British Parliament Members Seeking Apologize from Leno for Sikh Joke
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Kevin Winter/Tonight Show/Getty Images for The Tonight Show(LONDON) — The backlash against Jay Leno for a joke involving Mitt Romney and a holy site for Sikhs has not gone unnoticed in the British parliament.
Two parliament members have filed a motion calling on Leno to apologize for displaying a picture of the Golden Temple on The Tonight Show last week and suggesting that the Indian shrine is a summer home belonging to Romney, a Republican presidential candidate.
Labour Party members John McDonnell and Virendra Sharma also request that the British government, “make representations to the U.S. government that while recognizing principles of freedom of speech there should be more understanding and respect shown to the Sikh faith.”
Leno’s joke has reportedly upset many Sikhs in India, and it’s even the basis of a libel lawsuit filed against the host by a California man, Dr. Randeep Dhillon.
Leno this week also angered the Catholic League by mocking a Los Angeles-area bishop who resigned after admitting he fathered two children.
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