It's Official: HUNTR/X Will Perform at the Oscars

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Oscars Producers Confirm, Detail Special 'Sinners' and 'KPop Demon Hunter' "Moments"

The producers of the 98th Academy Awards have confirmed that this year's Oscar ceremony will feature special "moments" celebrating two of 2025’s most popular movies, Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters. That means, as we all hoped and predicted since the moment the movie hit Netflix, we will get to see EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami -- the ladies of HUNTR/X -- performing "Golden" on the Oscar stage. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the performance will include a fusion of traditional Korean instrumentalists and dance celebrating the folklore and cultural inspiration behind Kpop Demon Hunters. Cool.

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Bait - Official Trailer

"Did Daniel Craig die?" Check out the new trailer for the upcoming Riz Ahmed comedy series Bait. Ahmed as Shah Latif, a struggling actor, whose last chance to hit it big comes in the form of an audition of a lifetime. The series follows him over the course of four wild days as his life spirals out of control and his family, ex-lover and the entire world weigh in on whether he is the right man for the job. Bait premieres March 25 on Prime Video.

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"None of us need your hateful 'love.'"

Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and François Arnaud posted matching statements to their Instagram stories on Monday, telling off viewers who post hate comments on their castmates' socials."Don't call yourself a fan if you share racist/homophobic/biphobic/misogynist/ageist/ableist/parasocial/bigoted comments of any kind," read the posts. "None of us need your hateful 'love.' We all respect and support and love each other and are on the same side. If you can't accept that gtfoh." That means Get The Fuck Outta Here, my friends.

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Olympian Alysa Liu Has Also Inspired Fans Off the Ice — in the Hair Salon

You know Alysa Liu as the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in women’s single figure skating since 2002. And even if you don't know anything else about her, you recognize her iconic hair -- which is now inspiring a wave of alternative hairstyles emulating her distinctive "raccoon" rings.

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Peter S. Kim: Rice Piglet

Peter S. Kim, one of the funniest standup comics in the land, has dropped his debut comedy special on YouTube. In Rice Piglet, Peter tackles outrageous immigrant lies, the Korean church system, late in life gay horror stories, aging ungracefully and much more. Watch it and spread the word.

Stabbing in San Francisco Chinatown Caught on Video

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Shocking daylight stabbing in SF’s Chinatown caught on video

A man was arrested after stabbing another man in the back on a busy street in San Francisco's Chinatown Thursday afternoon. The unprovoked attack was caught on surveillance video, which shows a man in a hoodie walking down Stockton Street, and then violently lunging at a man who was waiting at the corner to cross the street. The victim was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and is expected to survive. The suspect, described as an Asian man in his 30s, was held on charges of attempted murder.

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U.S. citizen stopped at O'Hare, detained by immigration officials for nearly 30 hours

A U.S. citizen from the Chicago area spent nearly 30 hours in custody by federal immigration officials after she was detained at O’Hare Airport following a work trip Thursday. Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi and five colleagues, including two other U.S. citizens and three individuals with green cards, were all detained at the airport by federal immigration agents for their "recent travel history" after returning from Istanbul.

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Didn't Die

Here's a very different take on the zombie movie... In Didn't Die, directed by Meera Menon, a podcast host struggles to maintain her dwindling audience during the zombie apocalypse, but when her ex shows up with an orphaned baby, priorities shift in order to battle the ever-mutating threat. Starring Kiran Deol, Didn't Die premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and is currently in limited theatrical release.

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LAAPFF Festival Pass

Film fans, if you're in Los Angeles, and you want to support Asian American cinema, mark your calendars for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Visual Communications, happening April 29 to May 3. Better yet, go one step further and purchase a Festival Pass. It's the best way to fest. And a great deal. And an awesome way to support Visual Communications. Purchasing a Festival Pass helps offset rising venue, staffing, and accessibility costs — allowing Visual Communications to keep individual ticket prices lower and sustain artist support. Get yours here.

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JVKE x JEON SOMI - moonboy (official live video)

I cannot resist the charm of this dreamy new song collaboration from Jeon Somi and JVKE: "moonboy," a catchy pop-love duet that captures the thrill of falling head over heels.

They Call Us Hoppers

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.

What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome back Daniel Chong, director of the Disney/Pixar animated feature Hoppers. They discuss the silly, unlikely pitch for "Penguin Avatar" that actually got the green light; centering an angry Asian young woman at the heart of this adventure (and why this movie arrives amidst an incredible moment for animated Asian movie heroines); and all the fun world-building that goes into crafting a story set in the animal kingdom. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Hoppers. This episode is sponsored by Chinese Republicans, a new play from Roundabout Theatre Company.

Maybe Happy Ending Cast Perform NPR Tiny Desk Concert

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.



Maybe Happy Ending: Tiny Desk Concert

What can robots teach us about humanity and about love? Maybe Happy Ending, the 2025 Tony Award winner for best musical, tells the unlikely story of two humanoid robots, as they fall in love while on a road trip. The show, including stars Darren Criss, Helen J. Shen, Marcus Choi, Dez Duron -- and Hwaboon -- recently paid a visit to NPR's Tiny Desk for a delightfully tiny performance.

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BEEF: Season 2 | Official Teaser

Netflix has released the first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated second season of Beef from showrunner Lee Sung Jin. Trading the parking lot for the country club, the new season begins when a young couple witnesses an alarming fight between their boss and his wife -- setting off a high-stakes game of favors and coercion within an elitist world ruled by a Korean billionaire. Season two premieres April 16.

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Chinatown Street to Be Named for Rescuer of Trafficked Girls

A stretch of street in San Francisco's Chinatown will be named to publicly honor one of the neighborhood’s fiercest heroes. Tien Fuh Wu spent half a century rescuing trafficked women and girls and taking care of them at the Occidental Mission Home, which was later renamed Cameron House. "Tien Fuh Wu Way" will cover the portion of Joice Street that runs alongside Cameron House, which continues to be a safe haven for children, as well as women dealing with domestic violence.

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The Many Lives of Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh talks about playing five different characters in Sean Baker's new film Sandiwara, how Quentin Tarantino convinced her not to retire, that viral "Wicked Witch" meme, and the highs and lows of her storied career. "If there's no up and down," she says, "you've flatlined."

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Hoppers Is the Craziest Pixar Movie Yet, and It Could Have Been Even Crazier

The new Pixar animated feature Hoppers involves body-swapping and flying sharks, both of which are absolute insanity from start to finish. But director Daniel Chong reveals that while the movie as it stands is admittedly crazy, it could have been a whole lot crazier.

This Massive Alysa Liu Mural is Oakland as Hell

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Alysa Liu now has her own massive Oakland mural

Last week, artist unveiled the first mural in Oakland honoring Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Liu. The Illuminaries, a local graffiti artist group, designed and painted a mural in the Temescal neighborhood, on the corner of Telegraph and 43rd Streetm to celebrate the hometown hero.

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Buddhist Church of Sacramento vandalized with white nationalist symbols

Last month, vandals spray-painted hate symbols and white nationalist graffiti on the exterior walls of Buddhist Church of Sacramento. The church has a large population of Japanese Americans, and the vandalism occurred on February 19, the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of over 100,000 Japanese citizens and immigrants during World War II. The community's efforts to clean up the graffiti have reportedly been... challenging.

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Rev. Jesse Jackson offered powerful support to Asian Americans

Community leaders remember Jesse Jackson’s support of the Asian American community dating back decades. From seeking justice for Vincent Chin to condemning anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, the late civil rights icon embraced Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in his Rainbow Coalition, which united marginalized people for social justice.

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In The Latest Edition of 'You’re Not Korean Enough,' the Internet Attacks a Transnational Adoptee

"In another edition of You're Not Korean Enough, we have a contingent of cruel and clueless people on the internet who are taking a Korean adoptee to task for not being a real Korean. Why? Because she initially mispronounced the name of a Korean folk song, "Arirang" (아리랑)."

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Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and EJAE perform 'Golden'

Your girls did it again. Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and EJAE, the singing voices of Huntr/x from Kpop Demon Hunters, lit up the Manchester skies with this epic performance of "Golden" at the 2026 BRIT Awards.

Burmese Refugee Abandoned by Border Patrol Found Dead

And Other Items of Note from Angry Asian America.

Nearly blind refugee abandoned by US border patrol found dead in Buffalo

A nearly blind Burmese refugee who was abandoned by border patrol agents has been found dead in Buffalo, New York. Following his release from a holding center, immigration officials dropped off 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam, who spoke little English, at a coffee shop miles from his home. His body was found five days later.

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Asian American residents targeted in 8 Fairfax County burglaries

In Fairfax County, Virginia, police are investigating a string of home burglaries targeting Asian American residents. Between January 12 and February 21, suspects entered eight homes scattered throughout the county, stealing cash, jewelry, handbags, gold bars and even safes that had been bolted to the floor. The victims have been primarily Asian American small business owners.

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KPop Demon Hunters Songwriter EJAE Put Her Whole Heart - and Her Past - into "Golden"

For over a decade, Kim Eun-jae, aka EJAE, trained to become a K-pop idol under SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's top agencies. But the label deemed her too tall and her voice too low and husky -- and ultimately decided not to debut her. But that rejection turned out to be a "redirection."

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Vang: The Olympic loyalty test no one asked for

"This winter, two Asian American women, Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu, soared across Olympic ice and snow. One wrapped herself in the Stars and Stripes. The other chose to compete for China. And suddenly the country had very strong opinions about Asian daughters. I learned the quickest way to make America nervous is to let an Asian American woman make her own decisions, especially if she wins a gold medal."

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Muralist honors gold medal Olympian Alysa Liu with mural

Seen on the streets of Gardena, California: a tribute to Olympic gold medalist figure skater Alysa Liu.

She Was Arrested For Standing at the State of the Union

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

DHS Assault Victim Aliya Rahman Arrested at State of the Union Address

Rep. Ilhan Omar's guest for the State of the Union address Tuesday night said she was hospitalized and arrested during President Donald Trump's speech. Aliya Rahman was removed from the chamber and spent several hours in jail following what she describes as an aggressive arrest by Capitol Police -- all for silently challenging Trump during the speech. "There are only two things you can do at the State of the Union, and they are sit down and stand up," says Rahman. "I was arrested for standing up."

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KPop Demon Hunters | Hot Ones Versus

Arden Cho, EJAE, May Hong, Audrey Nuna, Ji-young Yoo, and Rei Ami -- the voices behind the Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated blockbuster Kpop Demon Hunters -- go head-to-head with the Wings of Death on the latest episode of Hot Ones Versus. They have two choices: tell the truth, or suffer the wrath of the Last Dab. Whoever eats the most wings, loses! Highly entertaining.

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May 17 could become 'Bruce Lee Day' in California

A member of the California State Assembly has authored a bill that would establish May 17 as Bruce Lee Day, an annual, statewide observance honoring the martial arts icon. If adopted, it would make Bruce Lee the first Chinese American commemorated with a day in California State Law.

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Korean Beauty is Booming. My Korean Beauty Brand Is Closing.

Not every K-beauty brand is benefiting from the category's viral success. In his own words, Good Light founder David Yi shares his story—and why, after five years, he's made the agonizing decision to shutter his brand.

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American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism by Scott Kurashige

Pre-order this book! Five years after the Atlanta-area spa shootings -- and amid renewed national debates over hate crimes, immigration, state violence, and American imperialism -- historian and activist Scott Kurashige offers a sweeping new history of anti-Asian racism in the United States in American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism. Hits shelves on April 7.

The Most Anticipated Book of the Year

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America

Cover Reveal: American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee

Behold, the freshly revealed cover for American Hagwon, the highly anticipated forthcoming novel from acclaimed Pachinko author Min Jin Lee. Described as "a panoramic and emotionally riveting portrait of one family’s pursuit of success in a perpetually shifting world," American Hagwon is set from Korea to Australia to Southern California and tracks the journey of a middle-class Korean family upended by the Asian financial crisis and hoping to regain its bearings. American Hagwon hits shelves on September 29.

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'Hamlet' Trailer: Riz Ahmed Leads Gritty Modern Shakespeare Adaptation

This looks awesome. Check out the trailer for Hamlet, a contemporary film re-imagining of William Shakespeare's play. Riz Ahmed takes on the titular role of a man avenging his father's death and taking on his family's corrupt empire. Set in London's elite South Asian community, Hamlet (Ahmed) returns home for his father's funeral, where he's shocked to learn his uncle Claudius (Art Malik) is marrying his newly widowed mother Gertrude (Sheeba Chaddha). During a visit from his father's ghost (Avijit Dutt), Hamlet discovers Claudius was behind the murder, sending him on a path of vengeance and self-reflection.

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'KPop Demon Hunters' Joining Criterion Collection

Didn't see this one coming! Kpop Demon Hunters has been added to the Criterion Collection, which publishes classic and contemporary films from around the world in editions that offer the highest technical quality, as well as special behind-the-scenes supplemental materials. Heck, it's cool enough that Kpop Demon Hunters will be available as a physical home release, but getting the prestigious Criterion treatment? Awesome.

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Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce sued for trademark infringement

Asian American shoe brand 1587 Sneakers has filed a lawsuit against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, alleging trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims that the Kansas City steakhouse owned by the Chiefs' stars, 1587 Prime, is harming the sneaker's business. For what it's worth, 1587 Sneakers is named after the year 1587, to mark the year that Asians first arrived in America.

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Through 'K-Pops!,' Anderson .Paak sought deeper familial connection

"When the pandemic hit, and reality settled in that life would be isolated and mostly inside, Grammy winner Anderson .Paak found himself on the outside looking in, in a way he didn’t anticipate. "I was the odd man out. My son was 8, and BTS took over the whole house. It was a K-pop storm. Before that, me and my son were bonding off of my music."