BD Wong from Law & Order: SVU issues apology for racist joke: ‘I am aware of my mistake’

B.D. Wong, widely recognized for his role as Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, issued a detailed apology after making a racially insensitive remark online. The 65-year-old actor had responded to a social media post by influencer Mike Holston, also known as The Real Tarzan, who shared a photo holding a large animal and captioned it, Name this animal wrong answers only.

In a comment that has since been removed, Wong reportedly wrote: It appears to be a Black man.

Wong later addressed the situation on Threads, stating: I made a very bad joke. I deleted it for damage control, but it continues to hurt and disappoint, and I am deeply sorry for causing pain. I attempted to follow the Wrong Answers Only prompt in a misguided way. I know no one gets a free pass, and I regret if this incident has affected any respect you may have had for me. Thank you to those advocating for a safe internet for everyone.

Hours later, Wong added further clarification: I want to address this racist comment more fully and accept responsibility for how offensive it was. Trying to explain it only erodes trust further. I deeply regret exploiting a harmful, racist stereotype in the name of humor. I know better, and there are no excuses. I am truly sorry for the harm caused and for taking lightly something so seriously injurious.

Wong, who originally joined SVU in season two and departed in season 17, returned to reprise his role in the season 27 premiere after nearly a decade. He is also known for portraying Dr. Henry Wu in the Jurassic Park films and has appeared in movies such as Father of the Bride and Mulan, as well as TV series like Mr. Robot and Gotham.

As one of Hollywoods few openly gay Asian actors, Wong made history in 1988 as the first Asian actor to win a Tony Award for his performance in M. Butterfly. He has also been vocal about representation, previously criticizing the casting of a non-Asian actor in the Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation in theater.

Author: Caleb Jennings