Christian Metal Band Sues Netflix Over Kpop Demon Hunters

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Christian Metal Band Demon Hunter Sues Netflix Over 'KPop Demon Hunters'

The Christian metal band Demon Hunters is suing Netflix and AEG Presents over the mega-hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters, for trademark infringement and unfair competition, among other claims. The lawsuit claims that the movie has caused “a substantial likelihood of confusion” and resulted in an “existential crisis” for the band, which holds the "Demon Hunter" trademark in several categories.

"In the lawsuit the band have provided some examples of confusion that already occurred, including an email they received in February from a man asking for a refund after he spent $500 on tickets to their gig for his 5 and 6 year-old daughters in the belief he was buying tickets to see the fictional girl band."

I'm sorry, but mistakenly dropping five hundred bucks on Christian metal band tickets, thinking you're getting Kpop Demon Hunters tickets, is a level of carelessness and laziness that defies trademark infringement.

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Calif. Bill Could Create Designation for Asian-Serving Colleges

A bill moving through the California State Assembly would create a new designation for colleges in the state that serve large numbers of Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Although the bill itself doesn't allocate any money to those institutions, advocates hope that they could eventually use the designation to access funding for initiatives that improve college access, retention and completion.

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Aoife Hinds & Billy Howle To Lead BBC And A24 Series 'The Ministry Of Time'

Aoife Hinds will star in BBC and A24's drama series The Ministry of Time, based on the best-selling debut novel by Kaliane Bradley. The series is set around a newly established government department that gathers 'expats' from across history to test the viability of time-travel. Hinds plays Sophy, who achieves a hard-fought promotion in the civil service, only to learn that her role is to help a time traveller -- Victorian polar explorer Commander Gore -- acclimatize to the modern world as part of a top-secret Ministry program. The Ministiry of Time is currently filming in London.

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LEENALCHI: Live on KCRW

I absolutely love this band. Seoul-based LEENALCHI brings their undefinable pansori-infused traditional Korean vocal styling and rhythmic pop rock funk sound in-studio for a Live on KCRW session.

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Dallas Asian American Film Festival

Dallas film fans! You are invited to the inaugural Dallas Asian American Film Festival, a hyperlocal film festival showcasing Asian American film with an Asian Texan focus, presented by the Dallas Asian American Art Collective. It's happening August 28-29 in the Dallas Arts District. For information and tickets, visit daaart.org/daaff.

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's Bollywood Dance Team Battles to Be the 'Best of the Best'

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Check out the trailer for the upcoming Netflix comedy Best of the Best, set in the cutthroat world of Bollywood fusion collegiate dance. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Priyanka Kedia star as childhood best friends, Maya and Anjali, who join UCLA's competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team, only to discover that the road to winning the U.S. Championship is far more raucous and cutthroat than they ever imagined. Think Pitch Perfect by way of Bollywood. Best of the Best, directed by Lena Khan, hits Netflix on September 18.

By the way, this movie should not be confused with one of my favorite movies, the 1989 martial arts drama Best of the Best, starring Phillip Rhee, Eric Roberts and James Earl Jones. However, may I suggest that these two identically titled Best of the Best movies are part of a shared cinemamatic universe? Why not. Unless someone else convinces me otherwise, I'm sticking with that.

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This Bay Area city became a Filipino American haven. Now many can’t afford to stay

Daly City, CA is sometimes called the "Pinoy capital" of the Bay Area and even the United States. For decades, the city of about 100,000 has been home to the highest concentration of Filipinos of any American city. But the rising cost of housing, decentralization of certain jobs and changing economic opportunities have been driving forces behind a recent mass exodus of Filipino residents from the historic enclave.

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Chang-rae Lee on Channeling His Immigrant Childhood Into Fiction

"All immigrant children know how complicated this 'new world' is, and that no matter how much their parents may try to ride herd, they are essentially traversing this realm solo. It's a journeying full of excitement and fright, and laden with a startlingly heavy burden of responsibility, given that they are often the ones necessarily leading the way. I certainly felt so, wanting to do the right thing by us all but never knowing if we were heading in a good direction or towards some maelstrom."

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Marvel Artist Archive: Jim Lee

For your crowdfund consideration: Marvel Artist Archive: Jim Lee, an officially licensed hardcover art book showcasing superstar artist Jim Lee's iconic artwork for Marvel Comics, currently wrapping up its Kickstarter campaign. For me, Jim Lee is the greatest of all time, and his work for Marvel is foundational. I might have to get this.

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Mayor Mamdani Wears a Bike Helmet. Finally.

While New Yorkers have delighted in spotting Mayor Zohran Mamdani riding around the city on a bicycle, some safety advocates have scolded him for his failure to use a helmet. It seems that he has listened. On Tuesday, the mayor posted a video on social media, showing him viewing comments on his phone about his not wearing a helmet. Then, he unboxed one at City Hall and fit it on his head. "Safety first, New York," he said. "See you out there."

Asian AF & Outside In Theatre Present: AF Comedy Festival

September 3-6 at Outside In Theatre in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, call your friends and make some plans for a good-ass time. Asian AF and Outside In Theatre present the AF Comedy Festival, celebrating 10 years of the hit comedy show Asian AF with over 200 AAPI performers coming from all over the country.

The kickass lineup includes the likes of Margaret Cho, Joel Kim Booster, Amy Hill, Asif Ali, Aparna Nancherla, Raymond Lee, Tim Chantarangsu, Andrew Law, Andrew Lopez, Zac Oyama, Saagar Shaikh, Vincent Rodriguez III, and dozens more across three nights of shows.

It's happening September 3-6 at the Outside In Theatre in Los Angeles. If you didn't blow all your money on BTS that weekend, this is where you should go! For more information and tickets, visit afcomedyfest.com.

First Look at Ji-Young Yoo in K-pop: The Debut

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

K-Pop: The Debut Star Ji-young Yoo Teases Music and More in First Look at Paramount Movie

Teen Vogue offers a first look at the upcoming K-pop-centric movie K-pop: The Debut, starring Ji-young Yoo. The film follows Lizzy Lee, a young Korean-American woman who, tired of spending her life following the path her family chose for her, secretly decides to pursue her dream after landing a spot in a competition show to form the next K-pop girl group in Seoul. Looks fun. K-pop: The Debut is set to premiere on February 12.

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Take Me Home

Check out the trailer for Take Me Home, the moving feature film debut from director Liz Sargent. Adapted from her award-winning Sundance short, the film is inspired by her own family's real-life circumstances and stars her cognitively disabled sister Anna Sargent in the lead role.

"Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability, lives in a delicate balance in suburban Florida, serving as a caregiver for her aging parents while navigating her own need for support. When a severe heat wave shatters her family's fragile routine and exposes her father's hidden signs of dementia, Anna's world is thrown into uncertainty. Forced to confront the systemic failures of the American healthcare infrastructure, she must fight to carve out her own path toward autonomy, independence, and chosen community."

Take Me Home opens in theaters in New York City on September 23 and in Los Angeles on October 7.

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30 for 30 Podcasts: The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani

I gotta recommend the latest edition of ESPN's 30 for 30 Podcasts, "The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani," a six-part investigative series that delves into how Shohei Ohtani's trusted relationship with longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara unraveled amid a massive illegal sports betting scheme. Just some excellent reporting that goes beyond the headlines, deeper into the players and events of the scandal.

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‘Deli Boys’ Canceled After Two Seasons At Hulu

Damn. After two seasons, Deli Boys has been canceled at Hulu. The critically acclaimed crime dramedy, which starred Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, and Poorna Jagannathan, was reportedly canceled due to low ratings. I really enjoyed this show, and the cast kicked ass -- particularly Jagannathan as Lucky. It's a shame the show never quite got the numbers it deserved. Catch it on Hulu, enjoy the two seasons, and lament what could have been.

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The Criterion Collection: KPop Demon Hunters

Hell yeah. We are getting a full-fledged Criterion Collection release of last year's surprise smash animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, chock full of special edition features, including:

• New 4K digital master, approved by directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
• Full feature-length animatic, with a new introduction by Kang and Appelhans
• New making-of documentary
• Two video essays by filmmakers Taylor Ramos & Tony Zhou (Every Frame a Painting)
• Lyric videos
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and English descriptive audio
• Collectible postcards featuring original illustrations by artists who worked on the film
• PLUS: An essay by critic Karen Han

The 4K+Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD editions of Kpop Demon Hunters will be available on November 3.

"Our Movement Is Strong, and the Work Isn't Done"

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Francesca Hong: "Our Movement Is Strong, and the Work Isn't Done"

"In the heat of an election season, results are measured in raw vote totals. But they should also be measured by the potential they reveal. That is what Hong did on election night. 'We have built something that will change politics forever,' she told a cheering crowd of young supporters. 'What we have done will be remembered. I don’t even know how the final results will end. But what I do know is that we are ready to keep fighting, and I feel confident. More importantly, I am so deeply, deeply grateful.'"

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No Minority Is Safe From Trump's Mass Deportation Machine

"Between January 20, 2025, and March 10, 2026, there have been 14,678 arrests, 13,455 detentions, and 6,453 deportations of APIDA immigrants. This represents a sixfold increase in arrests and detentions and a ninefold increase in deportations compared to the Biden administration—some of the largest increases yet."

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More Than Half of AAPI New Yorkers Have Considered Leaving Over Affordability, Survey Finds

According to a new survey by The Asian American Foundation, 55% of AAPI adults in New York City have thought about leaving the city because of the high cost of living. As the cost of housing, groceries, and other everyday expenses continue to rise, many AAPI New Yorkers are questioning whether they can afford to remain in the city they've long called home.

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Riz Ahmed Has Won an Oscar and an Emmy. Now He's Showing Us Who He Really Is.

"This is Riz Ahmed: guarded, thoughtful, empathetic, challenging, funny. All these things have made him one of the most compelling actors of his generation. And no, he’s not terribly interested in hyping the movie that he must hope could net him another Oscar nomination. But if you keep digging, maybe even to the very bottom, you might find something beautiful."

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The Family Album

Now playing at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego: The Family Album, an original new musical, co-created by singer/songwriter MILCK, about finding and reclaiming your voice and using it for change.

"Singer-songwriter Mia Bing has been hustling for years and is on the cusp of breaking through in the music industry. Just as she receives the call that could change her career, she’s pulled back to her childhood home, where she’s once again the “disappointing” daughter of her Asian immigrant parents, still haunted by an unresolved secret. Mia must learn to use her voice to confront and heal from the past."

Catch The Family Album in its final week through August 23.

I Am Not Your Asian American Doll

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

I Am Not Your Asian American Doll

"You enjoy eating our food but deny us a seat at the table." A comic by Feeb Om.

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In Wisconsin, David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong in Democratic primary for governor

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won the Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin, narrowly defeating state Rep. Francesca Hong by less than 4,000 votes.

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What WWII Japanese American incarceration reveals about Trump immigration crackdown

KPBS' Midday Edition discusses the parallels and through lines between the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the mass detentions and deportations of the Trump administration's immigration policy, the impact on Japanese Americans generations later, and what we can learn from the past.

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'Top Chef' host Kristen Kish will defend quickfires for money '100%'

Emmy-nominated Top Chef host Kristen Kish talks about the latest season of the cooking competition series, recent criticism of the format and the hard work of being a good host.

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Anida Yoeu Ali: The Buddhist Bug

Coming next month to the Vincent Price Art Museum in Los Angeles: Anida Yoeu Ali's The Buddhist Bug, an expansive performance project that brings together myth, humor, spiritual inquiry, and the lived experience of displacement. At its center is a monumental 328-foot-long saffron-colored creature with a human face tightly framed in cloth at one end and a pair of feet at the other. Activated through performance, photography, and video, The Buddhist Bug moves through markets, temples, streets, rural landscapes, and other social spaces across Cambodia. The exhibition runs September 26 through May 22, 2027.

Meet the Messy Animated Asian American Siblings of DANG!

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

DANG!

Netflix just dropped the trailer for the upcoming animated series DANG! Starring Stephanie Hsu, Poppy Liu and Andrew Law, DANG! follows a brother and sister duo whose fun, messy lives in New York City are interrupted when their worst nightmare comes true: their high-achieving older sister shows up and wants to hang out with them. DANG! premieres September 8 on Netflix.

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'Spider-Man' director found his connection to the world at the movies

"As a kid, I would watch many movies with my dad, with our family, and that is how I traveled. That is how I was exposed to other cultures. That's how I understand how kids grew up in high school on the mainland. And one of my biggest takeaways was not how different we are, but how similar we are, emotionally." Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, explains to NPR's Fresh Air about how movies connected to the bigger world outside of his upbringing in Hawaii.

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Lucy Liu Boards 'Reset,' Sci-Fi Short Being Developed Into a Feature, as EP

Lucy Liu has boarded Reset, a sci-fi dramedy from writer-directors Celine Tien and Jerry Hsu, as executive producer. Set in a near-future society where citizens are physically reset to six years old at the age of 65, the short premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival, is now being developed as a feature film.

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A History of the United States in 100 Objects: Nunchaku

In the early 1970s, Bruce Lee made nunchaku cool. But the "nunchucks" craze coincided with something much bigger: the birth of a radical new Asian American identity. Jeff Chang guests on BBC's A History of the United States in 100 Objects to talk about how nunchucks went from ancient weapon to symbol of resistance -- not only uniting Asian Americans in the fight for their own rights, but connecting them to every other group pushing back from the margins.

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Atsuko Okatsuka: Netflix Special

Save the date! Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka is taping her Netflix special in Los Angeles. January 30 at the United Theater. Clean up those bowl cuts and get your tickets at atsukocomedy.com.

The Real-Life, Offline Campaign of Francesca Hong

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

The real-life, offline campaign of Francesca Hong

Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist state lawmaker once seen as a long-shot candidate, is now the front-runner in the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin -- a state President Donald Trump won twice. She would be Wisconsin's first woman governor, first Asian American governor and the first Asian American woman governor elected in the United States.

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Pop Music Is the Problem

"BTS and many of its fans see the new category as an attempt by the Recording Academy to keep the growing power and popularity of K-pop groups from overwhelming the prestige categories — the record, album and song of the year and multiple pop performance awards — and they reject the academy’s claims that the new award is simply a means to acknowledge the growth of popular music from South Korea, China, Japan and Southeast Asia. BTS rightfully refused to risk being pigeonholed."

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New Data Shows AAPI Californians Arrested At Alarming Rates

"The USC Equity Research Institute's (ERI) latest analysis on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Californians confirmed what community organizations have been experiencing for months: ICE arrests in our communities have been unprecedented and devastating."

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Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend: Greta Lee

Greta Lee sits down with Conan O'Brien's podcast to discuss her childhood deeply rooted in Korean identity, experiencing a massive cultural shift moving to the Midwest, experiencing the impact of her role in the 2023 romantic drama Past Lives on audiences, and her new Netflix film The Last House.

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Comedian Jenny Yang uses a comedy tour to uplift immigrants, one grocery store at a time

Coming soon to the dried fish aisle near you! If you haven't heard, our friend Jenny Yang has been on a unique nationwide summer standup comedy tour, turning immigrant grocery stores into comedy clubs for a night.

They Call Us Jimothy

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 Kiana Hall, the Seattle resident who spotted and named the viral phenomenon "Jimothy," the unusually-shaped raccoon who has captured the internet's heart. She talks about the fateful evening she encountered Jimothy on a neighborhood walk ("What am I looking at?"); why Jimothy has become a symbol of joy and resilience for so many, especially in this moment; the unexpected viral attention Kiana has received from the discovery; and the inevitable attempts to monetize and exploit Jimothy's image. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of discovering and naming Jimothy.

They Call Us The Great Star Theater

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 Alice Chu, President of the legendary Great Star Theater in San Francisco's Chinatown -- the oldest Chinese theater in North America -- and David Chiu, City Attorney of San Francisco, to talk about the rich history, legacy and future of the Great Star and Chinatown at large. They talk about the mission to preserve and revitalize the century-old performing arts venue to serve the community; the continuing resilience of Chinatown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond; and the Great Star's interesting connection to this podcast's namesake, Bruce Lee. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of San Francisco Chinatown's historic legacy.

They Call Us Leonardo Nam

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 our old friend Leonardo Nam, who stars in Disney's Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. He talks about his journey as an artist from Argentina to Australia to Hollywood, where he first broke through in films like The Perfect Score, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift; his unexpected and delightful villainous turn as Maddox Hatter in Disney's wildly popular Descendants franchise -- including his very own full-fledged musical number; and the joy of getting to share this family-friendly project with his kids. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.

They Call Us Wong Kim Ark's Descendants

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 Annie Lee, Managing Director of Policy for Chinese for Affirmative Action, and Sandra Wong, great-granddaughter of Wong Kim Ark, whose landmark 1898 Supreme Court victory established birthright citizenship in the United States. They discuss the history of United States v. Wong Kim Ark and its profound impact on American citizenship and civil rights; the contemporary political challenges to birthright citizenship and the erosion of constitutional rights; and the importance of educating the next generation about Wong Kim Ark's legacy.

Rest in Peace, Wai Ching Ho

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Wai Ching Ho, 'Daredevil' and 'Iron Fist' Actress, Dies at 82

Wai Ching Ho, best known for her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing crime boss Madame Gao in Daredevil, Iron Fist and The Defenders, has died. She was 82. Her Hollywood career spanned over forty years, with roles in Fresh Off the Boat, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, and Turning Red, among many others.

Most recently, Ms. Ho starred in the excellent narrative podcast Aunties. Written by Kevin Yee, and also starring Rosalind Chao and Lauren Tom, it's a fun comedy/mystery series that follows three Chinatown shopkeepers who secretly fight crime and gentrification. I highly recommend checking it out on Audible.

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What a subway ride with white supremacists taught me about America

"On the Fourth of July, while I was on my way to a party, I found myself riding a Washington Metro train surrounded by hundreds of masked white supremacists. A subway car is supposed to be one of society’s great equalizers. But it was the last place I expected to reflect on what it means to be an American."

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Dallas man sentenced after admitting anti-Asian bias motivated 2022 salon shooting

In Dallas, a man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to a hate crime for shooting three women inside a Korean-owned hair salon. 41-year-old Jeremy Theron Smith pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon classified as a hate crime for firing more than a dozen rounds at Hair World Salon in Dallas' Koreatown in 2022. According to investigators, Smith had apparently "experienced delusions" that Asian people were trying to harm him.

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San Francisco Chinatown’s historic Great Star Theater seeks emergency funds to stay open

The Great Star Theater in San Francisco is asking for the public's support to stay afloat. The historic Chinatown theater launched a GoFundMe campaign this month seeking $45,000 in donations to cover essential operating expenses. The nonprofit venue, which celebrated its centennial last year, is described as the last remaining Chinese theater in any Chinatown in the United States.

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Gemma Chan Shares Update On Anna May Wong Biopic: "It's A Really Resonant Story"

Gemma Chan shares that her upcoming biopic on Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American movie star, is "still in development," with producer Nina Yang Bongiovi and playwright David Henry Hwang adapting Graham Russell Gao Hodges’ 2012 biography Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend.

They Call Us The Furious

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 actor, martial artist, and stuntman Brian Le of MartialClub, whose credits include Everything Everywhere All at Once, Paper Tigers, and this summer's gritty action thriller The Furious. He talks about his humble beginnings from watching kung fu flicks on bootleg VHS, to making YouTube videos with his brother Andy as self-taught action stars; getting to work with some of the world's best film fighters in The Furious -- and the steep learning curve of making action movies in Asia; and channeling his inner baby to play the unstoppable henchman Ho. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making The Furious.

They Call Us Asian American Voters

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 check in with Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), and Karthick Ramakrishnan, Executive Director of AAPI Data, to get a pulse on the upcoming midterm elections. They discuss the challenges of voter engagement — including new and ongoing barriers to voting (and how you can take action); significant data trends across Asian American and Pacific Islander voter demographics; some of the urgent issues affecting AAPI voters; and key races to keep an eye on that could shape the future of our democracy. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of the upcoming midterm elections.

They Call Us Noma's Kevin Jeung

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 Kevin Jeung, Chef of Research and Production at the legendary restaurant Noma -- named the World's Best Restaurant -- which is finishing up a 16-week residency in Los Angeles. He talks about neglecting to inform his parents when he dropped out of college to pursue cooking full time; the culinary experimentation (both failure and success, but mostly failure) that happens inside Noma's Fermentation Lab; and what the $1500 per seat menu actually looks and tastes like. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of doing a restaurant pop-up in Los Angeles.

We Are One Step Closer to "Bruce Lee Day" in California

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

California bill to create Bruce Lee Day heads to Gov. Newsom

In case you hadn't heard: we are one step closer to Bruce Lee Day. A plan to officially designate May 17 as Bruce Lee Day in California is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk after winning unanimous approval in the state. The bill would honor the martial arts icon's impact on film, culture and Chinese American history, and would make Lee the first Chinese American commemorated with a day in California.

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Eugene, Springfield Asian American households still may be targeted by burglary ring

Despite recent prosecutions of a burglary ring targeting Asian American business owners and households in Oregon, local law enforcement say there has been an increase in organized burglary activity, and Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander households in the Eugene and Springfield communities could still be at risk.

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@thesavbananas G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S😮‍💨 @Kelsie Whitmore #savannahbananas #bananaball #fergie #glamorous ♬ original sound - thesavbananas

Watch Savannah Bananas give Kelsie Whitmore legendary entrance with champagne and Fergie

You gotta smile at the Savannah Bananas giving pitcher Kelsie Whitmore, one of the baddest players in baseball, the glamorous entrance that she deserves, complete with champagne and Fergie. Already a veteran and trailblazer in the women's baseball, she was the first overall draft pick in the inaugural Women's Pro Baseball League, set to debut this year. So yeah, a fitting walk up, Bananas-style.

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'The Fast and the Furious' took the Asians out of an Asian American story

"Fans of modified Japanese import cars, like me, have a love-hate relationship with the $7 billion Fast and Furious franchise. On one hand, the movies helped popularize modified Japanese cars. People all over the world fell in love with them and the import car culture they publicized. On the other hand, the movies left out so, so much of the story."

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The Outer Threat

Constance Wu stars in the new sci-fi thriller The Outer Threat, in which the discovery of extraterrestrial life forces an astrophysicist and his family to flee from their home, pursued through the countryside by a relentless and anonymous danger. Their escape for their lives tests the limits between cosmic truth and paranoia. The Outer Threat hits digital platforms on July 10.

They Call Us Jenny Yang's Good Egg Immigrant Grocery Store Standup Comedy Tour

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 comedian, writer, podcaster, and sister in rice Jenny Yang to catch up, kick off the summer, and spread the word about her Good Egg Immigrant Grocery Store Standup Comedy Tour, in which she jokes about growing up as a "good" immigrant kid, the importance of food to our cultures, and her own failed fertility journey. Jenny shares about the personal struggles that led her towards her first standup special and a nonprofit comedy tour benefitting immigrants rights organizations -- performed in immigrant grocery stores around the country. We're talking durian, bok choy, air conditioning, bad lighting, and Jenny's jokes. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of Jenny's fertility journey.

Senator Andy Kim Pepper Sprayed by ICE Agents

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

ICE agents pepper-spray protesters, N.J. senator in clash outside Delaney Hall in Newark

U.S. Senator Andy Kim was pepper sprayed by ICE agents during a protest outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention facility in New Jersey. He was part of crowd of demonstrators responding to a hunger strike inside the Newark facility, organized by inmates in an effort to stop inhumane conditions, including poor-quality food and subpar medical care. Kim said he had trouble breathing after being caught in the cloud of pepper spray deployed by federal agents. "What we saw here is unfortunately just what we see all over the country," the senator said. "It's a sad day."

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BTS is releasing limited edition hotteok-flavored Oreos

So I guess this is happening! Global music stars BTS are partnering with Oreo, the world's #1 cookie, to create a limited edition Oreo & BTS cookie. Paying homage to the band's Korean roots, the cookie features a brown sugar pancake creme inspired by the street snack hotteok, on an original purple wafer (a first for Oreo) with 13 unique cookie embossments. Rolling out across more than 80+ countries, the Limited Edition OREO & BTS Cookies will be available for presale starting on June 1 before hitting retailers in the U.S. starting on June 8.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender: Season 2 | Official Trailer

In case you missed it, here's the official trailer for season two of Netflix's live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. We see the Aang Gaang is back, plus the introduction of fan-favorite Earthbender, Toph (Miyako). Season two continues Avatar Aang's quest to master the four elements to restore balance to a world threatened by the terrifying Fire Nation. The highlight for me? Live action Joo Dee, assuring us that "there is no war in Ba Sing Se." (If you know, you know.)

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Feds say Colombian crew targeted Asian Americans in series of Oregon, Washington burglaries

Last week in Oregon, two men pleaded guilty in federal court for their roles in a sophisticated burglary ring which targeted the homes of Asian American business owners in the Northwest. 34-year-old Derinson Martinez-Grandas and 27-year-old Steven Alexander Quiroga-Solano each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods. They were part of a group of at least suspects who burglarized four homes in early October 2025, staying in short-term rentals as they moved between cities and looked for potential victims, all of them Asian American small business owners in Oregon and Washington.

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MC Jin, Pacific Music Group Launch Family Style Records Imprint

Pacific Music Group has launched Family Style Records, a new hip hop imprint led by MC Jin, debuting alongside Jin’s new single, "Humble Flex," in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. The label launches with a four-act roster: MC Jin alongside Korean sibling duo Lil Cherry and Goldbuuda, 13-year-old Indonesian rapper Nada (Nada Askana), and Brooklyn-bred Chinese-American rapper Khantrast.