Skip to main content

In this image released by NBC, Tiny Fey, from left, Margaret Cho, and Amy Poehler speak at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.Paul Drinkwater/The Associated Press

CHO'S RETORT

Margaret Cho has come out swinging in defence of her controversial appearance on Sunday's Golden Globes broadcast.

As chronicled by The Hollywood Reporter, the comedy veteran has taken to Twitter to respond to criticism that her portrayal of a dour North Korean character perpetuated a stereotype.

In case you missed the show, Cho donned full military regalia to portray a humourless North Korean journalist named Cho Young-ja in several pre-planned sketches.

Among other bits, Cho's character castigated Globe hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for helming a show with no pizzazz ("You no have thousand baby playing guitar at the same time. You no have people holding up many card to make one big picture. You no have Dennis Rodman") and weighed in on the new season of Orange is the New Black ("It's funny, but not ha-ha funny…").

In a separate segment, Cho's character also demanded that she be allowed to take a selfie with Globe-nominated actress Meryl Streep. She got her wish, but the pic was photo-bombed by Benedict Cumberbatch at the last moment.

Before the live broadcast was even finished, some viewers were complaining that Cho's broad portrayal – a pretty obvious reference to the recent controversy involving North Korea's attempt to stifle the Hollywood film The Interview – was more racist than satirical.

Among other feedback, Twitter user Craig Aylward (@MurseOfTheYear) tweeted, "@@margaretcho. Didn't you fight your whole career to avoid being a stereotype?"

But the spirited Cho, who also portrayed late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in several episodes of 30 Rock, is not the type of person to brush off criticism lightly.

On Monday, Cho went onto her own Twitter account (@margaretcho) to tweet, "I'm of mixed North/South Korean descent – you imprison, starve and brainwash my people you get made fun of by me."

Shortly after, Cho followed up with another tweet stating, "I'm not playing the race card. I'm playing the rice card."

And from our corner of the world, Canadian indie-rock darlings Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara) confirmed their support for Cho with the straightforward tweet, "We love you @margaretcho #GoldenGlobes."

JUST DO IT

If you received one of those fancy high-tech fitness trackers for Christmas, expect to lose interest in it within about five months. A new report from market-research firm NPD Group estimates that 42 per cent of people using the wristband devices tracking physical activity quit using them within a six-month period. Why the drop off? According to researchers, many users forget to charge the devices or work them into their daily routines. More importantly, the report says the makers of the fitness trackers didn't factor in how humans are slow to accept behavioural change. "Anticipated regret, an individual's concern or anxiety over the reward he or she might not win, can have a significant effect on decision-making," said the report.

Source: New York Magazine

BRAIN CHANGER

Exposure to the chemical bisphenol A, and also the alternative bisphenol S, during pregnancy has been shown to cause "real and measurable change in the brain region responsible for impulse control, fear, obesity and puberty." A new study from Canadian researchers discovered that even low-level exposure to either chemical during the second trimester altered both the timetable and rate at which neurons inside the brain's hypothalamus region developed. Scientists have warned that such disturbances can results to the unborn child's still-developing brain to wire itself incorrectly, which could lead to aberrant behavioural results in later years. The findings are also expected to impact the growing evidence that endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like BPA, in consumer producers have the ability to increase childhood disorders like clinical anxiety and hyperactivity.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Interact with The Globe