Barbie Cast Drama: Simu Liu Controversies Explained

[@WhatTheMattOfficial]

Have you seen the Barbie movie yet?

[@cripplymacdeafy]

I’ve seen approximately 6 hours of Barbie cast interviews including Simu and he seems to be liked and fit in kenough. In fact, there was a big Kenada (Canada TV) special with Ryan and Simu hamming it up together. Simu has stated that Ryan is a longtime role model to him as well. I personally like to extend added compassion to anyone in this world who is different (read: not whyt, disabled, or otherwise what who we typically see in the limelight). When you’re different, everything is more difficult and you’re judged more harshly by the world. But, maybe it’s undeserved. I dunno. And, here’s tea about Mark Wahlberg - he’s known to tip at restaurants with an autograph instead of cash and in addition to an assistant has a personal marijuana cigarette roller that accompanies him on set. Source: the locals who help him on a major film where I lived.

[@annab4r]

yep

[@nicolec8884]

Yes

[@jaykknight2248]

I was actually hoping his character would get an official doll! And the other kens from the movie.

[@nailartguy3363]

I’m sorry, but if Mark Wahlberg can create a lucrative career for himself after being _convicted_ of a horrible racially motivated attack, then Simu should be able to do the same when the worst thing he has ever done is make questionable comments on social media and say something about following in Chadwick Boseman’s footsteps. I’m getting so sick of all the “backlash” over such trivial nonsense like marginally problematic Reddit posts.

[@nailartguy3363]

@@3x157So you excuse hate crimes committed by 16 year old boys, but not mildly controversial posts on social media by adults? So Simu shouldn’t be able to make a career in Hollywood but Mark should?

[@luv4tajhanb]

Simu’s done a lot more than just make those comments about Chadwick. Look up his controversial comments about Asian women and his Reddit stuff.

[@nailartguy3363]

@@luv4tajhanb Did you miss the part where I said he made “questionable comments on social media” and “marginally problematic Reddit posts”?

[@YmustTh3w0rldG0r0und]

I know things like that about race, the transgenderism, woke Hollywood, it's all a distraction from the really serious issues. Things like our economy and our government giving away billions that they claimed it didn't have for funding child Care, health Care, education, aiding the homeless, the capability of eliminating student debt, etc. to fund a war overseas that has nothing to do with us.

[@LS-bb9qh]

Agreed. Forgive actual violence but not words. Okay.

[@keghan4824]

If people tried half as hard as they did with this “evidence” to hate any celebrity, they’d find enough to do so easily.

[@carly7522]

That's the Chadwick Boseman controversy?? He was honoured to be compared to a great person and he is following in Chadwick's footsteps by being a non white leading actor in a Marvel movie. Social media is really letting people just hate together. He seems like a guy who held some opinions and is trying to be the best person he can now.

[@jerkysans]

I don't know how people on the internet never tire of finding people to hate over nothing. As Heidi would say "focus on your damn self."

[@surrealistgirlx]

I loved Simu in Kim's Convenience Store. I understand the sensitivity regarding Simu comparing himself to Chadwick Bozeman. Chadwick's performance was iconic. It was the first live action Disney movie featuring a Black main character and cast. The movie was a financial blockbuster. It was a turning point for Disney and other studios finally realizing the profitability of Black films. In the midst of a pandemic which originated in China millions of people died hate crimes against Asians skyrocketed; people were being threatened, assaulted and murdered. Simu and many other Asian actors brought attention to these hate crimes. Simu starred in the first Marvel/Disney movie featuring an Asian main character and cast. Crazy Rich Asians was extremely popular and financially successful. They were also turning points for Disney and other film studios realization that there was a large international audience for Asian films. Movie casts will shade each other. Check out the Marvel cast interviews they always make digs on each other. Ryan totally ragged on Russell Crowe in interviews for The Good Guys. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have had a hysterically funny "rivalry" for years. I am very progressive however I think sometimes we need to lighten up.

[@mimsycookiiess]

Yeah I think what people are missing is that a lot of these people who are stretching things to make simu look worse don’t genuinely care about being progressive or good people; they just want any reason to try to look like a good person and create drama while people the people they’re supposed to be advocating for under the bus

[@KH-Koenigsberg]

Actually it was Simu who told Ryan not to touch him like that. If you watch the footage carefully. SIMU: Don't do that! RYAN: You don't want? SIMU: It's too tender! RYAN: Oh fair enough. I personally don't think that the other cast members have a problem with Simu, I think people on social media are creating unnecessary drama that doesn't exist. But people on social media need something to complain about or someone to hate on.

[@impjbtw]

its not what they said but go off. its actually the exact opposite

[@MatiasEzze]

My take on that video from the red carpet is that they were kinda acting like Ken and Simu Ken, because they are pretty much enemies in the movie.

[@EmilyDayzie]

Thanks for the easy to digest breakdown! I just saw Barbie Friday and to think people said Ryan couldn't be Ken because hes"too old" He was so perfect!! I do think a lot of the things people are saying about Simu is a bit overblown. He is problematic no doubt but I think there are a lot of "playful" comments being taken out of context.

[@ManubibiWalsh]

Yeah like America Ferrera’s bit was OBVIOUSLY a joke, and Ryan’s too. Like, the guy’s been in show business for pretty much his entire life, he would definitely know better than to say something unpleasant and petty to a co-star in front of the media. But eh, terminally online people’s brains are smoother than a mirror.

[@actualkarenokboomer3158]

Actually, Margot and Issa, along with most of the Barbies are too young to be president because you have to be 35 and Ryan was 40 when it was filmed and if she is 35 then 40 isn't too old. Barbie is a career woman, so how young would they think Ken should be. Is she a cougar. We all wish we looked as good at 40 as Ryan Gosling.

[@witchingbrew3]

This is really hard to find but I did some digging on reddit. Yes, of allll places. He had a reputation back in Canada within the female Asian community of being an "Asian bro". Very frat boy early 2010s party style type of guy. Who hung out with white guys and picked up their toxic habits. So over the years it's been whispers he's like that and to warn other Asian women against dating him. Take that what you will but that's some layers to that.

[@ManubibiWalsh]

Ok well, it’s 2023 now. So even if that’s true, it’s completely possible that he did some growing up. Everybody did or said some stupid/offensive/insecure shit in life. People should just find a hobby instead of getting obsessed with hating someone else. Maybe they could just go outside and touch grass and talk to a real person every now and then.

[@youarebeingtrolled6954]

Those AFs wouldnt have a problem with him if he was white😂😂😂

[@PassionPi]

I can’t speak to what he’s like personally, and I haven’t followed him in a while, but I think his issue is he’s just too online. I didn’t know about all these controversies but I know of a few others where he gets himself into trouble by being on IG and Twitter too much, and letting things get to him that he feels he needs to respond to or post about. I do think the Barbie cast is joking around with him though

[@whatgsaid]

Honestly, about the posing for pictures, it kinda looked like this was more feedback about how to best channel Kenergy as part of the joke. The Kens would channel as much bro energy as possible and wouldn’t be tender with each other, hence the pose suggestion from Ryan.

[@speca]

As much as I enjoy drag race, I am also really enjoying this channel Matt ❤

[@mimsycookiiess]

Same!

[@daisywang]

Doesn't seem offensive. Just not politically correct. He's genuine.

[@mimsycookiiess]

I mean what he said WAS offensive. Does it make him a bad person? I don’t think so and I think digging up things that say nothing about his character now isn’t right ; however just because he isn’t a bad person doesn’t mean he didn’t say bad things in the past. It just means that he doesn’t agree with the things he said

[@pabloferreira1451]

My god, these random haters need to relax.

[@Alicia-eq5wz]

Idk I just feel like looking back at Reddit posts from 10 years ago is a bit much. I posted some cringy sh*t ten years ago too, we were all young and dumb once. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@yupitsjessbbyx3]

I don’t think I’ve ever been this early to a video

[@k-van]

This "drama" is pretty dumb. We stand with Simu.

[@Wain2007_Kalos]

Obviously, you would 😅.. I am not even surprised since you seem like one of those people who have an affection for Asian people and are obsessed with Asian culture. Clearly make sense for me

[@jack_moee]

​@@Wain2007_Kalos lol spot on

[@k-van]

@@Wain2007_Kalos not you coming for me with that profile picture. And I might like SOME asian people but that doesn't mean I will defend them if they're wrong. I'm not obsessed with a race. I just like Korean music, make no mistake.

[@isaidwhatIsaid86]

Out of all the more attractive Asian Actors they could have found… WHY HIM? If they wanted a Asian Ken, cool. There is literally a whole Asian continent out there they could have found some real GEMS. 😂😂😂

[@PumpkinSpikey]

This is interesting cause this the first I’ve heard of any of this. Kinda seems like a big nothing burger. Especially when the catalyst and justification for hating him based on his unconfirmed contention to this Reddit account. I think there’s probably just a very devoted hater stirring up drama. It’s probably someone he went to school with who hates that he’s become successful and they just want to bring him down. It’s really common for celebrities to have one person they knew before they popped off who is obviously trying to ruin them. But if he did really say those things that sucks ass and I hope that he’s actually grown as person.

[@DanielVazquez-td5wc]

People are as usual exaggerating 🙄

[@ozziepez88]

For the whole typecast joke I think that’s more about his character and Kim convenience because he also played a dumb jock character.

[@breathless_siren]

I love this expansion of your content.

[@millicentshow]

Poor old Simu; the B cast seem to be suggesting he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed and his online presence seems to reinforce that. 😢

[@Harlsquinn420]

Omfg I’ve been watching the drag race channel for years not knowing you had this channel time to catch up lol 💝😂

[@jasonfischer9857]

These reddit comments are years and years old. People really do change though and especially say dumb things when theyre young.

[@andysimmons1842]

Simu is hella hot!!

[@bluesbulletin]

This is petty AF. 😂

[@periscope7731]

Front of camera talent (actors and models) should be like blank canvases: Seen and not heard. Your job is to suspend reality. We don’t want to be confronted with your background chatter, prejudices and opinions. All you are doing is alienating yourself from casting directors and a potential fan base.

[@Manchester1990]

Love your new channel Matt

[@WhatTheMattOfficial]

Thank you 🙏

[@5sieben2.15]

Oh man, what a time we live in. The lengths people go to in order to find sth offensive especially about those in the public eye is bewildering. Not that it's wrong, it's just way too much. How many of those who take so much of their time demanding that degree of political correctness in others are projecting hypocrites within their own private life. It's out of hand and muddling

[@actualkarenokboomer3158]

If Barbie can be president, then she has to be at least 35, so Ken being 40 when it was filmed isn't too old. Margot Robbie and Issa Rae are both too young to be president, so they must be too young to be Barbie. I think the argument is stupid because Barbie was always a career girl.

[@DrSeuss-nw3px]

Thank you for the breakdown 🙏

[@MrYasminoc]

I like your videos a lot! :) Especially "for those of you who don't know,..." ❤

[@ManubibiWalsh]

So... a whole load of nothing. Like yeah, sure, the comments. But people should be seen for who they are and how they carry themself NOW, not for how they were years ago. And also, we all said some dumb shit online, it’s just that most people don’t have a crowd of people obsessed with clout combing through our entire online presence. Also he deleted that account, which means he doesn’t identify with those comments anymore. So whatever. Nobody is perfect. I’m not even his fan and I mostly don’t care for him, but seriously it seems just another case of terminally online people blowing something way out of proportion, as people have been doing more and more often. His performance was fine in the things I saw him in, that’s what matters.

[@sanjumitra1]

....seriously, he seems like a really nice guy what is the big deal exactly?

[@TheNormalAsian]

I loved the movie except for him. He and a lot of the Asian community don't like him. He beleaves himself as the magnum opus of Asians in Amrican media.

[@downtomars6268]

How ironic for you to say.

[@rikoaida8779]

Simu Liu being the new Brie Larson

[@vivienne192]

WTF is wrong with Mark Wahlberg

[@egisantoso949]

Today netizen problem is In the past comment 🎉

[@wildemind1]

This might explain some of his more recent vomit-inducing virtue-signaling.

[@steevenhyde3505]

Ryan was being a jerk on the red carpet.

[@Visayan]

Nope just misunderstanding

[@chibom0n]

why!!!! was the barbie movie so focused on babying ken! the words they were saying were “girls have to behave a certain way to appease men” AND THEN THE ENDING IS JUST APPEASING MEN! WHERES BARBIES SOLO???