'Hawaii Five-0' still sensitive over departure of AAPI stars

Hawaii Five-0's promo posters treated the four leads equally, but not when negotiating salaries.

'HAWAII FIVE-0' executive producer Peter Lenkob said that he was shocked that the show was accused of being anti-diversity because of the departure of its two Asian/American stars.

“People misinterpreted how it went down, and that’s a little bit of a shame because I don’t think people had all the information,” Lenkob told The Wrap. “You can’t watch the show and say that we’re not a diversity-forward show at all. I mean, you just look at the poster for the core four that started the show, you’d see it right there.”

In the interview, he kept using the term "diversity-forward" describing the show's commitment to reflect the population of Hawaii, which is majority AAPI.

Lenkob said that Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park were already planning to leave the show even before contract talks began.

CBS issued a statement during the summer that Kim and Park were leaving despite being offered “large and significant salary increases.” But Kim's Facebook post gave the impression that it was more than just money when he wrote in his farewell message, “The path to equality is rarely easy.”

In the interview, he said it was decided not to "kill off" the characters of Kim and Park to leave open the possibility of their return. 

"It’s up to them," he said. "All they have to do is pick up a phone."

In an interview with NBC promoting The Good Doctor for which he is executive producer, Kim said:

"('Hawaii Five-0') was a really important part of my life for seven years," Kim said. "I'm really grateful to CBS and everyone involved in the show for the opportunity. ... That said, it's possible to be grateful for the opportunity and have respect for your colleagues and still maintain a steadfast sense of your self-worth. And all good things come to an end. I closed that chapter on 'Hawaii Five-0' and I begin this new chapter on 'The Good Doctor.'"

The thing about Lenkob's statement is that it is a typical response of someone who just doesn't get it.

People of color are not props who are included just to demonstrate diversity. Without equity and respect, talking about diversity rings hollow.

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