Ryan Lochte's Sister Apologizes for Racist Video, Says It Was a "Skit"

Megan Jean Lochte Torrini appeared on a late-night talk show in 2008 and called Asians "chinks"

By Brandi Fowler Aug 25, 2012 5:49 PMTags
Ryan Lochte, Megan Lochteyoutube.com, FameFlynet

Ryan Lochte's sister has issued an apology after a video hit the Web of her using racial slurs against Asians.

In the video shot in 2008, Megan Jean Lochte Torrini appeared on a late-night Maryland talk show after attending the Olympic Games in Beijing with her brother, Ryan Lochte, and went on a racist rant when asked about her experience there.

"China was chinked out," Megan said on the show Closing Time. "It was totally Chinese…there were chinks everywhere."

And when the show's host, Mickey Cucchiella, corrected her on the slur, she went on to say, "but it fits them because they're, like, chinks. You know how they stereotypically want to take pictures? They take pictures of everything."

And that was just the beginning.

Megan went on to say the Chinese "drive like ninjas," and made fun of the food in the country and the Great Wall of China, among other things.

"I would like to apologize for the video that is circulating on the Internet from 2008," Megan said in a statement. "During that time, I played a character on a television comedy show called 'Closing Time TV,' which was a show with different comedy skits, fake news skits, staged interviews, etc. The video in question reflects a skit from the show in which I acted as an ignorant guest on a talk show that made ignorant comments." 

"This was not a real interview, and it in no way reflects my true feelings or persona whatsoever. The intent was to make fun of the ignorance of people who actually do not have an understanding of other cultures and speak in racist ways. The skit and my character were SUPPOSED to be making fun of ignorance. It was never the intent to make fun of any culture or class of people."

"Comedy in general can be offensive, yet spread awareness. I do see how it was highly offensive to the viewer, but as seen by today's widespread outrage, it clearly did increase awareness of the ignorance of those who are racist. I want to reiterate that this was NOT a real talk show, and I was not expressing my personal views. While the intent of the script was to shed light on cultural ignorance, I realize that in application it did offend people, and for that I apologize." 

Ryan has yet to comment on the controversy.