Simu Liu Calls Out Hollywood’s ‘Backslide’ in Asian Representation

Simu Liu has publicly criticized Hollywood for regressing on Asian actor representation despite post-‘Shang-Chi’ gains. The ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ star described the industry as a “deeply prejudiced system” during a November 26 panel at the Gold House A100 Gala in Los Angeles. Liu, 37, argued that studios prioritize diverse hires in front of the camera but revert to familiar patterns behind it, limiting opportunities for Asian talent.

Liu’s remarks followed a screening of his upcoming Prime Video series ‘The Family Recipe,’ where he plays a chef reclaiming his heritage. He recounted pitching roles to executives who dismissed Asian leads as unviable, citing data from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative showing Asian actors in just 5.9 percent of speaking roles in top-grossing films from 2007 to 2022. “We’re fighting a deeply prejudiced system,” Liu stated, emphasizing that tokenism erodes long-term progress. His comments echoed a 2023 USC study revealing Asian women in under 2 percent of leads across 1,300 films.

The actor’s frustration stems from stalled momentum after ‘Shang-Chi’ grossed $432 million worldwide in 2021, Marvel’s highest pandemic opener. Liu, who transitioned from accounting to acting via ‘Kim’s Convenience,’ highlighted how networks like ABC and Netflix have cut Asian-led pilots since 2022 strikes. At the gala, attended by 1,000 Asian Pacific leaders, Liu advocated for “put Asians in anything” to normalize their presence, drawing laughs while underscoring urgency.

Representation metrics underscore the gap: UCLA’s 2024 Hollywood Diversity Report found Asian directors helming only 3.5 percent of scripted series, down from 4.2 percent in 2023. Liu’s critique aligns with peers like Steven Yeun, who in a 2024 Variety interview noted “exhaustion from proving viability.” The ‘One True Queen’ director, set for a 2026 release, used the platform to call for equity riders in contracts, mandating diverse crews.

Gold House, which honored Liu in 2022, reported a 15 percent drop in Asian hires at major studios post-2023, per internal audits. Liu’s speech, lasting 12 minutes, pivoted to optimism, praising indie successes like ‘Past Lives’—a 2023 Best Picture nominee grossing $25 million on a $5 million budget. He urged allies to amplify marginalized voices, referencing his executive producer role on ‘The Family Recipe’ with 40 percent Asian crew.

The panel, moderated by journalist Jessica J. Lee, featured Liu alongside ‘Beef’ creator Lee Sung Jin, who corroborated stalled pilots amid budget cuts. Liu’s trajectory includes ‘Atlas’ on Netflix, which streamed to 90 million views in 2024, yet he noted typecasting persists. “Success doesn’t erase bias,” he said, citing a 2025 McKinsey report on DEI rollbacks costing studios $1.5 billion in talent flight.

As Hollywood navigates SAG-AFTRA residuals battles, Liu’s call resonates amid 2025’s slate: ‘Thunderbolts*’ features Asian co-lead Florence Kasumba, while ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ boasts expanded Na’vi diversity. Liu, repped by WME, plans a 2026 action-comedy pitch centering Asian ensembles. His advocacy builds on 2021’s #StopAsianHate surge, which prompted 20 percent more Asian scripts greenlit that year.

This moment highlights ongoing tensions, with the Asian American Foundation tracking a 22 percent rise in anti-Asian incidents since 2020. Liu’s platform, amplified by 2.5 million Instagram followers, positions him as a change agent. ‘Shang-Chi’ director Destin Daniel Cretton praised him on social media: “Simu’s voice is the future.” Studios face pressure as global markets, including China at $7.4 billion in 2024 box office, demand authentic portrayals.

Liu’s critique arrives as ‘The Family Recipe’ eyes a March 2026 premiere, co-starring Padma Lakshmi and Randall Park. The series, budgeted at $40 million for eight episodes, explores cultural reclamation through food, shot in Toronto with local Asian talent comprising 60 percent of cast. Liu emphasized mentorship, having shadowed ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ producers Jon M. Chu and Kevin Kwan.

Broader industry shifts include Netflix’s 2025 inclusion fund, allocating $100 million for Asian creators, up from $50 million in 2023. Yet Liu warned against performative gestures, pointing to canceled shows like ‘Pachinko’ Season 3 amid Apple’s cost reviews. His words at the A100 Gala, viewed by 500,000 livestreamers, sparked #AsiansInAnything trending with 150,000 posts.

As 2026 Oscars loom, Liu’s push could influence campaigns for films like ‘The Amateur,’ starring Rami Malek. His unfiltered stance recalls Awkwafina’s 2018 Golden Globes speech, which boosted Asian visibility by 18 percent per Nielsen. Liu concluded: “Representation isn’t a trend—it’s a right.”