An update on Lisa Chan, the 21-year-old actress who appeared in Michigan Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra's godawful racist campaign ad... When the ad hit the airwaves (and for the rest of us, the internet), after getting over the sheer idiocy of the ad, a lot of people wondered who the actress was and why she'd appear in such an incendiary ad. We found out who. But we were still left wondering why...
Chan just released the following statement on her Facebook page expressing regret and asking for forgiveness for her role in the ad:
"I am deeply sorry for any pain that the character I portrayed brought to my communities. As a recent college grad who has spent time working to improve communities and empower those without a voice, this role is not in any way representative of who I am. It was absolutely a mistake on my part and one that, over time, I hope can be forgiven. I feel horrible about my participation and I am determined to resolve my actions."It's good to know that she recognizes -- albeit after the fact -- what an awful, harmful commercial this is. But honestly, it still leaves me with about a thousand questions. How did she get involved with this job in the first place? What did she know going into it? What was her reaction when she saw the finished ad? What was her reaction to the reaction?
Lisa Chan
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CEO/ President, The Strive
Vice President, Sparxo Inc.
I understand that she's probably limited by nondisclosure agreements and like. But I do hope she eventually gets a chance to tell the full story, if only for the opportunity to create constructive dialogue about this kind of thing.
On the upside of all this, support for Pete Hoekstra has apparently taken a pretty big dip in the wake of this ad, while fundraising support for his opponent, incumbent Sentator Debbie Stabenow has spiked: 'Offensive' Pete Hoekstra Ad Draws Big Bucks for Rival Sen. Debbie Stabenow.