Simu Liu has responded to the controversial “celebrity look-a-like” game that played on the jumbotron during the 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. Liu says that he had a great experience at All-Star Weekend, but that the moment stood out and “wasn’t cool.” Many criticized the look-alike game for being racist afterward. Liu played for Team Dwyane Wade at the event. His squad defeated Team Ryan Smith by a narrow margin of 81-78. Janelle Monáe, DK Metcalf, The Miz, and more also played in the game.
“I had a great time but this wasn’t cool,” Liu wrote on Twitter afterward, before adding in a follow-up tweet, “to be perfectly clear the entire org and ops team surrounding all-star have been nothing but absolutely stellar to myself and all my friends. this was just one person with a camera. and no disrespect to my man in the videotron either! he’s gorgeous we just don’t look alike.”
Simu Liu’s Response
Many fans on social media sided with Simu Liu regarding the incident. One user wrote: “i seriously despise how people are so easily comfortable with being racist towards asian people. that fan looks nothing like simu liu at all whatsoever man.” Another added: “Just need to do away with this trend. It’s too touchy. I mean it’s always gonna ruffle feathers whether it’s about race or not. Not everyone likes getting roasted or made fun of. We lose nothing if they stop doing it honestly.” Actress Nathalie Emmanuel also came to Liu’s defense writing, “Oh absolutely not.”
Simu Liu is best known for playing the titular character in the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Looking forward, Liu will be appearing in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film, Barbie. The movie also features Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and more. It’s set to hit theaters on July 21, 2023. He is also set to star alongside Mark Wahlberg in the upcoming movie, Arthur the King. Nathalie Emmanuel will also appear in the film. In 2022, TIME named Liu one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
[Via]