Despite the global rise of Asian entertainment, a troubling reality persists: Asian celebrities continue to face dismissive treatment at prestigious Western events. From fashion weeks to international film festivals and even the Oscars, instances of subtle—and at times blatant—discrimination highlight how far the industry still has to go.
In recent years, Korean pop culture, Chinese cinema, and Japanese works have carved out a place alongside Western entertainment. Yet many Asian stars remain treated as outsiders. At Paris Fashion Week 2025, BLACKPINK’s Rosé, a global ambassador for Saint Laurent, was seated front row alongside Western celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz. However, she appeared deliberately excluded from their conversations, leaving her isolated. The backlash intensified when ELLE UK cropped her out of a group photo posted to Instagram, a move fans condemned as racist. Although the magazine later apologized, citing “image size issues,” the explanation rang hollow.
Similar moments have occurred at Cannes Film Festival, where stars such as Fan Bingbing, Han So Hee, Yoona, Tang Yan, and Wan Qianhui were hurried off the red carpet by staff despite being honored guests. IU was even shoved aside by French actress Maria Travel without an apology. Critics argue that Western stars are granted leniency on the red carpet, while Asian celebrities are often treated with impatience or outright disrespect.
Award shows have also revealed cultural insensitivity. During press for Squid Game, reporters asked Lee Jung Jae and Jung Ho Yeon patronizing questions implying they were “nobodies” before their breakout hit—ignoring their established careers as a top Korean actor and a global model, respectively. Likewise, actor Joo Ji Hoon was bluntly asked, “Do you get annoyed when people say all Asians look alike?” He cleverly responded, “We think the same about you—except maybe Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise,” turning an offensive question into a wry joke.
The most striking example came at the 2022 Oscars, when Hollywood veteran Jamie Lee Curtis mistook Korean star Lee Seo Jin for staff and handed him her bag. Though he joked about the moment later, audiences criticized the gesture as a reflection of ingrained prejudice—reducing an acclaimed Asian actor to a servant role simply due to appearance.
These incidents aren’t isolated; they stem from longstanding perceptions that position Hollywood and Europe as the “center” of entertainment, with Asian stars treated as outsiders or supporting figures. Contributing factors include outdated attitudes, limited Western media coverage of Asian talent, and language barriers that prevent stars from being fully recognized for their achievements.
Every careless slight and dismissive look is felt not only by the artists themselves but also by millions of Asian fans worldwide. The question remains: When will Asian stars be given the respect they deserve on the world stage?
Change requires effort from both sides—Western industries must shed their biases and embrace equality, while Asian artists must continue to assert their influence through talent, resilience, and global appeal. Only then can the red carpet, the fashion runway, and the awards stage become spaces where talent—not race or nationality—is the only measure of worth.
Sources: kenh14
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