L-A Radio: KFI Suspends Talker Tim Conway Jr.

Tim Conway Jr.

KFI 640 AM radio host Tim Conway Jr. and his executive producer, Sheron Bellio, have been suspended this week without pay for a skit they performed on May 3 that was filled with Asian-American insults and racist stereotypes. The suspensions came after pressure from Guy Aoki, the civil rights leader and founding president of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans.

Deadline.com reports the station’s parent company, iHeartMedia, confirmed their suspensions.

In the nearly five-minute skit, Conway pretended to interview Yuko Sakamoto – the wife of local radio personality Vic “The Brick” Jacobs – who was impersonated by Bellio in a stereotypical Japanese accent, even though the real Sakamoto does not speak with an accent. During the skit, Bellio shouted numerous variations of “Hiya!” “Heeyah!” “Heeyo!” and other supposed martial arts noises and sprinkled her put-on with the sound of gongs and goofy Zen haikus that were “brought to you by Subaru.”

Conway and Bellio issued on-air apologies Friday night, and the station has aired two new public service announcements on the subject of anti-Asian hate crimes and has committed to airing a two-hour special with Aoki focusing on anti-Asian violence and stereotypes.

“On May 3rd during our show, I did an impression in which I perpetuated stereotypes of Asian Americans, only adding to an already difficult time for many,” Bellio said. “I want to sincerely apologize for my actions that have offended and hurt listeners & anyone in the Asian American/Pacific Islander community. I am deeply sorry that my failed attempt at humor was insensitive and I feel horrible about that. My words tonight will never convey the shame that I’m feeling because of my actions and I just – I really want to apologize.”

Said Conway: “Both Sheron and I will be off next week – yep, suspended. We whole-heartedly agreed with that decision and, again, we are both incredibly sorry. We will look forward to returning to the show on Tuesday, June 1st, with a fresh perspective.”

He added: “We believe it’s important to take this time to recognize the issue of hate crimes against Asians that have significantly increased over the last few months. In fact, these crimes have doubled in the last month. And over the last year and a half, Asian Americans across this country including in our very own Southland communities, have endured despicable and sickening acts of hate & violence, fearing for their safety and the safety of their families.”

In their absence, Mark Thompson and Wayne Resnick are filling in for them this week.

“We of course take matters of this nature very seriously,” Robin Bertolucci, the station’s program director, said in a statement to Deadline. “Their failed attempt to what they thought would be a humorous shtick was thoughtless and unacceptable, and we apologize to anyone who was offended. They both have since apologized on air and I can assure you the situation is being handled appropriately internally. That said, we wanted to make things right with a plan that was not only deeply apologetic, but also educational, and focused on the community – taking further action to help combat racism against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.”

The station’s action plan, she said, includes:

• KFI is running PSAs focusing on anti-AAPI hate educating listeners on how they can help. We are already in coordination with multiple organizations and the PSAs began running on the morning of May 21.
• The KFI news team is producing a two-hour on-air special focused on raising awareness of anti-Asian hate crimes in Southern California, and beyond, what is being done to stop them, and how others can take action. This special is already being produced and will run on May 30 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.