A minor character in fashion-magazine comedy The Devil Wears Prada 2 has sparked a significant backlash on-line, earlier than the movie has even reached cinemas.
A 38-second clip released on social media by twentieth Century Studios on 16 April was designed to showcase “the previous assistant’s new assistant” Jin Chao, performed by Helen J Shen; she is proven introducing herself and talking to Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs, who’s newly returned to work on the fictional Runway journal.
Nonetheless the clip has been greeted with livid reactions on social media, with posts containing accusations that the character is “blatant anti-Asian racism” being seen tens of millions of instances.
The criticism seems to centre on plenty of completely different components. The character is carrying dowdy garments and glasses, in distinction to different characters seen within the clip, resulting in claims that the film-makers are using an outdated stereotype. Her recital of her educational achievements – “I did go to Yale, 3.86 GPA, lead soprano of the Whiffenpoofs, and my ACT rating was 36” – also triggered claims the character performed into the Asian stereotype of the “nerdy bookworm”.
Different social media posts have additionally taken purpose on the character’s identify, saying it sounds uncomfortably close to a racist slur.
The Guardian has contacted the movie’s representatives for remark.
The hotly anticipated sequel is due for launch on 30 April in China and 1 Might within the US and UK, and has beforehand been criticised for a brand partnership with coffee chain Starbucks.
