Liza Koshy APOLOGIZES for Controversial Videos

July 01, 2020

YouTube star Liza Koshy took to social media to offer a lengthy apology statement for racially insensitive jokes in past videos. This apology, which is now trending, comes after two controversial videos of herself and ex-boyfriend David Dobrik surfaced last week. 

TikTok user @callmesukiwi drew attention to this when they posted footage from both of these videos last week. A  video from 2016 resurfaced in which you can see the YouTubers imitating Asian accents and pretending to speak Japanese while taste-testing Japanese candy. 

In the clip posted, we see Dobrik pretending to speak Japanese as Koshy yells “No!” in response. Dobrik then replies that “It’s not racist,” saying “’That’s like the sounds I hear when they talk.”  “No, it’s not racist as long as I keep saying ‘no,’” responds Koshy.

 In a second clip of the same tune, the former couple is wearing Hawaiian shirts and testing Hawaiian candy. The user captioned the TikTok saying, “Why is no one talking about this? It’s a clear example of the normalized racism against Asians.” 

While Dobrik is yet to respond, Koshy has since deleted the videos from her channel and released an apology video titled “I am Sorry.” Unlike the apology videos that have been released by YouTubers such as Tana Mongeau, Jenna Marbles and Shane Dawson recently, Koshy’s video is actually a two minute and 22 second  video of an apology document. 

pic.twitter.com/0HJQYJgHku

— Liza Koshy (@lizakoshy) June 29, 2020

Koshy apologized, sharing a quote from Ibram X. Kendi which says, “You can be someone who has no intention to be racist, but because you’re conditioned in a world that is racist and a country that is structured in anti-Black racism, you yourself can perpetuate those ideas, No matter what color you are.” She went on to say that the quote has been sitting with her ever since she heard it a few weeks ago. 

The YouTube star went on to say that prior to the resurfacing of these clips, she was hesitant to speak about the Black Lives Matter and anti-racism movements that are currently occurring in the country. “My work has been within but now I recognize and take responsibility for the times I was not the ally I am becoming today,” she wrote.

“Being anti-racist requires a personal reckoning, and I can’t in good faith continue to use my platform for progress without taking accountability myself. I am taking inventory, taking initiative and taking note that my impact and influence will weigh greater than my intention,” said Koshy. 

Koshy concluded her statement by saying that this was her “resignation from ignorance” and “declaration as an ally in action.” “I will give grace, make space and break these damn systems in place like my life depends on it … because too many do,” she said. “Thank you to my guardian angels in life and online who have been gracefully guiding this growth of mine, and I thank God for my continued awakening.” 

Many took to twitter to express their displeasure with the fact that the video was of a written statement. 

Others, including TikTok user @callmesukiwi, have commended Koshy for speaking up and apologizing for the videos. What do you make of the videos and Liza’s apology? Let us know in the comments!