How I Met Your Mother co-creators, Craig Thomas and Carter Bays apologized after Monday’s Kung-Fu parody episode caused uproar on Twitter, with #HowIMetYourRacism trending.

#HowIMetYourRacism

How I Met Your Mother aired “Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra” on Monday, Jan. 13, and immediately sparked outrage. In the episode, Marshall (Jason Segel) tells a story of how he learned to deliver the ‘Slap of A Million Exploding Suns’ for his last slap to Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). The ‘Slap Bet’ between Marshall and Barney has been a running joke throughout most of the series, but things took a turn in the most recent episode when Marshall took viewers on a kung-fu film inspired adventure that featured all of their white friends in Yellowface – dressed as Asian caricatures.

Asian-American writer and activist, Suey Park, began using the hashtag ‘How I Met Your Racism’ and the hashtag gained momentum, eventually trending on Twitter.

I used to watch @HowIMetMother but I now refuse to and hope they apologize for yellowface. #HowIMetYourRacism

— Suey Park (@suey_park) January 15, 2014

#HIMYM was a show that wasn't made for any of us. We are merely cultures to be mocked for comedic relief. Not laughing. #HowIMetYourRacism!

— Suey Park (@suey_park) January 15, 2014

'HIMYM' Apologizes

Co-creators, Thomas and Bays responded a few days later with a Twitter apology, explaining that they had meant the episode as a tribute to old kung-fu movies they adore.

Hey guys, sorry this took so long. @himymcraig and I want to say a few words about #HowIMetYourRacism.

— Carter Bays (@CarterBays) January 15, 2014

With Monday's episode, we set out to make a silly and unabashedly immature homage to Kung Fu movies, a genre we’ve always loved.

— Carter Bays (@CarterBays) January 15, 2014

But along the way we offended people. We're deeply sorry, and we’re grateful to everyone who spoke up to make us aware of it.

— Carter Bays (@CarterBays) January 15, 2014

We try to make a show that's universal, that anyone can watch and enjoy. We fell short of that this week, and feel terrible about it.

— Carter Bays (@CarterBays) January 15, 2014

To everyone we offended, I hope we can regain your friendship, and end this series on a note of goodwill. Thanks. @CarterBays @HimymCraig

— Carter Bays (@CarterBays) January 15, 2014

Thomas re-tweeted Bays apology on his own Twitter page, adding, “We love all HIMYM fans and apologize that we caused offense.”

Co-creator Craig Thomas tweeted:

I second everything @carterbays just tweeted — we love all #HIMYM fans and apologize that we caused offense.

— Craig Thomas (@HimymCraig) January 15, 2014

None of the stars of the show have directly commented on the controversy, though star Alyson Hannigan did re-tweet Bays apology.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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