One week after insulting U.S. veterans via the reality competition The Amazing Race, CBS owned up to its gaffe and issued a formal apology.
The March 17 episode of the Emmy-winning show had contestants searching for clues around a memorial in Vietnam featuring a downed U.S. B-52 aircraft. The episode also featured Vietnamese children singing a pro-Communism song under a portrait of Ho Chi Minh.
Veterans groups howled in protest, and the network finally admitted its error at the start of the March 24 broadcast.
“Parts of last Sunday’s episode, filmed in Vietnam, were insensitive to a group that is very important to us – our nation’s veterans,” said the CBS statement, read before the start of Sunday’s episode.
“We want to apologize to veterans, particularly those who served in Vietnam, as well as to their families and any viewers who were offended by the broadcast.”
While the image of the downed aircraft proved jarring, the song contestants were told to memorize as part of the game is arguably more troubling. Here are some of the lyrics:
Vietnam, we are going to the century of light.
Socialism is growing more beautiful with time.
Follow the party’s step. Be loyal. Be pure.
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