Shang-Chi Actor Simu Liu Denounces SNL's Inaction After Racist Comments

Days after videos surfaced showing new Saturday Night Live addition Shane Gillis making incredibly [...]

By Adam Barnhardt

Days after videos surfaced showing new Saturday Night Live addition Shane Gillis making incredibly racist remarks last year, various stars of since stood out in opposition to the show. That includes recently-tabbed Shang-Chi star Simu Liu, who's gone on both his Twitter and Instagram accounts speaking out against the casting.

On his Twitter feed, Liu — the Kim's Convenience star revealed as Shang-Chi at Comic-Con in July — shared an image including a racially-driven drawing of Asian-Americans from America's Industrial Age. "It wasn't funny then, and it sure as hell isn't funny today," Liu says about Gillis' re-surfaced remarks.

Earlier this week, NBC's Saturday Night Live introduced its next batch of freshmen actors to the general public, which happened to include Bowen Yang, the first full-time Asian-American actor on staff in the show's 44-year history. It also included Gillis and Chloe Fineman.

Shortly after Gillis' involvement was announced, a clip from his Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast went viral, where the "comedian" went on a rant against Chinatown, saying it was "f---ing nuts" before using a derogatory word to describe Asian. Other comments in the same breath include bits like "the translation between you and the waiter is just such a f—ing hassle," and "nice racism, good racism. I love to be f—ing racist."

The initial airing of the podcast took place September 26, 2018, not even a year ago.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings bows February 12, 2021.

Upcoming Marvel Studios projects include Black Widow on May 1, 2020, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier in Fall 2020, The Eternals on November 6, 2020, WandaVision in Spring 2021, Loki in Spring 2021, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on May 7, 2021, What If…? in Summer 2021, Hawkeye in Fall 2021, and Thor: Love and Thunder on November 5, 2021, and Black Panther 2 on May 6, 2022. Marvel Studios Disney+ series without release dates include Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk.

What do you think Shang-Chi will be about? Are there any surprise appearances you're hoping to see? Share your thoughts in the comments below or by tweeting me at @AdamBarnhardt to chat all things MCU!

Photo by George Pimentel/Contour by Getty Images

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