Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘Mulan’ Star Tzi Ma (Who Played Jack Bauer's Nemesis on 24) Recalls Racist Attack, Advocates for Others to #WashTheHate
Variety ^ | March 19, 2020 | AUDREY CLEO YAP

Posted on 03/19/2020 5:05:52 PM PDT by EdnaMode

“Mulan” star Tzi Ma is frequently recognized for his many film and television roles, including in last year’s indie hit “The Farewell” and the “Rush Hour” films. But it was an encounter weeks ago that has stayed with him.

Ma had visited a Whole Foods grocery store in Pasadena, Calif., when a car approached him as he made his way to the entrance.

“He rolls down the window and goes, ‘You should be quarantined,’ and then he took off,” Ma told Variety. He said he stood, speechless, before unleashing screams at the verbal assaulter, who was by then long gone.

“I just went numb. You know how you go cold? You just go cold and numb,” he said. “This is emotional. This affected my psyche.”

Ma, who is Chinese American, is not alone. Since the coronavirus pandemic has spread around the globe, so has a virus of a different type: racism and xenophobia directed at the Asian American community in the form of verbal and physical assaults, which have undergone an alarming uptick since the outbreak started.

President Trump’s insistence on calling the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” has many Asian Americans on edge that they will be subject to more hate crimes if they’re in public spaces, doing routine things like taking public transportation.

To combat coronavirus-related anti-Asian sentiment and raise awareness of anti-Asian bigotry, Ma and other Asian American celebrities, with IW Group, launched the #WashTheHate social media campaign on Wednesday. Participants — including Ma, Celia Au (“Wu Assassins”), Ludi Lin (“Power Rangers,” “Black Mirror”) and Osric Chau (“Supernatural”) — have posted videos of themselves washing their hands for 20 seconds while sharing a personal story about how the virus has impacted their lives.

The CDC says washing one’s hands thoroughly for 20 seconds is an effective way to prevent people from getting sick and is considered a first line of defense for stopping the spread of viruses, like coronavirus.

“It’s a time for us to come together and not be racist,” Au said. “How are we going to fight this disease together when we’re all segregated and everyone’s pigeon-holing one another?”

Korean American actor Daniel Dae Kim, who revealed on Thursday that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, echoed the sentiment in video posted to Instagram, saying, “Please, please stop the prejudice and senseless violence against Asian people. Randomly beating elderly, sometimes homeless Asian Americans is cowardly, heartbreaking and it’s inexcusable. Yes, I’m Asian, and yes, I have coronavirus, but I did not get it from China. I got it in America, in New York City.”

Ma added that he hopes other members of the Asian American community will continue to take heed if they head out into public spaces.

“I think we all need to be very vigilant. I think we all need to be a little bit more hypersensitive to our surroundings, keep our eyes and ears open,” he said.

He would also like perpetrators of anti-Asian racism to question their own motives.

“Does it stop the virus? I don’t think so. Does it make you immune to the virus? I don’t think so. With this kind of hatred, you’re going to be sick, ‘cause it can’t be good for you,” Ma said.

Disney’s “Mulan” held its premiere event in Hollywood on March 9 ahead of a scheduled Mar. 27 global bow in theaters. But coronavirus-related fears, and the closing of theaters in the U.S. and China, have delayed its release.

Ma sees the film’s postponement as a blessing in disguise, as he hopes a later release might put the film on the awards season radar, especially Yifei Liu, who stars in the title role.

“If you look at Yifei’s performance, it’s really Oscar worthy in my mind,” he said. “I believe the cast has tremendous potential in being recognized.”


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Local News; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 24; ca; california; ccp; cheng; chengzhi; china; chinesevirus; corona; coronavirus; fakehatecrime; hatecrimehoax; hoax; hollywood; jackbauer; jussiesmollett; jussietzima; mulan; tzima; washthehate
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last
Did the perpetrator yell "this is MAGA Country" before driving away?
1 posted on 03/19/2020 5:05:52 PM PDT by EdnaMode
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Must’ve been Jussie Smollet in a drive by


2 posted on 03/19/2020 5:08:32 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Just be glad there is no Democrat in the White House. We had a Democrat president one time who rounded up Asians and put them in internment camps. No Republican would ever do a thing like that, so at least be grateful for Trump.


3 posted on 03/19/2020 5:08:43 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (If White Privilege is real, why did Elizabeth Warren lie about being an Indian?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Yeah let’s let Communist China kill thousands upon thousands of people because of this stupid story.


4 posted on 03/19/2020 5:10:01 PM PDT by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

I hear that the FBI is going to search night and day for this person.... Shirley, this hate crime MUST be real this time!


5 posted on 03/19/2020 5:11:19 PM PDT by Professional
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode
Did the perpetrator yell "this is MAGA Country" before driving away?

Yep, I'm throwing the BS flag.

“I just went numb. You know how you go cold? You just go cold and numb,” he said. “This is emotional. This affected my psyche.”

Rich, spoiled and entitled. He's desperate to be a victim. The only thing numb is in his skull.

6 posted on 03/19/2020 5:12:37 PM PDT by ETCM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Wash my ba11$


7 posted on 03/19/2020 5:12:53 PM PDT by RinaseaofDs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nifster
Has this guy been living under a rock? Blacks have a strong dislike of Asians, except when targeting them and the socialist establishment has been doing everything they can to knock them down and keep them from getting into top universities.

Asians are the wrong kind of minority.

8 posted on 03/19/2020 5:13:25 PM PDT by NativeSon ( What Would Virginia Do? #WWVD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Get over it buttercup.


9 posted on 03/19/2020 5:13:52 PM PDT by Vision (Obama corrupted, sought to weaken and fundamentally change America; he didn't plan on being stopped.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode
The person in the vehicle made a comment, so he then screams at the car as it drives away?

Who over reacted?

*Me!

*Me!

*It's about me!

10 posted on 03/19/2020 5:14:23 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Uh huh. Another day, another “victim” of “racism.”


11 posted on 03/19/2020 5:26:53 PM PDT by IronJack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Wait, he has Coronavirus and he’s complaining about racism?


12 posted on 03/19/2020 5:29:39 PM PDT by Crucial
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

How does he know he didn’t get it from a Chinese visitor to NY? There are thousands of them.


13 posted on 03/19/2020 5:29:50 PM PDT by txrefugee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Anyone care to guess what group is committing most of the physical assaults?

Here’s a hint. It’s not white rednecks, though the MSM would like you to believe that.


14 posted on 03/19/2020 5:32:59 PM PDT by hirn_man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ETCM

#idontbeliefefakehatecrimes


15 posted on 03/19/2020 5:34:35 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Sure. Suuuurrreeeee.


16 posted on 03/19/2020 5:34:39 PM PDT by stuck_in_new_orleans
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

We are turning into an outright police state and what’s the most important story?

My fee-fees were hurt because someone said mean things.

Not attacked, not beaten up, didn’t have things thrown at them, didn’t even have a massive set of insults and death wishes as Trump gets on a daily basis and FROM some of these people whining now.


17 posted on 03/19/2020 5:37:57 PM PDT by Skywise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

I am sorry that he had a bad experience...I have seen him in films.

There are many stupid people out there...That is true before this coronavirus outbreak...I don’t think this coronavirus outbreak contributed to any increase in negative perception of Asians...

I am thinking that the driver, who made comments to Mr. Ma, probably already disliked Asians any way...

I am sure Mr. Ma will be fine and move on with his life...

He probably lives in a nice house and drives a nice car...
Mr. Ma might even be more rich than that driver who made those comments...Who knows...


18 posted on 03/19/2020 5:40:02 PM PDT by L.A.Justice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

Well, hell. I’ll quit calling it the Wuhan Flu.


19 posted on 03/19/2020 5:42:01 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Gays can give blood but I can't)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdnaMode

What am I missing here? With this guy walking around with the Coronavirus, he’s putting people in danger. He should be quarantined.


20 posted on 03/19/2020 5:42:10 PM PDT by Crucial
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson