similar controversies in the future.
3. Social Media Backlash - As social media continues to give a voice to marginalized groups, there is an opportunity for companies to proactively monitor and respond to potential backlash, and address concerns before they escalate.
Industry Implications
1. Media and Entertainment - The media and entertainment industry, particularly talk shows and news programs, can develop strategies to navigate controversial topics without causing offense.
2. Consulting - Consulting companies can create culture training programs to help employees navigate different cultural contexts and prevent controversial missteps.
3. Social Media Management - Social media management companies can help businesses proactively monitor and address controversies on social media.