Ken Jeong to Host MTV AAPI Advocacy Event With Performances by Jhené Aiko, Saweetie

May 6, 2021

MTV Entertainment Studios is partnering with The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) for a special televised event hosted by Ken Jeong featuring performances by Jhené Aiko and Saweetie.

TAAF partnered with the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation launched the See Us Unite campaign. Their website states that the goal of the campaign is to “expand support for the AAPI community through solidarity and education.”

“Racism is pervasive and it thrives on ignorance. To end it, we have to first acknowledge it,” said Ford Foundation President Darren Walker. “‘See Us Unite’ confronts that history and puts a spotlight on experiences that need to be seen and heard, because visibility matters.”

“See Us Unite for Change” is part of the campaign and will include music and comedy performances as well as short films and speakers highlighting prominent figures in the AAPI community, according to Deadline. Among these will be Ken Jeong, Jhené Aiko, Saweetie, Daniel Dae Kim, Lisa Ling and more.

The event will “feature testimonials from leading Asian American public figures,” reported the Associated Press.

“We are outraged and deeply saddened by the escalation of hate crimes against AAPI communities and stand with them in the fight against xenophobia and bigotry,” said Chris McCarthy, President, MTV Entertainment Group. “Hate against one of us is hate against all of us and by working together on a global scale, we can help end this senseless violence.”

The event will be broadcasted on May 21 at 8 p.m. EST on MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, BET, Nickelodeon and will live-streamed on Facebook Watch.

Featured Image via Late Night with Seth Meyers (left), NPR Music (right)

Share this Article