Hong Kong film star Daniel Wu has taken a swing at Barbie manufacturer, Mattel, for perpetuating Asian stereotypes.
Sharing images of Asian Barbies on his social media, Wu said that whilst he is in favor of promoting diversity, Mattel has gone down a more damaging path.
“I am all for diversity but a “you can be anything” Asian Barbie that is a violinist or a Panda doctor?” Wu wrote in his Instagram caption.
“That’s more like “You can be anything your Asian parents want you to be” Either someone non Asian at Barbie fucked this up with stereotyping or the person who created this is Asian and they are carrying on generational trauma.”
Mattel features twelve “Asian American & Pacific Islander Dolls” on its website. The doll shown on Wu’s Instagram is listed as “Barbie Panda Care And Rescue Playset With Doll And 20+ Accessories, Plus Color Change Feature” and sells for $21.49 at Amazon and Target.
The toy manufacturer also said on its website that its purpose is to “empower the next generation to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.”
The Golden Globe-winning 2023 film, Barbie, was praised for its diversity and inclusion. Simu Liu even starred as one of the Kens. Presenting at the Golden Globes alongside Barbie co-star Issa Rae, Liu took a dig at “white people roles.”
Liu and Rae faced swarms of backlash from the internet including the likes of Megyn Kelly who said, “Imagine if they were talking about this about any other group of people, especially any other oppressed race… It’s not funny, it’s deeply offensive.”
Read more: Simu Liu Explains His ‘Deeply Offensive’ Golden Globes ‘White People Joke’ to Haters
In response, Liu hit back, explaining the joke, “I normally don’t explain jokes but it seems like your little brain could use calibration; the joke is white actors get more quantity and better quality of roles that often deal with meaty subjects like alcoholism = more awards,” He said. “Have fun in your echo chamber of hatred!”
