‘No Monolid’: Asian Actors Slam Racist Casting Call for Chinese or Korean Kids, Mom

The casting notice, which came from the New York City-based Paladino Casting, explicitly seeks talents who have “clean, white and pinky” skin with “no dots or circles,” as well as eyes that “although almond-shaped,” must not be “too down-turned” and not monolid.

Successful talents will star in a Kinder Joy commercial, which will start shooting on Oct. 17. The notice includes a slew of other physical requirements, as well as an active quarantine status.

The project will pay $500 “all-in” — including “fitting + one-day session + usage” — and a 10% agency fee. Possible renewals offer the same rate “per talent per each additional year all in.”

“Shang-Chi” star Simu Liu, who recently became an ambassador for UNICEF Canada, exposed the casting call on Friday and quickly drew support from other Asian actors.

“Dear Paladino Casting,” the 31-year-old actor wrote. “F*ck you. Signed, A Proudly Monolidded Asian.”

In his replies, Liu noted that he doesn’t stand a chance with the “no dots or circles” requirement, which a user presumed must refer to “no scars, blemishes or birthmarks.”

He added, “I’ve never heard Asians described as ‘pinky’ in my entire life.”

Asian actors Tamlyn Tomita, Leonard Wu, Lourdes Faberes and Rudy Martinez also called out Paladino Casting and Kinder Joy for the racist notice. Rodney To offered $500 to the successful talent to decline the project.

The casting call also drew criticism from other Asian personalities.

Amid the backlash, Paladino Casting issued a statement acknowledging the racist notice and apologized to the acting community.

“Posting this as received without pushing back against the language it contained was an inexcusable oversight by all of us here,” a spokesperson, presumably owner Kristen Paladino, wrote. “What we are seeing is that this highlights a larger issue within the entertainment industry. I sincerely apologize to our community of actors for the fact that this was released as it was received.”

As of this writing, Ferrero, which owns the Kinder brand, has not released a statement over the matter.

Feature Image via Ketut Subiyanto