Jon M. Chu Says He Never Told Brenda Song She Wasn’t “Asian Enough” For “Crazy Rich Asians”
E! News says that the director of Crazy Rich Asians, Jon M. Chu, has responded to allegations by Brenda Song that she was considered not “Asian enough” for the movie and wasn’t allowed to audition. And now we know, it’s because he stanned Maddie Fitzpatrick, not London Tipton. Just kidding, it seems that Jon M. Chu just didn’t want her for the lead role.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Brenda talked about how she wasn’t even allowed to audition the role of Rachel Chu (which went to Constance Wu) in Crazy Rich Asians, because she was told she’s not Asian enough:
“A lot of people don’t know this, but I never got to read for Crazy Rich Asians, ever… Their reasoning behind that, what they said was that my image was basically not Asian enough, in not so many words… It broke my heart. I said, “This character is in her late to mid-20s, an Asian American, and I can’t even audition for it? I’ve auditioned for Caucasian roles my entire career, but this specific role, you’re not going to let me do it? You’re going to fault me for having worked my whole life?” I was like, “Where do I fit?”“
The rejection caused her to take a year off and reclaim herself in travel. The story got a bit of traction. So of course Jon, the director of the movie, had to make a statement. He posted to Twitter saying he would never tell Brenda she wasn’t Asian enough. But he did shade her a bit.
🤷🏻♂️would these words ever come out of my mouth? Nope makes no sense. I feel horrible she thinks this is the reason. The fact is I love Brenda Song and am a fan. I didn’t need her to audition because I already knew who she was!
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) November 20, 2019
??Nope. I love @BrendaSong and that sucks if anything of that nature was ever communicated. It’s gross actually. The fact is, obviously I know who she is and didn’t need her to audition. I’m a fan of hers! 🤷🏻♂️Nothing more nothing less. Bums me out she thought it was anything but.
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) November 20, 2019
I feel like this is still a drag? “I didn’t let her audition because I knew who she was and have seen her acting and thus didn’t want her in the movie.”
Jon even reposted an old article about how he loved open calls for the movie, which again, felt like he was saying that he spent hours watching audition tapes but needed no further information from Brenda Song. It’s the opposite of “I don’t know her.”
One of my favorite memories of making #CrazyRichAsians was when we opened the auditions to anyone in the world with our open call. We watched hundreds &hundreds of videos from very talented people from all around the world. Made us tear up many times. https://t.co/G5e64q0zmf
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) November 21, 2019
Since the first one was such a critical and money-making hit–at least in North America–a Crazy Rich Sequel is on the way. Surely Jon will right this injustice of not hiring Brenda Song? Cast her in a supporting role, or an extra. Anything! Unless, Jon M. Chu is really a down-low Trace Cyrus fan?
Pic: Wenn.com