Amber Tamblyn reached out to an actress who accused David Cross of making racist comments, saying, “I believe her”
Amber Tamblyn came under fire this week for defending her husband, David Cross, after actress Charlyne Yi reported that he had made a racist joke to her when they first met. Tamblyn has since reached out directly to Yi about the incident.
On Monday, Yi — now 31 years old — tweeted that when she first met David Cross about ten years ago, the now 53-year-old comedian made fun of her “tattered pants.” And from there, it only got worse.
"Dumbfounded, I stared at him speechless," she wrote. "And he said to me, ‘What’s a matter? You don’t speak English?? Ching-chong-ching-chong.’ Then after he saw I was offended he asked me if I was going to fight with him karate in a Southern accent. Then a few years later he was re-introduced to me after my comedy show with his girlfriend at the time & he said ‘Hi nice to meet you.’"
Initially, fans included Tamblyn in tweets demanding an apology from Cross about the incident. At first, she simply said he had publicly apologized several times, and asked fans not to involve her in incidents involving her husband.
He said he was sorry, publicly, several times. Please don’t @ me in conversations dragging my husband. Thanks.
— Listening in the Dark ✨Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) October 19, 2017
Later she followed up, tweeting, “I spoke to @charlyne_yi and her feelings/safety are all that matter to me. We’re good. I owe you nothing, Twitter. You’re lucky to have me.”
Here are all her follow up tweets about the incident.
I spoke to @charlyne_yi and her feelings/safety are all that matter to me. We’re good. I owe you nothing, Twitter. You’re lucky to have me.
— Listening in the Dark ✨Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) October 20, 2017
I’ll say it again. I spoke to Charlyne. I believe her. I’m about HER feelings/emotional health right now, not Twitter’s. That okay with you? https://t.co/aQU5dGqKuY
— Listening in the Dark ✨Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) October 20, 2017
I will say this for the last time. Do not hold women accountable for the actions, decisions or words of their partners. Don’t. Do it.
— Listening in the Dark ✨Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) October 20, 2017
In addition to Tamblyn’s response, Cross himself apologized to Yi both privately and publicly, tweeting, “I would never intentionally hurt someone like that. I do not remember doing this when I met her. I do remember meeting her though…. I am NOT accusing Charlene [sic] of lying and I’m truly sorry if I hurt her, it was never my intention to do that.”
He also noted that he commonly does an ironic “asshole redneck character,” and that he believes he must have been doing a “bit” when they met if this was indeed how he initially greeted his friend’s girlfriend.
Adressing the Charlyne Yi tweet below. pic.twitter.com/WMHxH6lZco
— david cross✍ (@davidcrosss) October 18, 2017
Hopefully, Yi feels like she received the apology she deserves, and that David Cross uses this as an important learning moment (aka, just because something offensive is done “ironically” doesn’t mean it’s not offensive or won’t make those without white privilege uncomforable).
