HYUNDAI AND CINGULAR WITHDRAW ADVERTISING

FROM NJ 101.5 FM/MILLENNIUM RADIO GROUP -

TASK FORCE COMMUNICATES WITH OTHER ADVERTISERS

 

WHO: Hyundai Motor America ("Hyundai"), Cingular Wireless ("Cingular"), and a taskforce composed of national, community-based, student, and grassroots organizations assembled to address the racially derogatory on-air statements made by radio hosts Craig Carton and Ray Rossi of New Jersey 101.5 FM, parent company Millennium Radio Group ("Millennium").

 

WHAT: In a statement issued May 6, 2005, Hyundai has withdrawn its advertising from NJ 101.5 WKXW FM.  "Hyundai Motor America shares the outrage of many in the Asian and general communities about the racial slurs made on radio station WKXW on the 'The Jersey Guys' show on April 25, 2005... the company is deeply offended by the program and would never want to be associated with insensitive statements that reflect negatively on the Korean and Asian communities."  The Star Ledger reports that Cingular pulled its advertising immediately after the incident, said a Cingular spokesperson.

 

On April 25, 2005, radio hosts Craig Carton and Ray Rossi of NJ 101.5 FM (a.k.a. "The Jersey Guys") made racially derogatory statements against the Asian Pacific American community including Americans of Arab, Chinese, Indian, and Korean descent.  Mr. Carton referred to Asian Pacific Americans as "foreigners" and "fringe groups" that "should never dictate the outcome of an American election;" and as "Damn Orientals and Indians."  Mr. Carton also said "I don’t like the fact that [Asians] crowd the goddamn black jack tables in Atlantic City ... ‘ching chong, ching chong, ching chong [mimics an Asian accent] hehe you hit it on 17 you stupid b**ch..." and other bigoted statements.