'Amazing Race' producers apologize for offending Vietnam veterans

CBS

The cast of "The Amazing Race's" 22nd season.

By The Hollywood Reporter

CBS and the producers of "The Amazing Race" have apologized for last week's episode, which came under fire for using a B-52 memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam, as a key part of the leg.

The episode saw contestants go to the memorial -- which depicts the wreckage of an downed American bomber plane during the Vietnam war -- to find their next clue. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, along with several Fox News anchors and viewers, complained about the usage of the memorial.

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?The B-52 scene, as well as the young people singing a propaganda song, was totally unnecessary to the show?s plot, which speaks volumes about naive producers who think they?re in charge when they are not,? VFW national commander John Hamilton said wrote in a nearly 500-word letter to CBS Corp. chief Leslie Moonves.

Sunday night's episode kicked off with the apology, read by "Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan.

"Parts of last Sunday's episode, filmed in Vietnam, were insensitive to a group that is very important to us -- our nation's veterans," the statement read. "We want to apologize to veterans, particularly those who served in Vietnam, as well as to their families and any viewers who were offended by the broadcast. All of us here have the most profound respect for the men and women who fight for our country."

CBS had declined to comment on the controversy earlier in the week.

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