Joe Jonas “Asian Eyes” Photo Controversy (Joe Jonas “Racist”)
This should get all you JoBro lovers chatting….
Just weeks after fellow Disney star Miley Cyrus found herself in hot water for a similar photo, it appears that Joe Jonas might have a “racist” photo controversy of his own to contend with. A photo has surfaced on GossipTeen.com, which allegedly shows the heartthrob singer pulling at his eyelids with his fingers…
Written by Castina on March 20th, 2009 | Tagged as: Joe Jonas,Jonas Brothers
On March 21st 2009, srules57 wrote:
This photo is from the it's about time release party , which was three years ago. He was sixteen at the time and not famous. LEAVE HIM ALONE!
On March 21st 2009, kris wrote:
he is stupid and ugly.
i hope he gets sue ahahhahahhaha
he put himself in the camera, he can't back down now. so we can't leave him along, this is what came with being a celebrtiy. you shold know that. ahahahhaahha. i hope he get in deep shit.bushy brow ahahah
On March 21st 2009, Cat wrote:
first of all, I am not saying this as a 'Joe lover' (because I am not, I said the same about Miley and I dont really like her) THEY ARE KIDS MAKING FACES! They arent being purposefully racist, and pulling your eyes back like that is one of the most common 'funny faces' kids make! I know, not only was I a kid once, but I have a baby sister and have been a counsler for years. Seconf of all, this is three or four years old, they are just digging up crap and that isnt right. Even if it was new it would be wrong, he is just making a face, and third, its funny that they cropped the picture, I mean, the other person in the picture, that I have seen before, was making a face too.
On March 22nd 2009, emsieandchez wrote:
ok i would like to take this opportunity to say how completely ridiculous this is!!!!! yes this is joe jonas but firstly this is an OLD picture from the beginning of the jonas brothers careerer from like 3 years ago! secondly joe jonas is a kind and caring guy who has a HUGE heart and would NEVER do anything to offend anyone or take the mickey out of anyone on purpose and thirdly the jonas brothers are ALL strong Christians and strongly believe in the Christian believes and the ways of the bible and they follow them! the jonas family also have a close friends who are from other countries i and they LOVE them like they are part of the family………. all this 'do the right thing business' is getting WAY out of hand! yes its nice to know people want to look after and care for each other but there are right and wrong ways of doing that!! people have pulled their eyes in poses and songs for YEARS!! i don't mean it offensive but look at the rhyme….. Chinese, Japanese, what are these? dirty knees………. think of the actions that you used to do with that rhyme as a kid……….. does that make YOU racist????? NO it does not! all it means is that you were having fun with your friends………… if joe and miley had of openly said or shouted a racist comment or shouted abuse then sure tell them of….. but this is just stupid!!! EVERY ONE does it or has done it!!!! ……… there have been nursery rhymes that have been sung for years and years that has been banned as they are apparently 'racist' ……… people try doing other countries accents……… is that going to be racist next?????!!! why don't we start concentrating in the REAL issues in the world……. love not war, helping trying to save the environment, keeping the peace and enjoying life ENOUGH WITH THE RED TAPED WORLD AND LET PEOPLE BE THEM SELVES INSTEAD OF BEING TO SCARED TO MOVE!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU GUYS YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!! XXXXX
On March 27th 2009, Steve wrote:
Whether or not you meant to be a racist when you were a child doing the "Chinese, Japanese…dirty knees" chant does not mean that the chant itself is not a racist chant.
As an Asian American, I remember when this chant was done by non-asians on the school yard in order to make fun of Asian Kids. Thinking back on this, I realize that the kids in general can be mean to other kids, and this chant (though meant to be mean) did not automatically mean that those doing the chant were racist.
Making a "slanty-eyed" face is highly offensive to Asians, whether or not you mean it to be offensive. What irks me about the whole Cyrus and Jonas deal is that there are a lot of kids who idolize these fools and will emulate their actions. I thought that in today's day and age people would be a little more sensitive about doing things that offend other people.
The idea that "everyone's doing it" so it's not racist– come now, people! There was a time that everyone called African-Americans "Colored" or "Negro" or "Nigger" and the fact that everyone did this does not mean that it is not offensive to African-Americans today.
I can forgive someone who does the "slanty eye" bit not meaning to be racist, and who did not realize that anyone would take offense, but to continue to do this after realizing that it is highly offensive to Asians is not only insensitive, but, by definition, a racist attack.
On March 27th 2009, Kate wrote:
it doesn't matter when this pic was taken…it's rude, disrespectful, and inappropriate. Just because he was a "kid" when this was taken doesn't mean anything. Whether you are 16 or your 20 it is not right. Celebrity or not this kind of behavior is uncalled for. These are the kind of people Americans look up too…how wonderful!
btw I am 16 and I definately know better so no one can use age as an excuse.
On April 4th 2009, shaina wrote:
piss off , emsieandchez it diesnt matter hw old he wos thn or now he still did it…..!!! neva liked him anywayz
On June 15th 2009, Asian Girl wrote:
heres the funny part… the Asian equivalent of flipping someone off is sticking up ur pinky– it means the same thing. So when joe jonas makes fun of asians with his pinkys pointed towards his face, I guess that makes a statement.
On June 15th 2009, Asian Girl wrote:
ezmieandchez says – "ok i would like to take this opportunity to say how completely ridiculous this is!!!!! yes this is joe jonas but firstly this is an OLD picture from the beginning of the jonas brothers careerer from like 3 years ago! secondly joe jonas is a kind and caring guy who has a HUGE heart and would NEVER do anything to offend anyone or take the mickey out of anyone on purpose and thirdly the jonas brothers are ALL strong Christians and strongly believe in the Christian believes and the ways of the bible and they follow them! the jonas family also have a close friends who are from other countries i and they LOVE them like they are part of the family………. all this ‘do the right thing business’ is getting WAY out of hand! yes its nice to know people want to look after and care for each other but there are right and wrong ways of doing that!! people have pulled their eyes in poses and songs for YEARS!! i don’t mean it offensive but look at the rhyme….. Chinese, Japanese, what are these? dirty knees………. think of the actions that you used to do with that rhyme as a kid……….. does that make YOU racist????? NO it does not! all it means is that you were having fun with your friends………… if joe and miley had of openly said or shouted a racist comment or shouted abuse then sure tell them of….. but this is just stupid!!! EVERY ONE does it or has done it!!!! ……… there have been nursery rhymes that have been sung for years and years that has been banned as they are apparently ‘racist’ ……… people try doing other countries accents……… is that going to be racist next?????!!! why don’t we start concentrating in the REAL issues in the world……. love not war, helping trying to save the environment, keeping the peace and enjoying life ENOUGH WITH THE RED TAPED WORLD AND LET PEOPLE BE THEM SELVES INSTEAD OF BEING TO SCARED TO MOVE!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU GUYS YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!! XXXXX"
well ezmie, I have to disagree with you. 1) 3 years ago, joe jonas was 16. i suspect you are younger than 16 due to your poor reasoning but if you aren't, think back to when you were 16. I'll bet you felt like you could make your own descisions. I'll bet you were educated and KNEW that this offended people and if you were next to an asian person, ill bet you wouldnt slant your eyelids (unless you wanted to get beat up). So what if its at the begining of his career? does that make racism right?? 2) You claim joe jonas is this kinda caring person with "a HUGE heart" and he "would NEVER do anything to offend anyone" but I see two flaws with this. First- have you ever met Joe Jonas? lemme answer that- NO. so i dont want to hear u talk about how nice and caring and blah blah blah… thats crap. secondly, he JUST did something to offend someone. Deal with it- joe jonas is a racist. sorry if that crushes ur little dreams of marrying him or whatever. 3) then you point out that the jonas brothers are christian, which really has nothing to do with your argument. 4) "all it means is that you were having fun with your friends…………" I sang that little nursery rhymes. In fact, I remember punching a kid cuz he said that to my face and I was so offended cuz im asain. I think your friends could find something better to do than piss people off. 5) while love not war and saving the environment is important, I'd say it's also important to have equality in this world.
-Asian Girl
ps. North Korea has some pretty powerful weapons right now. America being represented as stupid racists like joe jonas and miley cyrus certainly wont make the North Koreans happy. Not saying they'd start a nuclear war cuz of this, just saying that we must look like jerks to them. So rethink that "love not war" thing, cuz making fun of asians certainly doesnt seem like love to me. and maybe itll end in war.
On July 5th 2009, El Mater Dor wrote:
Do the Jonas Brothers ALWAYS get away with everything?!
After all, not everyone can be THAT squeaky-clean.
On July 10th 2009, coolmint wrote:
How would YOU white people feel if we made BIG ass pig noses and drew ugly dots and hairs on our faces and released it to the world to see and laugh at????!!!
On August 13th 2009, Marama wrote:
Oh for the love of pete, it's pulling a face. I've done this for my niece and nephew because it looks funny. And they laugh. I'm sure Joe was just having fun and making people laugh too.
I'm not saying Asians look funny, I'm saying that making your eyes look like that looks funny on someone whose facial structure doesn't support it, like on me, or Joe, or even Miley Cyrus. It looks funny because it looks out of place, and I'm sure he never meant to insult anyone.
And sometimes it's ok to laugh, y'know, I laugh at jokes at my own race, because they're jokes. Offensiveness is completely objective.
On August 19th 2009, Steve wrote:
"Offensiveness is completely objective?"
Give me a break. If anything it is "subjective"
BTW: If an errant African-American makes the statement that he does not feel that being referred to as a "nigger" is racist, does that automatically make the term "nigger" free of racist connotations?
So some Asians have stated that they are not the least bit offended by the slanty-eye bit. This is certainly their right, however it should not automatically then cancel out the fact that many Asians do find this offensive.
There are those of you who have made statements to the effect of "Get over it!" or "Stop being so thin skinned" To you all I say it is for the offended party to make this decision, not you.
Make faces at your kids for fun if you choose. Paint your face in blackface so that you can do an Al Jolson act for all I care. This is a free country, and this means that while you can believe that what you do and say is not racist, others are free to find it offensive and comment on your actions and deeds.
I say again, perhaps these "racist" things are done without the intention of being racist. The test of what kind of person you are really happens after you realize that there are people who are offended by what you are doing or saying. But know this: Once you have been informed that something you have been doing quite innocently is in actuality offending a group of people, if you continue to do this thing then you have crossed over to the realm of intentionally offending someone. So you have to ask yourself, are you going to continue to entertain your children by making fun of asian slanty eyes after all has been said and done, and if you do, what does this make you?
On September 11th 2009, Marama wrote:
Going by your reasoning, if I distort my mouth then I'm making fun of someone with a hare lip; if I cross my eyes I'm being negative about optical squints; I don't even know what would be wrong if I pulled my lower eyelids down, but I'm sure you'd find something. If I were to turn my eyelids inside out, what would I be making fun of then, Zombies?
When I pull a face I am not thinking of a particular persons, race, or society. I hate racism, I've been the victim of racism, it's not cool. However, pulling a funny face? I think we have more racist activities going around to worry about. People can choose what to be offended by. And, like I said, I can laugh at the jokes and stereotypes made about my own races. I'll make fun of myself.
Things like this are the PC train running mad.
On September 30th 2009, Steve wrote:
Marama, I do not doubt that you do not mean anything racist by making funny faces. I can also concede that many who make funny faces do not intend anything racial. And I too find the PC world a bit tiresome.
Perhaps you are not aware that pulling one's eyes into a slanty eyed face has been used for decades as a racist gesture. I will give you the benefit of the doubt on that.
What concerns me is that you appear to maintain that just because you feel that making a slanty eyes gesture is not meant to be racist that it is therefore unequivocably "not racist" and that anyone who feels that it is racist, or finds it offensive is part of "the PC train"
You are right that there are a lot more racist activites going on to worry about. Operative term being "lot more racist" (your words, not mine) So by stating this do you mean that you concede that the act of doing the slanty eyed face is in fact racist? Or do you still maintain that those asians who find it offensive, like myself, are just a part of the "PC train"?
On October 2nd 2009, Marama wrote:
I guess it must be true that some people who pull their eyes back are being racist, when they intend negative connotations and directly target Asians.
However, I do believe that there needs to be a sense of perspective. I sincerely doubt that Joe intended to be offensive in this. I doubt Miley did either (and I'm not exactly one of her fans). Some of the Jonases best friends are Asian. In the picture with Miley, wasn't their an Asian boy sitting right next to her? Given these circumstances, put into the appropriate context, it seems illogical to suggest that Joe (or Miley) was being intentionally offensive.
I think that if a gesture is made to be intentionally offensive, then it is fair to be offended. If a gesture is made with no malice intended, I think it may be better to let it go.
On October 8th 2009, Steve wrote:
Some very wise words from Marama. I certainly don't believe that offense was meant by either the idiotic Jonas kid or the vacuous Cyrus and that it is more a figment of ignorance and immaturity on their part. Bear in mind, however, that this entire argument – not just with Marama, but with a suprisingly large number of folks – for me is about what I feel is a misdirected idea that there is absolutely nothing wrong in the least with people doing the slanty eyed face and that asians who feel offended by this should get over it and get a life and have nothing in the least to be offended about.
Again, Marama makes a very good point that these gestures should be taken in context. Both Cyrus and Jonas are idiots who likely did not mean to offend anyone and were being silly. So in this sense they did not mean to be racist, though they gestures were obviously racially based.
On November 14th 2009, Racist wrote:
When has it become acceptable to be racist? People need to grow up.
On January 14th 2010, ? wrote:
Fuckin joe jonas,think hes hot? DONT DREAM.many hot guys in this world than himself
On February 5th 2010, Concerned Mom wrote:
On October 2nd 2009, Marama wrote:
"I sincerely doubt that Joe intended to be offensive in this. I doubt Miley did either (and I’m not exactly one of her fans)."
I hear arguments like this everytime, and I am curious about what people who use this defense…
What do you think they intend with this gesture, generally? Do you think they are paying a compliment and being kind? If they think this is being humorous, then I feel bad that their parents didn't teach them better.
When I was in high school about a million years ago, a boy made that face at me and said the little racist rhyme, and I told him "Go F yourself, you MFing A-hole." The whole school cheered me on.
I am a mother now, and would not encourage potty mouth, but if you are an Asian-American kid, and some other kid does this to you. Please put them in their place. Tell them that gesture is immature and stupid.
Please know that true friends (who come in ALL colors) don't pick on each others' differences as something to exaggerate and then publicly laugh at. True friends also say sorry when you tell them that something they say or did hurt you, rather than accuse you of being oversensitive.
On May 22nd 2010, blah wrote:
This fag is an asshole
On August 21st 2010, berkjn wrote:
Whether or not he was trying to make fun of asians and whether or not he was famous back when the photo was taken, as a celebrity he is responsible for everything related to him and the way the general public will depict his actions no matter how long ago it was. Obviously the general public views this picture as him being racist so he should take the consequences and at least make an apologize of some sort.
(And yeah he’s a douche bag)
^for all you blinded jonas brothers fan
On October 16th 2010, Guidettehater wrote:
But I bet he cries like a baby when he reads the stuff about him being a big ol’ queen. Which he is, BTW.
On November 2nd 2010, disturb336 wrote:
oh looks whos talking yeah ur right joe, put that slanty eyes photo of ur oversized nose and caveman eyebrows
afterall this racist paranormal,childish behaviour will boost ur country economy and commercial down.for all those years we support u
seriously joe,about ur oversized nose and caveman eyebrow do we judge before?