The Jimmy Kimmel late-night talk show has caused controversy after several children on the show joked about "killing everyone in China" as a response to the American debt crisis.

The clip aired on the American ABC Network on October 16. In it, Kimmel and a group of children presided over a discussion panel called "Kid's Table." When Kimmel asked the kids about what to do with the US$1.3 trillion US debt to China, one boy replied: "Kill everyone in China."

The clip angered a large number of Chinese viewers in both China and the United States. Many viewers turned to Facebook, Youtube, and the overseas Chinese online community mitbbs.com and many other social networks, demanding apologies.

A White House petition has even been created, asking to boycott Kimmel's decision to air such a comment on his show.

"I was very disturbed by the Jimmy Kimmel's 'Kids Table' show," the White House petition reads. "The kids might not know better. However, Jimmy Kimmel and ABC's management are adults. They had a choice not to air this racist program. It is totally unacceptable and should have been cut. Please cut the show immediately and issue a formal apology."

The petition has received more than 14,500 signatures so far.

Another petition on Change.org reads: "The comment 'Killing all the Chinese' is NOT a joke, no matter who says it. It is totally unacceptable. Jimmy Kimmel and the ABC network should know that it is offensive and racist. It is immoral, illegal and inhumane."

It demands that "a formal apology be issued by ABC and Jimmy Kimmel to ALL of its viewers, not just those who are Chinese. ABC should fire Jimmy Kimmel and anyone else responsible for letting this happen."

ABC and Kimmel have yet to respond to the criticism.

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