‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ boycott calls grow over ‘ching chong’-linked character

Boycott calls against “The Devil Wears Prada 2” are spreading across China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong after viewers said a Chinese character’s name echoes “ching chong,” a racist anti-Asian slur. A promotional clip released April 16 shows Jin Chao, played by Helen J. Shen, entering Sachs’ office at Runway and introducing herself as her new assistant. Critics pointed out the name, glasses and resume-focused introduction reduce the character to a stereotype of an academically elite but socially awkward Asian.

“If you don’t want me, you can interview someone else,” the character says in the scene, before listing her qualifications. She then touts that she attended Yale University, graduated with a 3.86 GPA, performed as lead soprano for the Whiffenpoofs and scored a 36 on the ACT on her first attempt.

Posts circulating in Chinese, Japanese and Korean described the name “Jin Chao” as sounding similar to “ching chong,” a phrase historically used in Western countries to mock Chinese speech. Users wrote that hearing the name in English dialogue made the similarity more pronounced, with some posts calling for a boycott as the clip spread.

Criticism also focused on the character’s appearance and role within the scene. Jin wears glasses and neutral office clothing, in contrast with the high-fashion styling of other characters, prompting comments about her presentation in a fashion workplace. “Why is Hollywood portraying an Asian professional in a high-fashion NYC firm as unfashionable? This is so stereotypical,” a YouTube commenter wrote. Another user wrote in Korean, “Why are they putting glasses on East Asians and dressing them in tacky clothes? No one actually dresses like that at work.”

Other responses pointed to the combination of name, styling and dialogue. Some users described the portrayal as presenting the character as academically accomplished but socially awkward, while others focused on the naming itself. “For those wondering about the assistant’s name: the film uses a phonetic naming choice that mimics a well-known anti-Asian slur,” one comment read. Another user wrote, “Just canceled the reservation for this. Thanks.”

Shen, 26, grew up in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and previously starred in Broadway’s “Maybe Happy Ending” before being cast in the film. In an interview with New Jersey Monthly, she revealed that she booked the role after a self-tape audition and a callback with director David Frankel, who later attended her stage performance.

Shen said the film reflects changes within the fashion industry and how its characters respond to those shifts. “You’ll see in the movie there are a lot of reflections of how the world has changed and how this institution, Runway, has to navigate that,” she said. She described her character’s arc as one in which Jin “steps into her own power, and she gets to flaunt that and use it to help.”