Update: Here’s the full segment CNN ran last night on the Simpsons / 7-Eleven controversy:

Racialicious was incensed:

From Paula Zahn’s Cheshire Cat-like grin as she introduced it, to Allan Chernoff’s overly-jaunty tone in the voice-over, it was clear that the message was: these hypersensitive desis need to lighten the fuck up.

I’m surprised they restrained themselves from adding some comical, farty tuba tune in the background…. they couldn’t find a single South Asian activist, academic, writer, or politician to address this issue?

… the discussion was inane. Everyone basically downplayed the significance of this racist caricature, and Traynham, a black man, summed it up thus: “…it’s one of those things where frankly it just makes me feel uneasy, but I’m not Indian-American.” In other words, racism that is not directed against him is not his problem. [Link]

Here’s the transcript:

ZAHN: A movie that hasn’t even opened yet has launched a nationwide controversy. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANISH VIJ, FOUNDER, WWW.ULTRABROWN.COM: This is a very stereotyped, racist caricature of an Indian-American.

ANDY CHAUDHARI, 7-ELEVEN OWNER: It’s all fun. It’s about fun. It’s a cartoon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Well, “The Simpsons” may be a cartoon, but is a 7-Eleven tie-in funny or downright racist? …

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: You would think that, after 20 years, “The Simpsons” had run out of ways to offend and outrage. The show, of course, is part of our culture at this point.

But the first “Simpsons” movie is less than three weeks away now, and a promotional tie-in with convenience stores has some people screaming racism.

Allan Chernoff brings the immigrant outrage over “The Simpsons” and 7-Eleven out into the open tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, “THE SIMPSONS”)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: The aspirin is $24.95.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Ph.D., the greedy and unethical Kwik-E Mart owner in the “Simpsons” cartoon who would gladly sell you a dirty hot dog off the floor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, “THE SIMPSONS”)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Oh, no. It is encrusted with filth. Ah, well, let’s sell it anyway.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: Now Apu is part of a promotional stunt for 7-Eleven. In a tie-in this month with the upcoming “Simpsons” movie, a dozen 7- Elevens have been turned into real-life Kwik-E Marts. Indian-American blogger Manish Vij charges 7-Eleven has created a racial caricature mart. Apu’s accent, he complains, is entirely unrealistic, part of a distortion of his ethnicity.

MANISH VIJ, FOUNDER, WWW.ULTRABROWN.COM: This is a very stereotyped, racist caricature of an Indian-American. And, with the 7-Eleven promotion, it is the first time this has jumped into the real world.

CHERNOFF: Indian-American Serge Haitayan, a store owner in California, who declined to appear on camera, writes on the Internet, He’s insulted that his own parent company would embrace what he calls a racist portrayal.

“This is an absolute embarrassment for our company,” writes Haitayan. “I am not willing to accept to be compared to Apu. I cannot imagine any store willing to re-brand to Kwik-E Mart, even for a day.”

Fact is, though, half of the re-branded 7-Elevens are owned by Indian-Americans, like Andy Chaudhari in Manhattan. He and other 7- Eleven franchisees from India say they’re fellow immigrants need to lighten up.

ANDY CHAUDHARI, 7-ELEVEN OWNER: It’s all fun. It’s about fun. It’s a cartoon.

CHERNOFF (on camera): So, you don’t think this is racial in any way?

(CROSSTALK)

CHAUDHARI: No, nothing at all. Nothing at all.

CHERNOFF: There is no debate that the promotion is good for business. Specially-made “Simpsons” foods, like Buzz Cola and Krusty O’s cereal are literally flying off the shelf here. In fact, owners of stores that have been converted to Kwik-E Marts say their sales this month are more than double what they were this time last year.

CHAUDHARI: I can’t even explain to you how good it is going on. People are — customers are so happy.

CHERNOFF (voice-over): Hundreds of 7-Elevens are owned by Indian-Americans, according to the company, which says they overwhelmingly approved of “The Simpsons” tie-in. And 7-Eleven says, no store was forced to participate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, “THE SIMPSONS”)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: How much is your penny candy?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Surprisingly expensive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: In “The Simpsons,” Apu’s Kwik-E Mart overcharges for rotten food. That’s OK, says 7-Eleven. We can laugh at ourselves.

MICHAEL JORGENSEN, 7-ELEVEN INC.: I would say it certainly is positive. It is a cartoon. And it is meant to be fun.

CHERNOFF: 7-Eleven is hoping all Americans can laugh along with “The Simpsons” as they snap up Krusty O’s and pink movie doughnuts.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: So, what do we really talking about here, corporate racism, or get over it, get a life?

Let’s go back to our panel with those questions, Robert Traynham, Julie Roginsky, and Laura Flanders.

Do you really think that’s funny, or were you insulted by that?

ROBERT TRAYNHAM, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: You know, I had mixed emotions. Look, I mean, if everyone is buying into this and it’s a good thing, it’s a good thing. But, it feels weird though, simply because they’re stereotyping and they really are pushing the envelope. And so, having said that, it’s one of those things where frankly it just makes me feel uneasy, but I’m not Indian-American.

ZAHN: But the stereotyping is something we should have gotten used to in “The Simpson’s.” I’m going share with our audience, now, another clip from the TV show where you see Apu in action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

APU, THE SIMPSON’S: Hey, Kearney, this fake I.D., it is truly excellent. Say, if you tell me where you obtained it, I will overlook the ice cream sandwiches concealed in your armpits, eh?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Are you offended by that?

LAURA FLANDERS, AIR AMERICA RADIO HOST: You know, I thought it was a silly story, when I first heard about. I thought if we want to talk about Indians being harassed, let’s talk about salvations harassed by homeland security not Homer Simpson. That’s been a plague in this community every since 9/11. But then, you know, I started actually researching the story and listening to what the shopkeepers had to say and they said, you know it hard enough in this climate, particularly as an immigrant, to work hard, to make a living, to serve this community, and now to be kind of asked by your corporation that owns the lease, that pays the utilities, that, you know, this isn’t entirely free choice, to be asked to participate in this kind of crude ethnic jokery that is making fun of your own ethnicity. I don’t think it’s so funny.

ZAHN: Julie, let’s put up on the screen what one of the south Asian owners of a 7-Eleven franchise had to say. “…accepting our portrayal of Apu is nothing less [than] accepting the images portrayed years ago in the U.S. of black people with very black faces, big lips, and white teeth; that image is considered racist, so does Apu to me.”

Would there be more outrage if we were talking about unfair characterizations of blacks?

JULIE ROGINSKY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Guess what “The Simpson’s” unfairly characterizes everybody. It’s an equal opportunity mocker of, you know, they have a police officer who looks like a pig. They have, you know, a Born Again Christian that they constantly mock. They have women they constantly — it’s a comedy show. You know, it sort of reminds me of “The Sopranos,” people were saying it’s a anti-Italian stereotype, people are going to think all Italians are mobsters. Well, I think in real life people know that all Italians are mobsters. I think people in real life know that Indians — South Asians, in general, are extraordinarily accomplished. You know, and it’s just an equal opportunity mockery. I mean, look at the cartoon…

FLANDERS: The very person you quote there, his name is Serge, was too afraid to talk to your reporters, your producers for the segment. He’s afraid of reprisal. So, that goes beyond just funny.

TRAYNHAM: Well, it does push the envelope. It does push the envelope.

(CROSSTALK)

ZAHN: Push the envelope? Do you rember what senator Joe Biden had to say?

TRAYNHAM: Absolutely, about Barack Obama or in reference to 7- Eleven? Of course, absolutely.

ZAHN: Well it’s — and 7-Eleven. Let’s listen to what he said many months ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TRAYNHAM: Well, he’s not joking, but it is still very offensive, extremely offensive and shouldn’t have said it.

(CROSSTALK)

ZAHN: So, if you’re offended by that, and I understand Simpson’s is a cartoon, I get that — well, you said you had mixed emotions, Julie doesn’t have mixed emotions. She thinks it’s funny. ROGINSKY: It’s a cartoon. It is silly.

TRAYNHAM: But it’s still indicative of a time and place where you don’t do things like that, that you shouldn’t push the envelope…

FLANDERS: It goes back to when CBS and Don Imus, you got an industry, a company that wants to be amping up its profits, what does it do? It goes to crude ethnic stereotyping.

ROGINSKY: There’s actually an episode that I saw Apu, 15 years ago I think, with him, Paul McCartney, teaching one of the main character on “The Simpson’s” about vegetarianism and what a lovely way to save animals. So, this is not just a stereotype…

FLANDERS: Well, now I have to be very clear to our listening audience — our viewing audience, that I’m not related to Ned Flanders.

ZAHN: Oh, thank you for setting the record straight on that.

FLANDERS: This is reality TV confusion.

ROGINSKY: People should calm down.

ZAHN: Julie, will you review the movie for us?

ROGINSKY: I totally will and I’m sure it’ll be great.

Robert Traynham, Julie Roginsky, Laura Flanders. Thank you. [Link]

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