Toby Keith Pulls a Miley, Offends Asians Everywhere

Country star offends Asians after making a slant-eyed expression at a party

By Josh Grossberg Dec 16, 2009 3:55 PMTags

Toby Keith better start working on that apology statement about now.

Asian watchdog groups are blasting the country crooner over an allegedly racist gesture made during an impromptu performance with Will Smith and Wyclef Jean at the Nobel Peace Prize concerts in Norway last week.

Let's go to the YouTube video...

When Big Willie raps the word "yellow" about 26 seconds into the song, Keith is seen briefly pulling back his eyes in a slant-eyed expression that only Miley apologists might find amusing. And while the gesture went unremarked at the time, several Asian organizations have since called out the "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue" singer.

"Tobey Keith embarrassed himself and his country, denigrated the Nobel Peace Prize and offended Asians and Asian Americans by using a crude, racist hand gesture," says a spokesman for the Asian American Justice Center.

"By doing this, he is telling his Asian fans, 'You don't matter, you're not on my radar,' " adds a rep from the Media Action Network for Asians.

Keith's camp could not immediately be reached for comment but previously told TMZ that "nobody at the party thought Toby was out of line."

So that makes it OK?

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Get the low-down on Miley's misfire with the Asian community here.

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