Simu Liu joined the thread on Sunday, posting a fiery message about the “regression” of Asian representation in Hollywood. The post also included social media reports about Asian actors struggling to find challenging roles.
“Put Asians in literally everything right now,” he wrote. “The amount of regression in our representation on screen is frightening. Studios think we’re dangerous.”
Despite this perceived risk, Liu cited several films starring Asian actors that have been hugely successful. These include Minari, The Farewell, Past Lives, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians, and the Marvel classic Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
He added, “All actors are financially successful. No Asian actor has ever lost a studio nearly $100 million, but a white actor would have lost $200 million twice and quickly moved on to the next lead role.”
We are fighting a system full of bias. And most days suck. ”
Liu has a history of speaking out on social media, particularly against right-leaning politics. In a recent interview, he told Variety that he “probably should be more afraid” of backlash, but the desire to speak your mind and stand up for what you believe often overcomes fear.
“I feel like there’s something about the internet that drives people crazy,” Liu said. “There’s a public nature to this work, and people like to be the guy who brings down other people (or an entire group of people). I’m not really cut out for that energy.”
