The Hollywood film The Devil Wears Prada 2 is facing accusations of anti-Asian racism ahead of its release and is confronting a boycott movement in China.
Recently, Chinese-language media such as Zhonghua Net and Chengdu Daily reported that The Devil Wears Prada 2 (abbreviated as The Devil Wears Prada 2) discriminates against Asians and, in particular, mocks Chinese workers.
Foreign media took issue with the name of the Chinese character in The Devil Wears Prada 2. In the film, the Chinese character Qin Zhou (秦舟), played by Chinese actor Sun Weitian, appears as the assistant to the protagonist Andy (played by Anne Hathaway), and that name is similar to slurs like "ching chong" and "ching chong" used in the West to denigrate Asians, especially Chinese.
The character's portrayal has also provoked resentment. Qin Zhou is depicted as lacking fashion sense even within the glamorous fashion industry, the main setting of The Devil Wears Prada series, with glasses and a checkered shirt. Moreover, the character is portrayed as someone who publicly criticizes her boss or who is boastful, a depiction that is said to reinforce stereotypes about Asian workers.
On Chinese social media and online communities, criticism has arisen saying "they mocked Chinese people" and "it is a racist portrayal of Asian workers." A boycott movement opposing screening has even emerged in China.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a sequel to the film released in 2006 that was popular worldwide. Produced 20 years later, the sequel features original stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, raising expectations among fans of the series.
Fans in Korea had considerable anticipation for the series as well. Attention is focused on whether the backlash against Asian migrant workers will resonate domestically beyond China. <
[Photo] Provided by The Walt Disney Company Korea.
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