PHOTOS'Crazy Rich Asians' Director Jon M. Chu Responds To Brenda Song's Claim She Was Told She Was 'Not Asian Enough' To Audition
Brenda Song recently made a claim in the recent issue of Teen Vogue that was was denied the chance to audition for director Jon M. Chu's 2018 romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians because she was not considered 'Asian enough' for the job. The filmmaker clapped back at the Disney Channel alum and denied her accusations.
In the interview, published on November 20, Brenda, 31, revealed she was excited that a movie was being made based on the best selling book series of the same name by Kevin Kwan. She was a fan of the series and asked her manger to reach to the production team to score her an audition.
Unfortunately, the Dollface star's manager admitted that the producers were not even considering her for a role. “A lot of people don’t know this, but I never got to read for Crazy Rich Asians, ever,” Brenda said. “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?'” Brenda continued.
Jon, 40, tweeted a response and wrote, "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!"
The Step Up 3D director continued, "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."
After auditioning debacle, Brenda took some time off to relax and reload. “I got myself together and said, ‘Brenda, there is only one you, and you can’t change who you are. You can’t change your past.’ I am so grateful for every job that I’ve done,” she told the publication. “All I can do is continue to put good auditions out there, do the best that I can — that’s all I can ask for.”
What are your thoughts on what Brenda and Jon had to say? Sound off in the comments below!
