Mark Ralston / Getty Images, Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images, Mat Hayward / Getty Images

Asian-Americans were not here for host Chris Rock and presenter Sacha Baron Cohen's racist jokes at the Oscars.  In case you chose to wipe that evening from your memory: Yes, that was something that actually happened in 2016, an already contentious year in which no actors of color were nominated for an Oscar. 

How did comedian Rock choose to highlight Asians at the Oscars that night?  He brought out a trio of children — CHILDREN! —  as props to crack a lame line about how all Asians are good at math.  Sacha Baron Cohen, as his character Ali G, followed with a quip about "yellow people with tiny dongs." 

The outcry on Twitter was swift.  Weeks later, 25 Academy members of Asian descent sent a letter to the organization demanding an explanation as to “how such tasteless and offensive skits could have happened.”  Among those who co-signed were Brokeback Mountain director Ang Lee, Star Trek actor George Takei, and Grey’s Anatomy alum Sandra Oh.  Takei also personally decried Rock's crack, arguing that a "catastrophic event" can turn a seemingly harmless stereotype into a "deadly weapon used against us." 

Although the Academy did not offer an explanation for Rock and Baron Cohen's actions, the organization did issue an apology "for any hurt the skits caused."