LOS ANGELES, CA – A coalition of Asian American advocacy groups is calling on KFI-AM 640 and its parent company iHeartMedia to discipline radio host Bill Handel over remarks they describe as perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Asian communities.
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), its Los Angeles chapter, and the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) have urged the station to suspend Handel without pay, issue a formal apology, and commit to community service to address what they say are repeated instances of anti-Asian rhetoric on his program.
The advocacy groups point to at least five incidents in 2024 where Handel made remarks that they allege promote stereotypes, particularly targeting Korean and Chinese communities.
One incident occurred on May 21 during a segment about pet adoptions, where Handel reportedly remarked, “You just can’t have Korean people do it,” in reference to adopting dogs. After public backlash, Handel doubled down, claiming the station had nearly aired a show in Korea to focus on restaurants serving dog meat.
On Aug. 8, during a conversation with “How to Money” host Joel Larsgaard, Handel suggested that certain tourists were particularly bothersome. “Yeah, you really want to host tourists who speak no English and are completely, totally obnoxious,” he said, adding, “I don’t want to mention names… Koreans.”
Another incident cited by MANAA occurred on Sept. 16, during a discussion about President-elect Donald Trump falsely accusing Haitian immigrants of eating pets. Although Handel criticized Trump for the claim, he shifted focus to Koreans and Chinese communities, jokingly referencing recipes for dog meat soup and cat stir-fry. “What’s kinda weird is Korean and Chinese—I’m trying for the life of me to look at a Haitian recipe for dogs and cats and I cannot find one!” Handel said. He later claimed to post the recipes on his social media but did not follow through, according to MANAA.
On Oct. 3, during a discussion of a children’s book about adopting a stray dog, Handel reportedly joked about a potential “Korean translation” and added, “Don’t use too much ketchup.”
In a joint statement, AAJA and its Los Angeles chapter criticized Handel’s comments, describing them as perpetuating harmful stereotypes that contribute to anti-Asian sentiment and violence.
“Media companies are ultimately responsible for ensuring the outlets they own and manage adhere to journalistic and community standards,” the groups said. “When a station such as KFI-AM 640 ignores community feedback, iHeartMedia should hold station managers to account. Relying on and perpetuating stereotypes could potentially endanger Asian American and Pacific Islander communities that have already experienced increased anti-AAPI incidents and crimes.”
MANAA, which has monitored Handel’s broadcasts for years, noted that this is not the first time the host has faced backlash for racially insensitive remarks. In 1996, Handel apologized for comments referencing the success of Asian figure skaters after meeting with advocacy organizations.
The groups have requested a formal meeting with KFI and iHeartMedia management but claim they have yet to receive a response. They are demanding that Handel face immediate disciplinary action and that KFI-AM implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The controversy comes amid a broader reckoning over the role of media in addressing stereotypes and fostering inclusivity, particularly as Asian American and Pacific Islander communities report heightened discrimination and violence.
KFI-AM 640 and iHeartMedia have not yet issued a public statement regarding the allegations or the calls for disciplinary action against Handel.
