Simu Liu has hit back at criticism against a joke he made at the Golden Globes.
The Marvel star was presenting at the awards show with Issa Rae when the pair took a dig at “white people roles.”
Here’s how the joke went down:
Liu: Issa and I recently had the privilege of playing Barbie and Ken in the Barbie movie, which is pretty impactful for people who look like us.
Rae: Yeah, we may not have been what first popped into people’s minds when they first thought of Barbie or Ken but that’s changed and we’re hoping to push the boundaries of the role we can play.
Liu: By that, of course, we mean white people roles.
Rae: Oh my God I love to play white people roles!
Liu: Me too, white people roles are the best! An alcoholic divorced single father fighting for custody.
Rae: An alcoholic housewife whose husband’s affair drives her deeper into alcohol.
Liu: How about this, an alcoholic school teacher who must put her love of alcohol aside to inspire their class of intercity groups.
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.”
On X, one commenter shared a clip of Liu and Rae’s joke and captioned it, “It’s not even funny. There comes a point where white people won’t accept this nonsense any longer.”
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!”
In related news, Liu has been confirmed as the 2024 People’s Choice Awards host. Taking to social media, Liu playfully promised, “There will be no Taylor slander at the 2024 PCAs, that’s a personal guarantee.” This light-hearted commitment ensures a respectful atmosphere at the awards, contrasting with recent controversies, such as Jo Koy’s poorly received joke about Taylor Swift at the Golden Globes. As a self-proclaimed Swiftie, Liu aims to set a more inclusive and considerate tone at the People’s Choice Awards.
