Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is set to break new ground for the Marvel Cinematic Universe when it hits theaters on September 3, 2021. The first nearly all-Asian cast for Marvel Studios has recently been overshadowed by the Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17, 2021) trailer, and the latest superhero film has been called an “experiment” but the Disney CEO, which had led to some conspiracy theories that Marvel Studios is not giving the Marvel film its due.
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Awkwafina recently sat down withThe Hollywood Reporter to talk about her audition for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and her experience meeting the star Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) for the first time.
Awkwafina said:
“I remember testing with Simu that day, and he was nervous. I was nervous, too. I was like, ‘I hope I don’t get fired in the process of chemistry reading’.”
She was the first person cast for the next movie coming in Marvel’s Phase 4, and Simu Liu was not cast as Shaun/Shang-Chi until near the end of the casting process. However, since the Golden Globe-winning actress was cast, she has faced an uphill battle while promoting the film.
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Recently, a 2017 interview Awkwafina did with Vice resurfaced and went viral. During the interview from a few years ago, Awkwafina (who’s real name is Nora Lum, as Awkwafina is a stage name) said:
“I refuse to do accents. I’m not OK with someone writing the Asian experience for an Asian character. I make it very clear, I don’t ever go out for auditions where I feel like I’m making a minstrel out of our people.”
Now, some Marvel fans are planning a boycott of the film as they accuse star Awkwafina (Katy) for cultural appropriation, claiming she has built her career on a “blaccent”. “Blaccent”, a blend of the words Black and accent, is the imitation of African American Vernacular English by non-Black people. In the past, Awkwafina was critiqued for using a “blaccent” in the past, and many continue to point out the actress, comedian, and musician’s use of a “blaccent” throughout her career.
Fans took Twitter to lambast the actress for her use of a “blaccent,” and now many are planning on not seeing the film because of Awkwafina.
One example is this Tweet from Mia Tsai, who said:
“awkwafina won’t do accents but will drop rap songs in a “blaccent” and won’t apologize for using it for fame. got it … that’s an interesting word choice there. “minstrel””
awkwafina won't do accents but will drop rap songs in a "blaccent" and won't apologize for using it for fame. got it
that's an interesting word choice there. "minstrel" https://t.co/3EASUbgWvf
— Mia Tsai (@itsamia) August 16, 2021
Twitter user Virgo added that because of this they and many others will not being seeing the Marvel movie:
“no one is coming to see ShangChi, and Awkwafina is anti-Black with her appropriated Blaccent, as so many others have pointed out. No one is going to sit in a theater during a pandemic to watch her for two hours.”
You can take this down, because no one is coming to see #ShangChi, and Awkwafina is anti-Black with her appropriated Blaccent, as so many others have pointed out. No one is going to sit in a theater during a pandemic to watch her for two hours.
— Openly Virgo #StopLine3 (@fangirlsmash) August 16, 2021
And BeaucoupMila adds:
“awkwafina and her Blaccent will be the reason I don’t go and see shangchi I just don’t feel comfortable with her overt cultural appropriation. #ShangChi #culturalappropriation #blaccent
@awkwafina and her Blaccent will be the reason I don’t go and see @shangchi I just don’t feel comfortable with her overt cultural appropriation. #ShangChi #culturalappropriation #blaccent
— جميلة نجمة (@BeaucoupMila) August 20, 2021
However, co-star Simu Liu has had nothing but kind words for Awkwafina and has thanked her for her kindness on set, saying:
“I mean it was like imposter syndrome every single day. […] Truly it was-it was such a such a treat and, uh, it was all I could do just not to mess it up, you know. Um, when I was first cast, I did my final screen test with Nora, and she did such like a wonderful job of putting me at ease.”
Other fans have come out on Awkwafina’s side, stating that her “blaccent” is actually a typical Queens accent. Awkwafina was born Nora Lum on June 2, 1988, in Stony Brook, Long Island, and she has dramatized her experience in the critically acclaimed Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, which is currently airing on Comedy Central.
Sarah on Twitter said:
“False! She isn’t doing a “black accent” Fact! Her name is awkwafina and she’s from Queens and that’s how she actually talks….get a grip people.”
False! She isn’t doing a “black accent”
Fact! Her name is @awkwafina and she’s from Queens and that’s how she actually talks….get a grip people https://t.co/8ensQw30tM— Sarah 😝😝 (@StepTFup_KAIyle) April 24, 2018
This comes both at a time when the United States has experienced a rise in hate crimes against Asians and as the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus has cases rising and fans are more reluctant to head to theaters.
Stephen Major said:
“Well I’m sure as heck not going to a theater with Delta Covid, not that I could anyway since all the local theaters went out of business this past year. Fortunately I’m not concerned with Shang-Chi spoilers and can just wait an extra month and a half to see it.”
Well I'm sure as heck not going to a theater with Delta Covid, not that I could anyway since all the local theaters went out of business this past year. Fortunately I'm not concerned with Shang-Chi spoilers and can just wait an extra month and a half to see it. https://t.co/0KPlhIAZFF
— Stephen Major (@StephenMajor) August 12, 2021
Related: ‘Shang-Chi’ Star Auditioned Using Famous Black Widow Pose
Disney made the decision not to a simultaneous Disney+ and theatrical release with Shang-Chi after the controversy that followed their release of Black Widow (2021) starring Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow. Johansson is currently suing Disney for “cannibalizing” ticket sales by releasing it on the Disney+ streaming service the same day Black Widow came out in theaters.
Marvel Studios officially describes Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as:
“Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi’s friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, as well as Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng.”
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and head writer David Callaham, the latest entry in the MCU signals that Marvel boss Kevin Feige is committed to increasing the diversity in the Marvel Universe as it expands to the new Marvel Multiverse.
Let us know if you are planning to see Shang-Chi in theaters.
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