NEW YORK, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A Latino group wants an apology from "Tonight" show host Jay Leno for a joke he made about people from the Dominican Republic.
The LSI Foundation, Inc. -- also known as the Latino Sports Initiative -- said in a statement that a joke Leno made on "The Tonight Show" following the Boston Red Sox win over the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series was offensive.
"The Yankees looked stunned, didn't they?" the group quoted Leno as saying. "Usually you only see this many depressed Dominicans after their raft springs a leak."
LSI President Carlos E. Lugo said the remark stereotypes all Caribbean people as "boat people" and "smacked" of racism.
"As the child of Dominican immigrants, and a proud Dominican American, I am blatantly offended by Leno's comments," he said.
Lugo said when people from the Dominican Republic and other islands attempt to leave their countries by raft, springing a leak can result in death.
"So (Leno's) comments, at best, are in poor taste and lack sensitivity," Lugo said.
A publicist for NBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
