Harry Reid apologizes for racist jokes: 'Sometimes I say the wrong thing'
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has apologized for the racist remarks he made on Thursday evening.
During a speech before the Asian Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas, Reid made several Asian-themed jokes that many categorized as racist. He said that Asian-Americans have "convinced a lot of us" that they're smarter than others and that he has difficulty "keeping [his] Wongs straight."
"My comments were in extremely poor taste, and I apologize. Sometimes I say the wrong thing," Reid said in a statement Friday. However, his speech lives on, thanks to a YouTube video uploaded by the conservative group America Rising. --Meghan DeMaria
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
