1/27/2005

Lacey Irby

Hip hop station DJs suspended for mocking tsunami

Hot 97, a New York radio station, aired a homemade remix that poked fun at the devastation in Southeast Asia.  
  
The 'Miss Jones in the Morning' show created 'The Tsunami Song,' which parodies 'We Are the World.' It was played several times throughout the week and was posted on the radio Web site, but has since been removed.  
  
According to MTV.com, the lyrics to the song's chorus go, "So now you're screwed/ It's the Tsunami/ You'd better run, or kiss your ass away/ Go find your mommy, I just saw her float by/ A tree went right through her head/ And now your children will be sold into child slavery."  
  
The radio station has received thousands of phone calls and e-mails from listeners. Other Asian Americans involved with Hot 97 have expressed their anger, including Miss Info, a member of the morning program who said she was not involved with the spoof. Miss Jones accused Miss Info on the air of not being a team player and reportedly said, "All you Asians think you're superior."  
  
Hot 97 executives have suspended the entire 'Miss Jones in the Morning' crew indefinitely. The station's parent company Emmis Radio released an apology in a statement and is donating a week's pay from each of the offenders to tsunami relief.  
  
Miss Jones also apologized on the air before her suspension.