By Kim Do-yeon
Hollywood film “The Devil Wears Prada 2” has been caught up in a racism controversy over the portrayal of a Chinese character, fueling a boycott movement in China.
According to Chinese media outlet China.com and others on Wednesday local time, the controversy centers on a character named “Qin Zhou” (秦舟), who appears as an assistant to the protagonist Andy.
Chinese netizens have raised concerns that the pronunciation of the character’s name, played by Chinese American actor Shen Yutian, resembles “Ching Chong,” an expression historically used in Western countries to demean Chinese people. “Ching Chong” is known as a representative racist expression that emerged in 19th-century Western society as a way to mock Chinese laborers.
The character’s setup has also come under scrutiny. Critics point out that Qin Zhou appears wearing glasses and a checkered shirt, contrasting with the glamorous figures in the fashion industry and being portrayed as a character lacking fashion sense.
Critics further argue that scenes in which the character publicly criticizes superiors or shows off reproduce the stereotype that Western society commonly imposes on highly educated Asians — “talented but socially inept.”
Some also claim that exaggerated facial expressions and acting render the character foolish, caricaturing Chinese people.
As the controversy spread, Chinese online communities have grown louder in opposing the film’s screening, criticizing it for “targeting the Chinese market while demeaning Chinese people.” Some users are calling for a boycott, showing signs of collective action.
These backlashes are expected to potentially affect box office performance. With the film set to open during the Labor Day golden holiday (May 1-5), reactions in the Chinese market have emerged as a variable. Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily reported that “forecasts suggest this controversy could negatively impact the film’s reputation and box office performance.”
Meanwhile, “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which will have its worldwide premiere on the 29th, is topping advance ticket sales in Korea, raising expectations for its box office success. According to the Korean Film Council’s Integrated Ticketing System, the film recorded an advance booking rate of 15.5% with 44,933 advance ticket holders as of 2:40 p.m. that day.