BD Wong's 'Wrong Answer' Joke Ignites Firestorm, Actor Apologizes
A celebrated Tony Award-winning actor is in hot water after a comment on a social media post went viral for all the wrong reasons. Following intense public criticism, he has taken to another platform to address the controversy and the harm his words have caused.
Veteran actor BD Wong, known for his roles in Mr. Robot and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, found himself at the center of a social media controversy this week after posting a comment widely condemned as racist.
The Controversial Comment
The incident began in the comments section of a post by Mike Holston, a social media personality known as ‘The Real Tarzan.’ Holston, who is Black, shared a photo of himself with a large animal draped over his shoulders and prompted his followers, “Name this animal… wrong answers only.”
Among the replies was one from Wong, who wrote, “It appears to be a Black man.” The remark immediately drew sharp criticism and backlash from users who called out the comment for its racist nature.
An Attempt to Explain
In response to the growing outrage, Wong moved to the social media platform Threads to issue an apology. He acknowledged his misstep, writing, “Y’all I made a very bad joke. As most people in hot water do, I deleted it for Damage Control but it’s out there & continues to hurt & disappoint & I’m really sorry about the hurt part.”
He followed up by attempting to clarify the thought process behind his comment, framing it as a misguided attempt to follow the post's instructions. “Super dumb, but I tried to follow the ‘Wrong Answers Only’ prompt with the wrongest answer,” he added. Wong’s initial apology went on, “This succeeded only in that it was Super Wrong. I know nobody gets a free pass. I’m sorry if this #wtfbd moment tarnished any respect you may’ve had for me. & thanks if you advocate for an internet that’s safe for everybody.”
Taking Full Responsibility
Several hours later, feeling his first statement was insufficient, Wong posted again. He expressed a deeper understanding of his error. “I want to elaborate on a racist comment I posted, to clarify that I recognize & accept the responsibility for how terrible it is. It’s also wrong to try to ‘explain’ anything, & I think that causes a further breaking down in folks’ trust.”
His second statement concluded with a more direct acceptance of the harm he caused. “Let me please spend the energy on how wrong I know it is to exploit a despicable, racist trope in the supposed spirit of humor; I do know better, but again no excuses. Very sorry for the hurt I’ve caused & for taking lightly something so deeply injurious.” The actor has not posted on the platform since issuing the statements earlier in the week.