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“My #RealAsianGranny was brought to the UK, age 16, as a slave, never to see her family again"

Racial controversy surrounding CBBC’s upcoming series Living With The Lams has triggered a hashtag on Twitter.

CBBC’s racial controversy surrounding Living With The Lams has sparked a trending hashtag in which people share stories about their Asian grandmother.

Last week, CBBC was criticised for signing the 10-part sitcom, which “regressively radicalised” stereotypes. Created by predominantly white writers, the plot revolves around a Chinese family and their restaurant in Manchester, and is aimed at CBBC’s young audience between 6-12 years old.

Over 200 actors and writers have since signed a petition to CBBC controller Cheryl Taylor to either scrap the show or to use Asian writers. Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan demanded that CBBC listen to the British East Asian community.

“I hope the @bbc @cbbc @TwentyTwentyTV listen to the concerns of the British East Asian community regarding #LivingWithTheLams,” she wrote on Twitter. “An inclusive kids show about British East Asians could be wonderful but #representationmatters both in front of the camera and in the writers room.”

Other Twitter users responded through the hashtag #RealAsianGranny. Harry Potter star Katie Leung tweeted about how her grandmother found the strength to support her family.

“My #RealAsianGranny lived in the Hong Kong Slums when she gave birth to my dad on the kitchen floor cos she didn’t have a babysitter for her 4 other children,” she tweeted. “She sold illegal fireworks in order to feed them. She then babysat her 8 grandkids. She feigned deafness regularly. Legend.”

Resonate writer Xueting Christine Ni said her grandmother “fled an arranged marriage, joined the army, survived on wolf meat during the Civil War, swore like a trooper, raised 5 girls, And fought my grandpa when he wanted to swap one of them for a boy. She also made the most delicious food.”

Writer Chloe Ewart tweeted: “My #RealAsianGranny was brought to the UK, age 16, as a slave, never to see her family again. She went on to raise 9 children whilst running one of the best restaurants in Chinatown. She taught me never to kiss anyone unless I meant it. She was a badass.”

“my raised her younger siblings alone in war torn Korea, left and moved to Germany then America to start a better life for her kids,” wrote one Twitter user. “She doesn’t like to talk about her past because it’s painful for her. but all their amazing stories must live on.”

“My was a rebel who left her first husband by arranged marriage, got married to a man she loved, smoked, drank Martini and taught me from a young age that girls are just as good if not better than boys and to take no shit from any man.” Wrote another. “Miss you Ah Ma!”


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