BD Wong Issues Apology for Offensive Joke: ‘I Regret Any Damage to Your Respect Towards Me’

Actor BD Wong has publicly apologized on Threads following a backlash over a racially insensitive comment he made online. Known for his roles in "Law & Order" and the "Jurassic World" franchise, Wong responded to a post by Mike Holston (@TheRealTarzan), who has 16 million Instagram followers.

Holston, a Black content creator, shared a photo featuring an animal with the caption: Name this animalwrong answers only. Wong's now-deleted reply read: It appears to be a Black man.

In his apology, Wong acknowledged the harm caused by the comment, writing, I made a very bad joke. I deleted it for damage control, but its out there and continues to hurt and disappoint. Im truly sorry for the pain it caused. I attempted to follow the 'Wrong Answers Only' prompt, but it went horribly wrong.

He added, I know nobody gets a free pass. Im sorry if this moment has affected any respect you had for me. I appreciate those advocating for a safer online environment for everyone.

Hours later, Wong further elaborated: I want to clarify that I fully recognize and accept the responsibility for posting a racist comment. Trying to explain it only undermines trust. I know it was wrong to exploit such a harmful stereotype under the guise of humor. I do know better, and again, there are no excuses. I deeply regret the hurt I caused.

Wong is best known for his portrayal of Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role he began in the series second season and recently reprised in its 27th season. Other significant roles include Whiterose in Mr. Robot, which earned him an Emmy nomination for guest actor in a drama series, and Hugo Strange in Gotham. He also originated the role of Dr. Henry Wu in the 1993 film Jurassic Park and returned to the character in the Jurassic World trilogy (20152022).

Author: Sophia Brooks