James Hong, an actor in the acclaimed film “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” went viral on Sunday for his acceptance speech at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, in which he called out Hollywood for its lack of Asian representation in the past.
Hong, who plays main character Evelyn Wang’s disapproving father, Gong Gong, was given the spotlight after the film won Best Cast in a Motion Picture. Surrounded by his “Everything Everywhere” castmates, Hong called out the industry for its historical practice of “yellowface,” which involved mimicking the appearance and speech of an Asian person, and celebrated the triumph of Asian artists in achieving a growing presence in Hollywood.
Hong, 94, recalled his very first role in 1937’s “The Good Earth,” a film about a farmer in China during the early 20th century, in which the main characters were played by white actors.
“The leading role was played by these guys with an eyes tape up like this and they talk like this because the producer said the Asians were not good enough and they are not box office-[worthy],” said Hong, pulling his eyes back and imitating the old-school yellowface. “But look at us now.”
The moment received a standing ovation and was shared widely online.
Hong wasn’t the only one who had a major moment Sunday night. Michelle Yeoh, who plays Evelyn, also made history as the first Asian woman to win a SAG Award for lead actor.
“This is not just for me,” Yeoh said. “It’s for every little girl that looks like me.”
Ke Huy Quan, who plays doting husband Waymond, similarly became the first first Asian to win best male supporting actor at the SAG Awards.
In his speech, Hong also made a reference to Yeoh’s now-iconic “shut up” moment at the Golden Globes in January, during which she shushed the acceptance speech wrap-up music and jokingly threatened organizers with her martial arts skills if they didn’t allow her to finish her speech. Yeoh’s moment also went…
Read the full article here
