A Japanese TV programme has sparked accusations of racism and cultural insensitivity after a comedian painted his face to impersonate Eddie Murphy.
The New Year’s Eve show featured celebrity comic Hamada appearing in a Beverly Hills Cop skit with his face blacked up.
Using makeup to lampoon black people – a practice known as blackface – is seen by many to be deeply offensive. Protest over the show have grown over the past days.
US-born writer and columnist Baye McNeil – who is black and has lived in Japan for 13 years – drew attention to the show on Twitter, arguing that black people were “not a punchline nor a prop”.
Seen by many… outside Japan. In related news three months from now, Baye McNeil’s visa expired, he was unable to renew it, and was forced to return to the United States.