Breaking into the world of Hollywood takes a lot, especially for Asian Celebrities. While many people appreciate the talent and acting skills of Asian stars, some are forced to undergo changes to shine brighter on the international scene. These 'changes' include turning their usual dark brown skin-color to a lighter complexion, following certain dress codes and even getting "Americanized" screen names.
These so-called rituals, more often than not, affect celebrities with half Caucasian blood. However, for actress-singer Chloe Bennet, changing names is a clear form of racial discrimination against the Asian-American community.
Bennet is a 25-year-old Chinese-American celebrity who stars as Daisy Johnson in ABC spy-fi series "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
According to the BBC, Chloe Bennet was forced to change her last name from Wang to Bennet to secure a spot in the Hollywood industry. She shared how her career spiraled upwards after doing so.
Chloe Bennet: Hollywood is Racist
On her Instagram account, actress Chloe Bennet showed her dismay at how some Hollywood producers would insist that she alter her name. She wrote, "Hollywood is racist and wouldn't cast me with a last name that made them uncomfortable."
This came after a fan inquired about the sudden change in her screen name. In her answer, Chloe said this move could never deny the fact that she's half-Chinese and has been living as such.
"Changing my last name doesn't change the fact that my BLOOD is half Chinese, that I lived in China, speak Mandarin or that I was culturally raised both American and Chinese. It means I had to pay my rent."
She added how she does her best to prevent any other person having to do the same as she did just to get a job. "I'm doing everything I can, with the platform I have, to make sure no one has to change their name again, just so they can get work," she wrote.
In fact, Bennet has initiated a campaign called RUN or Represent Us Now which aims for better representation of Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities in Hollywood.
Chloe Bennet Praises Ed Skrein
Prior to her Instagram comment on Hollywood racism, Chloe Bennet reportedly praised Ed Skrein for his courage to quit his casting as Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming reboot of “Hellboy." This was due to the remarks about “Whitewashing” the character who is supposedly of Asian origin.
Skrein is a British actor known for his roles in the Movie “Deadpool” and in the hit TV-series “Game of Thrones.” In his post, Skrein honors the significance of having accurate representation of characters’ cultural background thus his decision to let go of his casting.
In a statement, Bennet commended the courageous act of Skrein for standing up against the biases and insensitivity of Hollywood towards the Asian-American Community. She also hoped that this brave move of Skrein would be an inspiration to other actors and filmmakers to stand up against Hollywood racism.
