We've known for a long time that Hollywood is far from perfect. From racism to sexism and homophobia, there are many problems to address. While we've been working to recognize those problems, it's important that for anyone and everyone who sees them, they should know when to call it out. And that's just what one actor did, in front of everyone on Twitter.
Recently, Asian actor Joel Kim Booster tweeted out a picture of a script he was reading. The script shows an obviously racist line, written about an Asian character and his white girlfriend. Upon posting, Joel's tweet (specifically, the picture of the script) sparked quite a bit of outrage in the online community. And while many were enraged, there was also a sweet outpour of multi-racial couple photos posted in rebuttal. Keep reading to find out how this all started, and why this is so important!
Meet Joel Kim Booster.
He’s an actor, comedian, and writer. A recently, he had something big to say on Twitter.Kim shared a snapshot on Twitter, of a script he was reading.
Hollywood is poison!!!! https://t.co/TzwVqvDxy6— Joel Kim Booster (@Joel Kim Booster)1539551552.0
Can you say, "cringe?"
We all knew that Hollywood had a problem with racism, and this illustrates that, despite recent successes like Crazy Rich Asians, we’ve got some work to do.
And Kim’s tweet got a ton of responses.
@ihatejoelkim Was this script written in 1950??— Payman Benz (@Payman Benz)1539560787.0
Even Seth Rogen displayed some shock.
@ihatejoelkim That’s actually written in a script?— Seth Rogen (@Seth Rogen)1539551923.0
Rogen and Kim had a small conversation thread.
@Sethrogen Love to audition 😇 just get in the room and show them what I’ve got!!— Joel Kim Booster (@Joel Kim Booster)1539553295.0
So, who knows what might happen?
@ihatejoelkim I’ll make some calls.— Seth Rogen (@Seth Rogen)1539553433.0
Some laughed at the script.
@ihatejoelkim Yeah there’s no way an Asian dude would go by Arty— Chuck (@Chuck)1539561247.0
Others were taken aback.
@ihatejoelkim As someone who reads scripts for a living, I'm constantly amazed at the archaic verbiage used by some… https://t.co/Gr5P1LYTRX— Danny Manus (@Danny Manus)1539582703.0
At least some people are aware of the problem.
@DannyManus @ihatejoelkim This is the VERY reason I refused to let the 1st script I wrote with a partner be sent ou… https://t.co/CIzuS30RtB— lyn wheaton (@lyn wheaton)1539615721.0
One Twitter user was happy to point out the script’s obvious flaw in logic.
@nationsfilm @ihatejoelkim I love how people still act like Asian guys aren't hot. Like they ain't never seen @JohnTheCho before.— Dustin Adair (@Dustin Adair)1539618974.0
And, of course, the list doesn’t stop at one.
@TheNightDusto @ihatejoelkim @JohnTheCho Or Steven Yeun or Henry Golding or Chow Yun Fat or Ken Watanabe or Daniel… https://t.co/K7wo3v5BuP— angela harvey (@angela harvey)1539625453.0
But we don’t just have to reference actors for this!
@ihatejoelkim *looks at this tweet* *looks at my husband* *looks directly at camera*— Angela (@Angela)1539552292.0
And we got to see living proof of some real-life relationships!
Our history of unrealistic thinking goes back a long way.Thus began an adorable train of very realistic couples’ photos!
@ihatejoelkim I wonder what Hollywood would think of this combo 🤔🤔🤔 https://t.co/tBpvcAEnCI— waiting for the power to cornrow (@waiting for the power to cornrow)1539561249.0
This is the definition of fighting ignorance with love.
@ihatejoelkim @JHenwick Cheap jokes and ignorance exists... but this is real life. https://t.co/AzifqiJDtH— hayden szeto (@hayden szeto)1539579026.0
So beautiful it’s unreal.
@ihatejoelkim Ima throw up my own up Look us, so beautiful we unreallllll lol https://t.co/Iz3KaiZnJ4— Sydney Zimmermann (@Sydney Zimmermann)1539642470.0
Great hair attracts great hair.
@ihatejoelkim My parents 1975. How unrealistic of them. https://t.co/3GQ7FJiQMT— Amesee⁷ (@Amesee⁷)1539596758.0
Let’s hear it for long-lived, realistic relationships.
@ihatejoelkim My highly unrealistic but very happy relationship of 10 years 😅😅 https://t.co/A5EKFQnU8O— Lisa Greenleaf (@Lisa Greenleaf)1539595159.0
Art should start imitating life a bit more.
Life has moved on, leaving art stuck in the past.15 years of lacking realism is a long time.
They seem none the worse for wear, though!And 16 years is even longer!
@ihatejoelkim Me & my wife. Married for 9 years. Been a couple for 16. https://t.co/dPHg4LSDB2— Greg Santos (@Greg Santos)1539658036.0
The thread was a real hit with many people.
@ihatejoelkim I love this thread. We’ve been unrealistic for 12 years! https://t.co/Q62YwQIuBW— Candi (@Candi)1539615076.0
These people are happy to live in "denial."
@ihatejoelkim @JusChen 🎶 if loving you is unrealistic, I don’t wanna be right. 🎶 https://t.co/YogzFcI4tm— Lauren Passell (@Lauren Passell)1539634220.0
Apparently, Hollywood was mistaken.
@ihatejoelkim Apparently my fiancé and I are "highly unrealistic"... https://t.co/AdQg0qDnSV— Sarah Jane Singer ✡️🏳️🌈 (@Sarah Jane Singer ✡️🏳️🌈)1539617021.0
Ain’t this the truth:
@ihatejoelkim Asian guy here and my girl. Don't think it's all that unrealistic, mostly the line is super ignorant. https://t.co/ZixexViWxI— Jason Godfrey (@Jason Godfrey)1539688769.0
When the whole family is confused:
@ihatejoelkim https://t.co/Blekwu4OCC— melbatoastly🇺🇸 (@melbatoastly🇺🇸)1539553843.0
This sweet photo came with a hopeful message:
@ihatejoelkim This is me and my unrealistic wife. But it's only unrealistic because she's way too good for me. Lite… https://t.co/xEia8NGe4b— Leonard Chan (@Leonard Chan)1539708713.0
I wonder if this Twitter post was enough evidence for Hollywood?
With 500+ comments and a lot of great couples’ photos, it really should be.
So let’s encourage Hollywood to be a little more realistic with its casting!
After all, it’s a big, diverse world out there. Time to start representing all of it—without the snide remarks that non-white people and interracial relationships are ‘unrealistic.’