Simu Liu Goes Viral Calling Out Hollywood’s Lack of Asian Representation in Films

Simu Liu went viral on social media after speaking out about what he sees as a sharp decline in Asian visibility in Hollywood.

The Shang-Chi star urged studios to cast more Asian talent, calling the decline ‘appalling,’ and said the industry still labels Asian actors as ‘risky,’ despite years of proven success.

Liu responded in a post asking why Asians are rarely cast as romantic leads.

He pointed to films like ‘Minari,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ ‘Past Lives,’ ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and ‘Shang-Chi,’ saying each one proved that Asian-led stories consistently succeed at the box office.

Liu said the problem isn’t talent but prejudice. He argued that no Asian actor has ever caused major losses for a studio, while some white actors fail repeatedly and still get leading roles.

His post drew strong reactions, with many fans agreeing the double standard remains firmly in place.

This isn’t the first time Liu has called out the system. In 2023, he dismissed claims that he was getting the ‘bulk of Asian male roles, saying most of his recent work wasn’t even written for Asian characters.

He stressed that representation should not be treated as a quota or a zero-sum game among Asian actors.

Looking ahead, Liu continues to push forward despite the challenges he highlighted. He appeared in ‘Last Breath,’ voiced several animated projects and will soon lead ‘The Copenhagen Test.’

He’s also set to return as Shang-Chi in next year’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ keeping his momentum strong.