Man Sentenced to Probation in Killing of "Grandpa Vicha"

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Judge orders man convicted in death of ‘Grandpa Vicha' to be released on probation

On Thursday, a San Francisco judge ordered probation for the man who was convicted in the 2021 death of an elderly man who became known as "Grandpa Vicha." 25-year-old Antoine Watson was sentenced to a total of eight years in the unprovoked attack and death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee. Since Watson, who was 19 years old at the time of the attack, has already served five years in jail and earned additional credit for good behavior, Judge Linda Colfax suspended the remaining two years of his sentence and ordered him to be released on probation. Watson was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and assault for the violent attack, which was caught on camera and became a flashpoint in the "Stop Asian Hate" movement. Is this justice?

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CNN Original Series: K-Everything

In the CNN Original series K-Everything, hosted and executive produced by Tony-award nominated actor, director, producer, and social advocate Daniel Dae Kim, is a cultural exploration of Korea's explosive global influence. Across four immersive episodes, Kim explores the forces behind Korea’s cultural rise, tracing how distinct traditions evolved into global phenomena. The series premieres May 9, and airs weekly on CNN.

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Ryan Coogler's 'X-Files' Pilot Casts Himesh Patel Opposite Danielle Deadwyler

Himesh Patel will star opposite Danielle Deadwyler in Ryan Coogler's reboot of The X-Files. According to the official logline, the series will follow "two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents" who "form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena." I love this pairing, and I can't wait to see how Coogler's take on this series.

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Kelly Marie Tran’s Art-Forgery Caper 'Forge' Lands May Release (Exclusive)

Forge, a crime caper starring Kelly Marie Tran, will get a theatrical release in May. The film, directed by Jing Ai Ning, centers on Miami-based siblings Raymond and Coco Zhang, who run an art forgery ring and are recruited by a disgraced millionaire to create counterfeit masterpieces for his family's collection. Meanwhile, FBI Art Crimes agent Emily Lee investigates a string of forgeries in the area. The film also stars Andie Ju, Brandon Soo Hoo, Edmund Donovan, Eva De Dominici, T.R. Knight, Jack Falahee and Sonya Walger.

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Ryan Gosling to Star in Next Movie From 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Directing Duo Daniels

We've finally got some news about the next project from Daniels -- Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert -- the acclaimed directing duo behind the smash hit Everything Everywhere All at Once: the movie will star Ryan Gosling. And that's pretty much it. Other details are slim, but the untitled feature will reportedly start shooting this summer, and is set for release in 2027.

Buy a Stay Angry Shirt, Support Immigrant Rights in Minnesota

And others items of note from Angry Asian America.

1. Stay Angry Fundraiser

This weekend, all proceeds from sales of Stay Angry gear -- fine shirts and hoodies -- will be donated to MIRAC (MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee), a grassroots, multiracial, and multinational immigrant rights mass-movement organization fighting for legalization for all, an end to immigration raids and deportations, an end to all anti-immigrant laws, and full equality in all areas of life. Buy a shirt or donate directly.

2. Man acquitted of murder in S.F. killing of 'Grandpa Vicha'

The man who was caught on video violently shoving and kililng 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco has been found not guilty of murder. Instead, Antoine Watson was convicted of lesser charges, including involuntary manslaughter and assault with force likely to cause injury. The 2021 case became a nationwide symbol of rising attacks against Asians during the coronavirus pandemic.



3. Video of St. Paul man refusing to open door for federal agents goes viral

When federal agents knocked on this guy's door, he said nope. Kong Vang was working from home in St. Paul on Monday afternoon when ICE agents apparently showed up at his doorstep. Vang started recording. He refused to let the agents inside and demanded to know why they were there. They were not forthcoming. After a minute and a half of back and forth, they left. Because fuck those guys. Vang posted the video to Facebook to spread the word and remind people to know their rights. "They keep on telling you that they think they’re doing the right thing," he told Fox9, "but they're not."


4. Leave Us Alone

"Trump, MAGA, and the right chose Minnesota not because there's an immigration or corruption problem. They want to corrupt us with fear. They want us to stop caring for our neighbors. They want us to stop supporting one another through our robust public programs. When they murdered Renee Nicole Good, a white woman in broad daylight, they used the state as ground zero to see if they can break all of us."

5. Gene Luen Yang To Write X-Men's Jubilee For Marvel With Michael YG

Gene Luen Yang is writing a new X-Men solo series Jubilee: Deadly Reunion, with art by Michael YG, that puts a spotlight on Jubilee's Chinese American heritage. Debuting in April 2026 as part of Marvel's Voices spotlight on AAPI Heritage Month, the saga kicks off when Jubilee's long-lost cousin shows up at the X-Men's doorstep -- with mutant powers of his own and a mission that will force Jubilee to explore her heritage and family history in a profound way.