Sorry, She's Not Going to "Anglicize" a Damn Thing

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Professor Put on Leave After Demanding Student 'Anglicize' Her Name
Matthew Hubbard, a mathematics professor at Laney College in Oakland, has been placed on administrative leave after emailing a Vietnamese student and instructing her to "anglicize" her name against her wishes. A series of emails between the professor and student shared on social media reveals that Hubbard reached out to a student named Phuc Bui Diem Nguyen, and wrote, "Could you Anglicize your name. Phuc Bui sounds like an insult in English." In a response, Nguyen stated Hubbard's request "feels discriminatory" and warned the professor she would file a complaint if he refuses to refer to her by her given birth name. Hubbard doubled down and repeated the request. The email chain went viral, and Laney College announced Thursday that Hubbard has been placed on administrative leave while the school investigates the incident.

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Racist "Kill Chinese Virus" Flyers Found at University of Delaware
Last weekend at the University of Delaware, residents at several apartment complexes found flyers stating "Kill Chinese Virus" distributed on their doorsteps and vehicles. In a letter to the university community, officials said the apartment complexes targeted by the flyers are all home to Asian and Asian American students. While the incident is being investigated by Newark Police, a spokesman says it "doesn't appear they constitute terroristic threatening or a similar offense." So... what is the crie? Littering? Because this stinks and feels like a hate crime.

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Read an Exclusive Excerpt From Kevin Kwan's New Novel, Sex and Vanity
This deliciously modern update of A Room With a View features drama, diamonds, and satire galore.

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Pride Convos: The Movement Continues
Act to Change presents #PrideConvos, a chat about solidarity and the connection between Pride and #BlackLivesMatter, with panelists Angelica Ross, Esera Tuaolo, and Margaret Cho, and moderator Maulik Pancholy. Pride started with a revolution led by trans people of color. Today communities of color, transgender people and the #LGBTQ+ community are still under attack, and this conversation will address how all of us can support the movement for equality. It's happening Tuesday, June 23 at 10am / 1pm PT.

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I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee
The world of K-Pop has never met a star like this. The new young adult novel I'll Be the One is being touted as a "deliciously fun, thoughtful rom-com celebrating confidence and body positivity" from debut author Lyla Lee.

Here's the synopsis: "Skye Shin has heard it all. Fat girls shouldn't dance. Wear bright colors. Shouldn't call attention to themselves. But Skye dreams of joining the glittering world of K-Pop, and to do that, she's about to break all the rules that society, the media, and even her own mother, have set for girls like her. She'll challenge thousands of other performers in an internationally televised competition looking for the next K-pop star, and she'll do it better than anyone else.

When Skye nails her audition, she's immediately swept into a whirlwind of countless practices, shocking performances, and the drama that comes with reality TV. What she doesn't count on are the highly fat-phobic beauty standards of the Korean pop entertainment industry, her sudden media fame and scrutiny, or the sparks that soon fly with her fellow competitor, Henry Cho. But Skye has her sights on becoming the world's first plus-sized K-pop star, and that means winning the competition—without losing herself."

Available from:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Apple Books | Google Play

Trump is That Kid Who Kicks the Ball Over the Fence When a Call Doesn't Go His Way

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.


Trump Tells Asian American Reporter to "Ask China" About Deaths
Donald Trump abruptly ended his Monday press conference after a contentious exchange in which he asked an Asian American journalist to "ask China" about her question and then refused to take a query from another White House reporter. CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang asked Trump why he sees coronavirus testing as a global competition when more than 80,000 Americans have died. "Maybe that's a question you should ask China," Trump told Jiang. "Don't ask me. Ask China that question, OK?" And that was the beginning of the end of the press conference.

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Violence Against Asian Americans Is on the Rise -- But It's Part of a Long History
If you somehow think the rise of anti-Asian sentiment amidst COVID-19 is something new, take short and long look back at the history of Asians in America -- something you can see in the epic new five-hour documentary series Asian Americans, which premieres on PBS this week. All five parts are available for viewing in their entirety on pbs.org.

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Kevin Kwan's New Book is His Most Decadent Yet
How do you follow up one of the most successful trilogies of the 21st century? For Kevin Kwan, whose Crazy Rich Asians books have sold millions of copies and spawned a $200-million-plus movie, the answer rested in his greatest inspiration: A Room With a View. His new novel, Sex and Vanity, plays like a straight tribute to the E.M. Forster novel -- but in this version, the story moves between Capri and New York, tackling the nuances of Asian American identity in the process.

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API Heritage Jam
DJs Phatrick and O-Dub are teaming up for a livestream mix highlighting Asian and Asian American artists. Wednesday, May 13 at 4pm Pacific. Follow along on Instagram Live at either @djphatrick or @soulsides.

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CAAMFest Online: Heritage at Home
The Center for Asian American Media presents their reimagined festival experience, CAAMFest Online: Heritage at Home from May 13-22. The online festival will provide a platform to gather virtually in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The program features over 20 digital events, ranging from online film screenings to interactive panels, watch parties, and house parties with live performances, all free of charge. Learn more and reserve your tickets here. Join the conversation using #CAAMFestOnline and #HeritageAtHome.

The Crazy Rich Asians trailer is here. And you are not ready.

"The only thing crazier than love is family."



Here we go. Who said there are no Asian American movie stars? After teasing us with a juicy sliver of footage last week, the full official trailer for Crazy Rich Asians has finally dropped. And it is hot damn glorious.

If you haven't heard about this movie, you will. Based on the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, and directed by Jon M. Chu, the contemporary fish-out-of-water romantic comedy is the first major Hollywood studio movie featuring an all-Asian cast in over 25 years. And judging from the trailer, it's going to be a blast.

Fresh Off The Boat's Constance Wu stars as Rachel Chu, a Chinese American economics professor who accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (newcomer Henry Golding), to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. But she soon learns that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. Not only is his family impossibly wealthy, he's perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

Check it out:

'Crazy Rich Asians' secrets revealed!

Entertainment Weekly's latest cover story goes behind the scenes of next summer's buzziest film.



Crazy Rich Asians fans, check it. Entertainment Weekly's latest cover story goes behind the scenes with an exclusive look at next summer's buzziest film, which features a rare all-Asian principal cast that includes Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Harry Shum Jr., Ken Jeong, Gemma Chan and Awkwafina.

Crazy Rich Asians stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding reign supreme in EW's first look cover

Based on the hugely popular bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians follows Rachel Chu, a Chinese American economics professor who accompanies her boyfriend Nick back to his hometown of Singapore for his best friend's wedding. That's when she realizes Nick's family is not just rich -- they're crazy rich. He is perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

"This is about a girl going somewhere that's foreign to her, to really find out who she is," Wu, who plays Rachel, tells EW. "It's just such a beautiful story, to show an Asian American immigrant going back to Asia and finding the things that overlap and connect us all, things like family, things like love."

Awkwafina joins the cast of 'Crazy Rich Asians'

Filming has begun on Warner Bros.' adaptation of Kevin Kwan's bestselling book.



More Crazy Rich Asians casting news.... Rapper/actress Awkwafina joins the likes of Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan and Michelle Yeoh in Warner Bros' adaptation of Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel.

'Crazy Rich Asians' Adds Awkwafina

Crazy Rich Asians follows Rachel Chu, an American-born Chinese economics professor who travels to her boyfriend Nick's hometown of Singapore for his best friend's wedding, only to discover that Nick is heir to a massive fortune, he's perhaps he most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

Awkwafina will play Peik Lin, Rachel's college friend.

Hell yes. Constance Wu to star in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

'Fresh Off The Boat' star will play the lead in Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the best-selling novel.



Hell yes. This is some casting news we've been waiting for. At long last, Crazy Rich Asians has found its lead. Constance Wu will star as Rachel Chu in Warner Bros.' adaptation of Kevin Kwan's best-selling novel.

Constance Wu to Star in 'Crazy Rich Asians' (Exclusive)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Fresh Off The Boat star is in negotiations to play the movie's Chinese American lead. Directed by Jon M. Chu, from a screenplay by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim, the film will start shooting in Singapore this spring with an all-Asian cast.

Who will star in 'Crazy Rich Asians'? Maybe you.

Casting call seeks actors for lead roles in Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the bestselling novel.



When it was announced that Kevin Kwan's bestselling beach read Crazy Rich Asians was being adapted into a movie, fans immediately started putting together their dream casts. The movie would be a huge opportunity for whoever landed the coveted starring roles of Rachel Chu, Nick Young and Astrid Leong.

Turns out, maybe it's you.

After a heated bidding war for the movie rights, Warner Bros. is fast-tracking Crazy Rich Asians. Directed by Jon M. Chu and featuring and exclusively Asian cast, the film could start shooting as early as this spring in Singapore. And they're putting out an open casting call to fill the film's key roles.

According to this casting notice, Terri Taylor Casting is currently seeking Asian male and female actors, ages 28-35, for the lead roles of Rachel, Nick and Astrid:

Warner Bros. greenlights 'Crazy Rich Asians' movie

Jon M. Chu will direct the adaptation of Kevin Kwan's hit novel.



It is on. Warner Bros. has acquired and fast-tracked the movie adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians, based on the popular novel by Kevin Kwan. Rights for the romantic comedy, which will be directed by Jon M. Chu and will feature an exclusively Asian cast, reportedly attracted a heated bidding war.

'Crazy Rich Asians' Adaptation Lands at Warner Bros. (EXCLUSIVE)

Kwan's 2014 bestseller follows Rachel Chu, a Chinese American economics professor in New York who has no idea that her boyfriend, Nick Young, is heir apparent to one of Asia's most wealthy old-money families. When Nick invites Rachel to his best friend's wedding in Singapore, she gets thrown into the obscenely opulent, crazy rich world of Singapore high society -- and the gossip, backbiting and scheming that comes with it.

Crazy Rich Asians, produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force (which produced The Hunger Games series) with Chu directing from a screenplay by Pete Chiarelli (The Proposal), could start shooting as early as this spring in Singapore. To get the gig, Chu -- the son of Chinese immigrants -- apparently put together a visual presentation that included family photos to show his deeply personal connection to the material.

Jon M. Chu to direct 'Crazy Rich Asians'

'Now You See Me 2' director in talks to helm adaptation of Kevin Kwan's 2013 novel.



What's that? An Asian American director being tasked to direct a Hollywood movie about Asians? Crazy Rich Asians, that is. Jon M. Chu is in talks to direct the movie adaptation of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians.

Jon M. Chu in Talks to Direct 'Crazy Rich Asians'

The G.I. Joe: Retaliation director is reportedly in talks to direct the adaptation of the hit 2013 novel, which centers on a group of wealthy Chinese families. When the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings his American-born Chinese girlfriend to Singapore for a wedding, the gossip, backstabbing and scheming reaches a fever pitch among the three super-rich families.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My biggest fear is that someone would foolishly try to whitewash the cast -- the Rachel Chu character would be the obvious candidate -- but according to The Hollywood Reporter, the project will feature a predominantly Asian and Asian American cast. Whew.

Chu confirmed via Twitter that, indeed, there would be Asian actors in every single role:

Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians gets a movie deal

Looking for a juicy good summer read? I've been meaning to pick up Crazy Rich Asians, the red-hot bestselling debut novel by Kevin Kwan. I'm told that it's trashy good fun, and now it looks like it's going to be a movie: 'Hunger Games' Producer Nina Jacobson Acquires Kevin Kwan's 'Crazy Rich Asians.'

Nina Jacobsen, producer behind the hit movie adaptation of The Hunger Games, has acquired the film rights for Crazy Rich Asians. Thanks to the book's international appeal -- think big-time Asian financing opportunities -- Crazy Rich Asians has been one of the industry's most hotly pursued titles.

The critically-acclaimed novel is about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC girlfriend to the wedding of the season.