And just a few days before the 65th Miss Universe pageant, too!
Steve Harvey — the American TV host best known in this part of the globe for flubbing the announcement of Pia Wurtzbach as the winner of the 2015 Miss Universe pageant — is currently facing backlash for a joke about Asian men.
The joke was made in his US talk show Steve Harvey Show last week, although the clip of the joke only became viral days after.
Basically, Steve joked that white women would not want to date Asian men.
Steve started off his joke by addressing a self-help book titled How to Date a White Woman: A Practical Guide for Asian Men, published in 2002.
He said the book could be summarized into a single page, using a single question.
“‘Excuse me, do you like Asian men?’ ‘No, thank you’,” Steve joked.
He later added the same question may apply for Asian men dating black women.
“Same thing. ‘You like Asian men?’ ‘I don’t even like Chinese food. It don’t stay with you no time. I don’t eat what I can’t pronounce’,” he said.
Later, during the Q&A portion of the show, a Filipina audience member addressed Steve to give him advice about hosting the 65th Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines.
“I’m sorry,” Steve said after laughter from the audience.
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Naturally, social media has not been kind of Steve after the clip from his show became viral, with some calling his joke racist.
“Damn Steve Harvey must really be confused if he thinks Asian guys are unattractive,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another one posted: “I’ve been attracted to TONS of Asian men, but I’ve NEVER been attracted to a Steve Harvey. So there’s that.”
Timing’s quite unfortunate, too. Steve will host in the upcoming Miss Universe pageant later this month in the Philippines.
Maybe he forgot that the Philippines is in Asia? Good luck with your hosting stint, Steve.
