iHeartMedia should take action over LA radio host’s anti-Asian comments

Dec. 17, 2024 – The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) and the AAJA-Los Angeles chapter called on iHeartMedia, the largest radio network in the country, to take action amid an apparent management failure at Southern California station KFI-AM 640, which is ignoring complaints about a pattern of anti-Asian rhetoric by longtime morning host Bill Handel. 

KFI-AM 640 has allowed a harmful pattern of promoting stereotypes against Korean and Chinese Americans. KFI-AM 640 is broadcast across Los Angeles and Orange Counties, which are 17 percent Asian American and Pacific Islander.

This is not Handel’s first offense. In 1996, the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), Asian Pacific American Legal Center (now Asian Americans Advancing Justice), National Hispanic Media Coalition and Nosotros met with Handel and station management to ask for an apology. Handel had gone on air talking about seeing figure skater Tonya Harding back into the sport, because he was “tired of seeing slanted-eyed figure skaters winning all the time.” Handel issued a public apology. 

This time, MANAA is asking for Handel’s suspension, reporting the following offenses: 

• • • On May 21, 2024, following news on if people adopt dogs, no-kill shelters won’t have to euthanize them, Bill Handel responds: “You just can’t have Korean people do it,” adding that years ago, the station came “this close” to doing a show in Korea that focused on restaurants serving dog.” https://bit.ly/4gs47PS [27:51-30:44]
    • On August 8, on a discussion with guest Joel Larsgaard, Handel says, “Yeah, you really want to host tourists who speak no English and are completely, totally obnoxious.  There’s nothing like them. You know, I don’t want to mention names in terms of obnoxious people at all, you know, because I can’t do that anymore,” but then says “Koreans” under his breath. https://bit.ly/3DecXT9  [6:37-7:07]
    • On September 16, Handel ridicules Trump and Vance’s claim that Haitian immigrants are eating pets, but in a confusing way, brings Koreans and Chinese into it, perpetuating stereotypes against them: “I’m putting up on Instagram @BillHandelShow, a recipe for dog meat soup—this is legitimate, by the way—OK, dog meat soup and fiery Szechuan cat stir fry with full instructions on how to cook cats and dogs.  Now, what’s kinda weird is Korean and Chinese—I’m trying for the life of me to look at a Haitian recipe for dogs and cats and I cannot find one!  So if anybody has any information, I’d love that, please.” [He never posts the recipe.]” https://bit.ly/3ZFUMgW [15:42-16:45 mark]
    • On September 25, Handel says, “There are still restaurants that serve dog and cat though not necessarily in the U.S. I don’t want to name ethnic groups and countries that they have dog and cat restaurants (“Korea and China” under his breath).” 
    • On October 3, in a discussion with Amy King and Neil Saavedra about a children’s book about a dog, Handel asks, “Is it translated in Korean? Don’t use too much ketchup.” https://bit.ly/4g6perk [3:15-4:10 mark]

Media companies are ultimately responsible for ensuring the outlets they own and manage adhere to journalistic and community standards. When a station such as KFI-AM 640 ignores community feedback, iHeartMedia should hold station managers to account. Relying on and perpetuating stereotypes could potentially endanger Asian American and Pacific Islander communities that have already experienced increased anti-AAPI incidents and crimes. 

AAJA urges media companies to practice transparency and take accountability in how they are informing their readers to build and maintain trust with communities. This past year, AAJA also updated its Style Guide, providing a comprehensive database of terms to use or not to use to describe AAPI communities. 

In 2021, KFI suspended two staff after MANAA complained about an anti-Asian skit. This time, the station only thanked MANAA for its feedback and did not respond to a request for a meeting. MANAA subsequently asked for Handel to be suspended, issue a public apology and do community service.

As always, AAJA is available to engage in dialogue to encourage and standardize fair and accurate coverage of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

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