Jamie Chung is clarifying comments she made earlier this week in a CBS News interview about how the casting of half-white actor Henry Golding in the adaptation of “Crazy Rich Asians” was “bullsh*t”.
In a series of tweets and exchanges with followers on Instagram, she says she was criticizing how hypocritical Hollywood can be when it comes to race, rather than the actor the casting directors hired.
In a gorgeous Instagram photo of herself apparently getting over a cold, Chung replied to fellow actor Daniel Nguyen.
“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. Jenn is right. I’ve got a lot to be grateful for so don’t get me wrong. 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,” Chung said.
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter
A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.
Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.
Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.
Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American actor who has starred in “Game Shakers” and “How to Get Away with Murder”, chimed in relating his experience during auditions.
“I’ve lost so many roles based on race and even this past pilot season where it became a color game when I got close to booking a role on a show but god forbid there be two Asians on a show. Casting directors have it tough and I’m so glad there are people like you who rock it out and speak out. Very honest and real #amen,” he replied to Chung.
The Korean-American actress, who played Mulan in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” and is set to reprise her role as GoGo Tomago in the TV adaptation of “Big Hero 6”, then took to Twitter to explain that she has nothing against hapas — a term used to describe mixed-race people.
