martin bashir jokes about "asian babes" at aaja

The Asian American Journalists Association recently hosted Martin Bashir, co-anchor of ABC's Nightline, as the keynote speaker at its annual Gala Scholarship and Awards Banquet in Chicago. It probably seemed like a good idea when they invited him, considering his high-profile list of credits as a journalist (though most folks probably know him from his infamous documentary on Michael Jackson).

So I'm guessing the organization was rethinking their invitation right about when Martin started joking about "Asian babes" to a ballroom full of Asian American journalists: Bashir Blunders While Addressing 'Asian Babes'

"I'm happy to be in the midst of so many Asian babes," he said onstage, with his 20/20 colleague Juju Chang nearby. "In fact, I'm happy that the podium covers me from the waist down." He then noted that a speech should be "like a dress on a beautiful woman -- long enough to cover the important parts and short enough to keep your interest -- like my colleague Juju's." ("See what I have to put up with?" she responded.)

Yes. No fancy gala is ever complete without boner jokes. What the hell was he thinking? Pretty damn tasteless. I'm told that some folks in the room actually booed him. Anyway, Bashir has apparently apologized for his "moment of stupidity": Martin Bashir sorry for 'Asian babes' comment in US speech. More here: Martin Bashir apologises for sexist 'Asian babe' comments.