Hollywood's Asian Representation: A Step Backward?

Simu Liu, known for his role in Marvel's "Shang-Chi, " recently took to social media to criticize Hollywood's regression in Asian representation. He shared posts about Asian actors struggling to land leading roles, calling the situation "appalling. " Liu argued that the success of recent Asian-led films contradicts the idea that casting Asian actors is a financial risk. In his post, Liu mentioned several successful movies starring Asian actors, such as "Past Lives, " "Everything Everywhere All at Once, " and "Crazy Rich Asians. " He pointed out that these films were all financially successful, yet studios still consider Asian actors to be a risk. This is despite the fact that white actors have had much bigger financial flops and still continue to get leading roles. This isn't the first time Liu has spoken out against anti-Asian racism in the entertainment industry. In 2023, he called out a problematic camera comparison from the NBA's Celebrity All-Star game that perpetuated the stereotype that "all Asians look alike. " Liu clarified that his issue was with the cameraman, not the NBA or the fan involved in the comparison. Liu's concerns about the perception of Asian entertainers were further highlighted in a recent interview with Variety. He has become known for speaking up against right-leaning politics on social media and doesn't worry about the backlash he receives. Liu believes that the internet often brings out the worst in people, with many enjoying putting others down. The actor's outspokenness sheds light on the broader issue of representation and prejudice in Hollywood. It's a reminder that while progress has been made, there's still a long way to go in creating equal opportunities for all actors, regardless of their background.