On November 26, 2025, Simu Liu publicly criticized Hollywood for its persistent failure to represent Asian actors adequately, stressing his Simu Liu Asian representation criticism. The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star took to social media to call out the industry, expressing frustration over the marginal presence of Asians in major roles and the slow progress despite clear successes at the box office.
Striking Statements on Social Media
Liu posted a candid message on Threads, directly challenging Hollywood’s casting choices and its setbacks regarding representation.
“Put some asians in literally anything right now. The amount of backslide in our representation onscreen is f****** appalling.”
— Simu Liu, Actor
He highlighted the contradiction in studios’ attitudes, noting that while films centering Asian stories such as Minari, The Farewell, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians, and Marvel’s Shang-Chi have all been financially successful, decision-makers in Hollywood still view casting Asians as a financial gamble.
“Every single one a financial success,”
Liu pointed out, maintaining that major financially risky films rarely feature Asian leads, whereas white actors often continue to land high-profile projects even after costly failures. He drew an inequitable comparison, stating that Asian actors have never been the cause of major studio losses, yet barriers persist.
“No asian actor has ever lost a studio even close to 100 million dollars but a white dude will lose 200 million TWICE and roll right into the next tentpole lead.”
— Simu Liu, Actor
He further addressed the ingrained obstacles for Asians in entertainment:
“We’re fighting a deeply prejudiced system. and most days it SUCKS.”
— Simu Liu, Actor
Ongoing Advocacy and Personal Experiences
Simu Liu’s advocacy against industry prejudice is not new. In 2023, he responded to claims suggesting he secured the majority of roles available to Asian men in Hollywood. The statement attempted to frame Asian opportunities as a zero-sum game, prompting a strong rebuttal on Facebook.
“Every thing I have taken post Shang-Chi was not written Asian. We’ve been able to reshape stories to get more representation onscreen. Get your facts straight.”
— Simu Liu, Actor
Liu pushed back against the notion of a “bulk” of Asian male roles and disputed the idea that more visibility for one individual comes at a loss for others.
Recent Projects and What Lies Ahead
Between 2023 and 2025, Liu appeared in a variety of projects including One True Loves, Simulant, and Barbie, while 2024 saw him in Arthur the King, Atlas, and Jackpot! His recent credits for 2025 feature Last Breath and a voiceover in In Your Dreams. He is set to reprise his role as Shang-Chi in the next year’s anticipated film, Avengers: Doomsday.
Simu Liu’s sustained call for change keeps the pressure on studios like Marvel and others to re-examine casting biases, making the fight for truly equitable Asian representation in Hollywood as urgent as ever. As the conversation around diversity, led by figures like Liu, continues to intensify, the industry’s next moves will be closely scrutinized by both audiences and advocates for change.
