A US terrorism analyst has been fired for a racist tweet that mocked the Chinese government.
The Huffington Post reports that terrorism analyst Michael S. Smith II was fired from his position at the think tank New America after he tweeted a racist comment about Chinese intelligence agencies.
In the now-deleted tweet, Smith shared an article from Quartz about the Chinese government’s acquisition of New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel. In the tweet, Smith mocked the Chinese accent and referenced Asian eye shapes. The tweet read, “We know wheh you sreep, rouwound eye. And who you sreepy with!!!”
Criticism from the Asian community and national security quickly surfaced online. “Mocking people based on their race is a disgusting, ugly, bigoted move,” one Twitter user wrote.
“It’s funny how some white ppl think “round eye” is an insult Asians would use against them,” another wrote. “That just proves “racism against white people” can’t possibly be a thing.”
In under three hours after the Smith sent the tweet, New America announced that Smith’s fellowship with the think tank was over.
“Michael S Smith II’s fellowship with New America has been terminated following his use of inappropriate language that is incongruous with New America’s values,” the group tweeted. “New America does not tolerate or done the use of racist language or racial conduct of any kind.”
Michael S Smith II’s fellowship with New America has been terminated following his use of inappropriate language that is incongruous with New America’s values. New America does not tolerate or condone the use of racist language or racist conduct of any kind.
— New America (@NewAmerica) February 23, 2018
Smith reportedly claimed that his tweet was not meant to offend.
“The tweet was intended to mock Chinese intelligence collection efforts within the U.S. using front companies and leveraging influence which can be acquired by making large investments,” Smith said to the Washington Examiner.
“I did not mean to offend anyone. I apologize to everyone who was offended by my comments that many people interpreted as racist and deliberately hurtful,” Smith said. “This was an instance of a lapse in judgment that does not reflect my views of Chinese people, or any other Asian races.”
FIFY, @MichaelSSmithII: “Earlier, my racist tweet was widely & correctly characterized as racism, which quickly led to my termination at New America. I apologize if you didn’t find my xenophobia as knee slapping funny as I did.” https://t.co/KzueKtFLbV
— Dan Kim (@danielmkim) February 23, 2018
You were actually deliberately mocking Chinese people. And yes, it was racist. You can’t just delete it and try to misstate what happened. pic.twitter.com/Soj4hS4Sn1
— Aislinn (@twnty7) February 23, 2018
It’s funny how some white ppl think “round eye” is an insult Asians would use against them. That just proves “racism against white people” can’t possibly be a thing. pic.twitter.com/LrKtKPaWUr
— Jessica Prois (@JessicaProis) February 23, 2018
Mocking people based on their race is a disgusting, ugly, bigoted move. @NewAmerica needs to take action here. The US rivalry with China has nothing to do w/ ethnic background, but rather, clashing ideologies and competing interests. https://t.co/MLsD0BL2Wa
— Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) February 23, 2018
