‘Shang-Chi’ Star Simu Liu Responds to Racist Comment Made by Disney CEO
Actor Simu Liu of the upcoming Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had a powerful rebuttal for the Asian film being called an “experiment.”
Simu Liu stars as Marvel’s newest hero, Shang-Chi, a martial arts master who becomes involved in the Ten Rings covert organization and is forced to confront his past. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings also stars Awkwafina, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Fala Chen.
“It’s time to show them who I really am.” Experience Marvel Studios’ #ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in theaters September 3. Get tickets now: https://t.co/gYYxifvVOi pic.twitter.com/HPea8C1aJ6
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 16, 2021
Per Variety, Disney CEO Bob Chapek called Shang-Chi, Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, an “interesting experiment.”
He said in Disney’s earnings call, “On ‘Shang-Chi,’ we think it’s actually going to be an interesting experiment for us, because it’s got only a 45-day window for us. So the prospect of being able to take a Marvel title to the [streaming] service after going theatrical at 45 days will be yet another data point to inform our actions going forward on our titles.”
That’s a wrap on the World Premiere of Marvel Studios’ #ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings! Experience it in theaters on September 3. pic.twitter.com/Zs36movY30
— Shang-Chi (@shangchi) August 17, 2021
Liu responded to Chapek’s insensitive comment by uplifting himself and the Asian community. He tweeted, “We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year. We are the surprise.” The star then showed his excitement for the film’s release date and wrote, “I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US.”
We are not an experiment.
— Simu Liu (刘思慕) (@SimuLiu) August 14, 2021
We are the underdog; the underestimated. We are the ceiling-breakers. We are the celebration of culture and joy that will persevere after an embattled year.
We are the surprise.
I’m fired the f**k up to make history on September 3rd; JOIN US. pic.twitter.com/IcyFzh0KIb
When asked about his tweet, Liu told Variety, “I just wanted people to know how fired up I am for this movie.” He added, “I think sometimes it’s just so important to get messaging through that’s just… It’s emotional, it’s raw, and it just shows the world how much I and we all believe in this movie and how incredible it’s gonna be.”
“I just wanted people to know how fired up I am for this movie,” Simu Liu says of his tweets in response to Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s remarks that #ShangChi‘s release plan is “an interesting experiment.” https://t.co/5C52Bvt5OQ pic.twitter.com/2VDTD0oUQ9
— Variety (@Variety) August 17, 2021
Fans on Twitter defended Liu and the Asian community.
Simu Liu really out here doing the most to promote Shang-Chi while marvel/disney doing the absolute bare minimum
— emily naccarato (@naccaroni) August 17, 2021
The number of Evens I have right now = 0. EXPERIMENT? WTF? The trailer brought me nothing but joy and excitement for the next phase of the MCU. Absolute garbage by Disney CEO Bob Chapek. The movie looks AMAZING – and, truth be told – the ENTIRE MCU is an experiment. https://t.co/VSIFp21aIB
— Heather Sachs (@DorkOfAllDorks) August 17, 2021
I can all but guarantee that When you go through the people attacking Simu Liu for saying this, there will be wayyyyyy too much overlap with same people who’ve been vitriolic/racist toward Asians for the past year and a half/more. #ShangChi #SimuLiu
— Charles Fernandez ᴮᴸᴹ #StanJosephineLangford (@movie_charles) August 16, 2021
Asians aren’t experiments. https://t.co/ogv4mQL7ZY
Be sure to buy tickets for the September 3 release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
