O'Donnell 'sorry' for China jibes

O'Donnell did not realise her comments were so offensive

Comedian and TV presenter Rosie O'Donnell has been told that her apology for mocking the Chinese on television is not good enough.

The 44-year-old recently attempted to mimic the Chinese language on her daytime talk show, The View, by saying, "ching chong" several times.

Unity: Journalists of Color Inc, who represents the interests of ethnic groups, has condemned her behaviour.

O'Donnell said she did not realise how offensive she had been.

'Cheap jab'

On 5 December O'Donnell joked about how Danny DeVito's recent and seemingly drunken appearance on the talk show had become international news, and how it might be received in China.

In a statement on their website, Unity has called for the show's producer, Barbara Walters, to "publicly acknowledge that O'Donnell's remarks were patently offensive".

I'm sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground. Rosie O'Donnell

It adds the "cheap jab at Chinese Americans" is "essentially condoning racial and ethnic slurs".

On Thursday's show, O'Donnell said: "To say 'ching chong' to someone is very offensive, and some Asian people have told me it's as bad as the n-word. Which I was like, 'Really? I didn't know that.'

Karen Lincoln Michel, president-elect of Unity, said her remarks "really didn't sound like an apology."

"I'm sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground," said O'Donnell.

"But I'm also gonna give you a fair warning that there's a good chance I'll do something like that again, probably in the next week, not on purpose. Only 'cause it's how my brain works," she added.