Where do you draw the line in making a more ethnically conscious Hollywood?
That’s what Jamie Chung wanted to know after hearing about the casting for the new film Crazy Rich Asians.
The Korean-American actress backed herself into a bitter corner of the racial casting conversation when she complained about somebody being chosen for the feature role who was only half-Chinese.
Related: Jamie & Bryan Greenberg Tied The Knot On Halloween!
Speaking to CBS News, the 34-year-old spoke on how casting agents are more conscientious of “putting Asian actors in specific roles” — which, while she appreciates the effort, only confines her to a smaller box. She explained:
“You have actors who can play Australian, British, Irish, but Asian, it’s very specific. It’s a double-edged sword. I really, really wanted a role in “Crazy Rich Asians,” but they wanted someone who’s ethnically Chinese.”
After the interviewer Andrea Park told Chung the male lead for the show (Henry Golding) is half-Chinese and half-white, the Once Upon A Time actress lashed out at the “bullshit” decision, saying:
“What? Does he look Asian? …OK. I’m going to say it. That is some bullshit. Where do you draw the line to be ethnically conscious? But there’s so many loopholes so I kind of get screwed. I don’t mean to sound jaded. There are plenty of roles for me… It can be to my advantage sometimes, but it’s so frustrating. I can talk on and on.”
Well, Chung ended up having to talk more on the subject after her comments drew criticism from social media users — many of whom believed she was discrediting mixed race actors to play Asian roles:
uhh jamie chung sounds soooo bitter …. how does being half chinese & half white illegitimize someone as chinese ? ├░┼╕ΓäóΓÇ₧├░┼╕╦£ΓÇÖ
— 言泰娜 (@starlaaaaaaa) April 25, 2017
@jamiechung1 Being half Asian doesn’t make you any less Asian. U complain about it being cast as nonkorean?! How many half Asian roles you read for?
— Aurora Adachi-Winter (@AuroraAW) April 25, 2017
@jamiechung1 You “get they wanted Chinese actors” but then are upset upon hearing that Henry Golding is half white. So, your problem is he’s hapa.
— Aurora Adachi-Winter (@AuroraAW) April 25, 2017
@mrhapa79 see that’s taken out of context. You’re assuming I said bullshit bc he’s euroasian. I said bullshit bc they are hypocrites
— Jamie Chung (@jamiechung1) April 25, 2017
After some Twitics accused Chung of having an issue with Golding being a “hapa” — a Hawaiian term for mixed race people — the actress took to Instagram to defend her comments.
In a now re-edited caption, she wrote:
“When I said bullshit I wasn’t dissing on the actor they hired. I said that’s bullshit bc they are hypocrites. I took it personally and it’s so silly├óΓé¼┬ª I give credit to the casting directors bc hey’ve got a tough job. Can’t make everyone happy. It goes both ways. It just frustrating to lose a job or not have a shot at it bc of your race.”
We understand the frustration of producers splitting hairs over casting Asian actors while white actors can seemingly play any race they want — we just hope she makes that distinction clearer next time!
What do U think about Chung’s remarks?
[Image via Instagram/Apega/WENN.]
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