Elderly Asian parents charged with slaying son-in-law

At 77-years old, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen should have been enjoying the quiet autumn of their lives. Instead, the East Bay grandparents find themselves behind bars, facing first-degree murder charges after a shooting that left their former son-in-law dead. As details emerge from the case, the tragedy exposes a raw, agonizing intersection of severe domestic trauma, immigrant sacrifice, and the profound limits of cultural protection.

The suspects, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77-year-old grandparents, are currently being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail of Alameda County. They face charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and child endangerment following the fatal shooting of Jonathan McKinsey, 40, a director of engineering for New York Times Games. 

For our community, this case forces a look past the shocking headlines and into the immense, often invisible pressures facing elderly immigrant parents who step into the fray to protect their children.

Cultural duty and multi-generational household

In many traditional Asian immigrant families, the boundary between the nuclear family and maternal grandparents does not exist. When their daughter, Candice Jang, separated from McKinsey amid a volatile relationship, Zhang and Chen moved into the home in Dublin, California.

They did not just act as babysitters to their three young grandchildren; they became a physical and emotional buffer against what court documents describe as an increasingly tense domestic situation. 

Court filings show McKinsey had a pending criminal case for misdemeanor child abuse and endangerment after allegedly bruising his 6-year-old son. 

For elderly immigrant parents, seeing a child and grandchildren trapped in a system that allows an accused abuser weekly supervised visits can trigger a profound sense of helplessness. In traditional cultural dynamics, the duty to protect the bloodline is absolute. When the legal system appears slow or inadequate, that protective instinct can morph into something desperate.

Generational and identity clashes

The case also underscores the heavy friction that can occur when old-world generational expectations collide with contemporary American life. In reciprocal court filings, McKinsey—who transitioned in 2010—alleged that his mother-in-law, Shili Chen, targeted him with anti-LGBTQ+ slurs.

While the defense has yet to lay out its formal arguments ahead of the couple's Wednesday, Sept. 30 arraignment, community advocates note that language barriers, unfamiliarity with Western legal frameworks, and generational misunderstandings often compound the isolation immigrant families experience during highly stressful domestic disputes.

While extended family members have largely shielded themselves from the intense media spotlight, local community reactions reflect a mix of horror and a quiet, somber understanding of the desperation involved.

Neighbors and community members have expressed utter disbelief that a 77-year-old couple — described by those who caught glimpses of them as quiet and entirely devoted to their grandchildren — could allegedly execute a premeditated deadly plan involving masks and a firearm.

"Are we surprised by the violence? Absolutely," noted one local community advocate who works with Asian immigrant families in the East Bay. "But are we surprised by the lengths to which immigrant grandparents will go if they truly believe their flesh and blood is in immediate physical danger? No. In their minds, they may have felt they were sacrificing the remainder of their own lives so their daughter and grandchildren could have a future."

As Zhang and Chen step into the East County Hall of Justice for their arraignment on Wednesday, Sept. 30, the community is left to grapple with an unresolvable paradox. Two lives have been irrevocably stolen — one ended on the pavement, and two others effectively buried behind prison walls — all in the name of a ferocious, desperate instinct to protect the next generation.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

MAGA podcast sparks outrage after host calls for internment of Chinese Americans

During WWII Japanese Americans were rounded up and incarcerated in desolate camps.

In a chilling reminder that the "perpetual foreigner" trope remains alive and well in right-wing media, a panelist on a popular MAGA-aligned podcast recently floated the idea of locking up Chinese Americans in the event of a war with Beijing.

Asian American members of Congress were quick to respond, mincing no words: 

"“These comments invoke centuries-old racist tropes that cast Chinese Americans as perpetual foreigners and question their loyalty to the United States," they stated. "Such rhetoric fuels discrimination and violence against Chinese Americans and those perceived to be Chinese, and contributes to a climate in which one in five Americans are currently concerned about Chinese Americans posing a threat to US society."

During an episode of Timcast IRL, co-host Ian Crossland was not subtle when brainstorming a hypothetical military conflict between the United States and China.

 "Do (you) think we should intern all the Chinese Americans we can find?" Crossland asked his fellow commentators. He then answered his own question: "Because it kind of seems like we should."

Ian Crossland during one of his podcasts.

While another panelist, Kevin Smith, pushed back slightly, his objection wasn't rooted in basic human rights or constitutional protections. Instead, Smith merely questioned the logistics of modern-day concentration camps, arguing that social media and public protests would make replicating World War II-era internment too difficult to pull off in the 21st century.

Blistering response

The casual mainstreaming of wartime incarceration has drawn fierce, immediate condemnation from Asian American lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a blistering joint response led by Reps. Grace Meng, Ted Lieu, and Judy Chu, blasting the podcast's rhetoric as both dangerous and xenophobic. 

Congressmembers Grace Meng, Ted Lieu and Judy Chu.

Lawmakers drew a direct line from Crossland's remarks to the dark legacy of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced relocation and imprisonment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

“To call for a return to one of the darkest chapters in US history — the incarceration of more than 120,000 American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II —is dangerous and unacceptable," the Congressional statement continued. This kind of rhetoric has no place in our country and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

View from the edge

These comments invoke centuries-old racist tropes that cast Chinese Americans as perpetual foreigners and question their loyalty to the United States. Such rhetoric fuels discrimination and violence against Chinese Americans and those perceived to be Chinese.

It contributes to a climate in which one in five Americans are currently concerned about Chinese Americans posing a threat to US society, according to a survey by The Asian American Foundation.

This casual revival of mass incarceration rhetoric isn’t happening in a vacuum—it is the direct product of an ecosystem that profits off xenophobic fearmongering and extreme outrage among MAGA believers fueled by a regime that is using White fear as a recruitment strategy.

By framing the systemic violation of constitutional rights as a mere policy debate, media figures normalized hate under the guise of geopolitical strategy. 

As the Asian American lawmakers rightly noted, silence in the face of such rhetoric is complicity; confronting and exposing these modern-day echo chambers is essential to ensuring that one of the darkest chapters of American history is never repeated.

For those who don't believe this could never happen, factual history tells us it did happen to the Japanese Americans and US residents. These same naysayers are the same people who thought that Americans would never vote in TV host, failed businessman,  sexual predator and convicted felon Donald Trump.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost. 

AANHPI Heritage Month: Chinese American chef shatters glass ceilings in "America’s Culinary Cup" triumph

Cara Stadler's diverse culinary experience led to her winning $1 million on
'America's Culinary Cup' hosted by Padma Lakshmi.

A Chinese American chef just sent a massive shockwave through the mainstream food media. Chef Cara Stadler walked away with the historic title on CBS’s inaugural season of America’s Culinary Cup.

In a thrilling 90-minute finale, Stadler out-cooked runner-up Chris Morgan by a razor-thin 278 to 274 points, securing the coveted $1 million grand prize.

For Asian American communities watching closely, this isn't just a win for a great chef. It is a powerful validation of cultural heritage on one of network television's biggest stages.

In the finale, she prepared a three-course meal highlighted by a dessert that host Padma Laksmi said: “Cara made this beautiful dish of tea with some dumplings in it, which I had never seen before.”

“I don't think any of us  (judges) had ever had a dish like that, but it was so personal to her that, of course, I couldn't have tried it from anyone else. And that was something new.”

Lakshmi emphasized that Stadler’s triumph challenges the eurocentric hierarchy that has long dominated the culinary world. She praised Stadler for elevating the foods of her ancestors—specifically her Shanghainese heritage—to the absolute highest tier of American network television. 

Lakshmi noted that seeing a chef win $1 million by staying unapologetically true to her roots sends a massive message to young chefs of color nationwide.

What the judges said about the dishes

The culinary elite did not make it easy for Stadler. Her four-point victory came down to a razor-thin margin. The judges scrutinized every texture and cultural reference across her menu:

• The Innovation Round (Salmon Caviar): Tasked with reimagining legendary chef Eric Ripert's signature dish, Stadler came out of the gate swinging. The panel lauded her technical execution. Showrunner Josh Silberman later noted she proved she possesses the raw skills of "Michelin Star winners," despite being away from high-stakes kitchens for a minute. She outscored her peers in this round with a massive 113 points.
• First & Second Courses (Past and Present): Her traditional Dumplings and Lobster Moilee were praised for their deep flavor complexity. Master seafood chef Michael Cimarusti was particularly impressed by her fish-prep techniques and flavor balance. This was a major validation since Stadler admitted to being terrified of serving seafood to him.
• The Showstopper Finale (Teatime): This was the dish that sealed the $1 million check. Host Padma Lakshmi admitted it was a culinary revelation. She noted that Stadler served a "beautiful dish of tea with some dumplings in it," an inventive fusion of English and Asian cultures that Lakshmi had literally never tasted before in her entire career.
• The Ultimate X-Factor: Beyond the food, the judges were floored by her mental stamina. Lakshmi pointed out that she had never seen Stadler look frazzled. Her zen-like calmness—which Stadler credits to protecting her unborn baby from stress—ultimately carried her through the chaotic 90-minute finale.

From Berkeley to China by way of Paris

Before she shattered glass ceilings on network television, Chef Cara Stadler went on a global walkabout that reads like an indie film script. For an Asian American woman navigating an industry notoriously dominated by white, male gatekeepers, Stadler didn't just climb the ladder—she built her own.

Born in Maine, where she was often the lone person of color in school. That changed when as a teenager she moved to Berkeley, Calif., where she thrived in the diverse community and discovered her love in the culinary center.

At the age of 16, she interned at a Berkeley restaurant, Cafe Rouge. It was not long before she was offered a full-time position where she rained in the kitchen under chef and owner Marsha McBride. Stadler credits this specific kitchen as the place where she fell in love with the industry and decided to pursue a career as a professional.

Within eight years, she was working at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris. Stadler scored positions at ultra-prestigious Parisian establishments, including Le Crillon under Chef Jean-François Piège, and the renowned Guy Savoy.

In Paris, she mastered the uncompromising, rigid foundations of classical French cuisine. She learned the art of perfect broths, flawless knife work, and the intense discipline required to survive elite European kitchens.

Having conquered the French classics, Stadler felt a powerful pull toward her maternal roots. She moved to China, splitting her time between Shanghai and Beijing. It was here that her technical French training collided beautifully with her Chinese heritage.

In 2009, Stadler and her mother, Cecile, looked at the rapidly changing culinary landscape of China's capital and decided to shake things up. They launched Underground Beijing, a highly exclusive, underground supper club.

Underground Beijing wasn't just a restaurant; it was a deeply personal exploration of identity. It allowed Stadler to reconnect with the flavors of her Shanghainese ancestors while proving that Chinese food deserved the same respect and elevation as European haute cuisine.

This cross-continental journey—from the rigid kitchens of Paris to the creative freedom of Beijing's courtyards—forged the exact, boundary-pushing flavor profile that would one day win her a $1 million grand prize.

In her final assessments, Lakshmi lauded Stadler for refusing to "water down" or compromise traditional flavor profiles to appease Western palates. By executing an innovative, elevated menu that married elite French technique with deep Chinese flavor profiles, Stadler demonsrated that Asian American cuisine is not a monolith, but a dynamic, evolving culinary powerhouse.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Oakland celebrates hometown hero Alysa Liu

SCREEN CAPTURE / KRON

Oakland's hometown hero Olympic champion Alysa Liu yells, "This is for y'all."

Alysa Liu didn't want a parade. She wanted a party and that's what she got as thousands of Oaklanders flooded Frank Ogawa Plaza Thursday to give a hero's welcome to their homegrown champion, Alysa Liu.

“What’s up, Oakland!” Liu said. “This is for y’all,” she added, holding the gold medals around her neck as the crowd cheered.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist stood before a sea of nearly 7,000 fans who turned out for a massive homecoming rally that felt more like a family reunion than a formal ceremony. 

“She’s our hero,” said US Rep Lateefah Simon . “She’s an American hero. She brought that gold to Broadway. If you want something done, have a young woman of color do it.”

At just 20 years old, Liu has already etched her name into the history books as the first American woman in 24 years to take home individual Olympic gold in figure skating, but today was all about the Town.

The energy in downtown was electric as Mayor Barbara Lee handed Liu the Key to the City, acknowledging the skater's historic double-gold performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The plaza is just a few blocks from the skating rink where Liu trained and Oakland School of the Arts which she attended.

In a move that felt uniquely Oakland, the event skipped the traditional parade in favor of a community-focused celebration at Liu’s own request. The stage was a showcase of local greatness, with emcee Sway Calloway keeping the crowd hyped while Kehlani and G-Eazy performed for their fellow native daughter.

The honors didn't stop at the key; the city officially declared March 12 as "Alysa Liu Day." Figure skating icon Olympic gold medalists figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and boxer Andre Ward shared the stage. Bay Area legends including Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr shared heartfelt messages  to congratulate the young star who has captured the world's attention.

While Liu recently made the tough call to withdraw from this month’s World Championships to catch her breath after the "crazy" whirlwind of Olympic success, she isn't going anywhere. She has already confirmed she has no plans to leave the ice and is fully committed to the 2026–2027 competitive season. Fans won't have to wait long to see her back in action, as she is set to headline the Stars on Ice tour starting this April in Japan before bringing the show across the United States.

Beyond the rink, Liu is looking to flex her creative muscles in the fashion world, hinting at new design projects and a fresh vision for her upcoming programs. As she signed off on her latest update with a promise to see everyone next season, it’s clear that while she’s taking a well-deserved moment for herself right now, the reigning queen of the ice is just getting started.

At the end of the sold-out celebration there was an appearance from another Oakland School for the Arts alum: Oakland's own Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Kehlani, Liu’s favorite artist. Her performance had Liu and Mayor Lee dancing to her performance.

It’s a rare thing to see an athlete with this much perspective at such a young age, especially one who could still be at the top of her game for years to come.

“Representation matters so much,” she said during a press conference ahead of the main event. “We don’t really realize it. Having one person is sometimes all you need and I’m honored and grateful that I can be that for some people.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

'Sinners' ode to Chinese Americans' unheralded role in the deep South

Li Jun Li as Grace Cho had a pivotal role in 'Sinners.'

When we talk about American history, we usually get it in black and white ... well, mostly white. But Ryan Coogler’s motion picture Sinners is opening a conversation about the "cracks" in that history — specifically the Mississippi Delta Chinese, a community that lived in a tense, racial "in-between" for over a century.

As we head into the 2026 awards season, Sinners isn't just a win for representation; it’s a history-maker. The film has emerged as a major Oscar frontrunner following its record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations and significant wins at key precursor ceremonies.

The film recently dominated the 2026 Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards) and the NAACP Image Awards, significantly shifting the momentum in its favor.

The film has shattered the all-time record for the most Oscar nominations for a single film with 16 nods, surpassing classics like Titanic and La La Land. For a "Black" movie — directed by a Black filmmaker with a predominantly Black cast with key roles by Asian Americans — to dominate the Academy in this way is a sea change for the industry.

History they didn't teach you: The "Middle Men"

The story of Grace and Bo Chow in Sinners is pulled from a rarely-discussed chapter of the post-Civil War South. After Reconstruction, Southern planters recruited Chinese laborers as a potential replacement for freed Black workers on cotton plantations.

When plantation life proved exploitative, these immigrants found a unique economic niche: grocery stores. Chinese grocers often lived in Black neighborhoods and served Black residents whom white merchants refused to serve.

WARNER BROTHERS

Hailee Steinfeld, who is part Filipino/Black costars in 'Sinners.'

In the film, the Chows operate two stores across from each other—one for Black patrons and one for white. This reflects the real-world segregation where Chinese families were "neither white enough to belong nor Black enough to be fully excluded".

FYI: The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu on Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. PDT).

Systemic Limbo: While they were often "middlemen" in trade, they faced their own fierce discrimination. They were excluded from white social organizations and even forced to attend separate schools or Black schools after the 1927 Supreme Court case Gong Lum v. Rice ruled that excluding Chinese children from white spaces was legal.

By including the Chows, Coogler didn't just add "diversity"; he showed the historical bonds between marginalized groups. In the film, Grace and the Moore family are described as "family, basically," illustrating the multiracial community building that happened in the heart of Jim Crow.

View from the edge: Breaking barriers 

The significance of Sinners earning 16 nominations cannot be overstated. It is the most-nominated film ever by a Black director and the first to sweep 14 wins at the Black Reel Awards.

Ryan Coogler achieved a rare "trifecta," earning personal nominations for Best Picture (as producer), Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

It remains to be seen if the record-breaking haul signals more than just a trend that Hollywood is finally making room for Black-led films that are culturally specific and formally ambitious, rather than just focusing on "suffering." 

By including the Chow family, Coogler didn't just add "diversity;" he showed the historical bonds between marginalized groups. In the film, Grace and the Moore family are described as "family, basically," illustrating the multiracial community building that happened in the heart of Jim Crow.

With no AAPI-centric or themed film among the Oscar nominees, we’re rooting for Sinners not just because it’s a powerhouse film, but because it finally centers the complex, layered history of everyone who lived through — and resisted — the American racial hierarchy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu are being honored by their hometowns

SCREEN CAPTURE

As Grand Marshall of San Francico's Chinese New Year parade Eileen Gu was greeted with cheers.

Olympians Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu are back home in the Bay Area and their hometowns are celebrating their athletic accomplishments.

While the national media often tries to frame their careers through a lens of geopolitical tension, the local Asian American community is offering a much warmer, more nuanced embrace. From the streets of San Francisco to the rinks of Oakland, the sentiment is clear: these are our daughters, and we are proud of them.

In San Francisco, Eileen Gu recently took center stage as the Grand Marshal of the Chinese New Year Parade. Despite the "traitor" labels tossed around in the darker corners of the internet, the crowds in Chinatown roared with approval. 

Community leaders have been quick to point out that Gu’s success is an affirmation of the Chinese American identity, a bridge between two worlds that many locals navigate every single day. To the people who watched her grow up, her choice to represent China isn't a betrayal—it’s a personal journey of heritage.

Across the Bay Bridge, Oakland is gearing up for a massive rally at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to honor Alysa Liu. The vibe in the East Bay is one of pure hometown pride, focusing on Liu’s signature grit and the "Oakland swag" she brings to the ice. 

FYI: The city of Oakland is planning a massive homecoming rally for Alysa Liu on Thursday, March 12 at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall.

Even with the complex history involving her father’s political activism, the community is rallying behind her as a hometown hero who has navigated immense pressure with grace.

As for Alysa, she seems to be everywhere you turn as she bathed in the Olympics afterglow: on talk shows, interviews by major media and in two giant murals (one in Oakland and the other in Los Angeles where she goes to school.)

She is a lively interview. Since the Olympics she announced she would not compete in the upcoming World Skating Championship this year. Not unusual as she values her frends more than the rigors of training and then, there's school where she is majoring in psychology at UCLA. 

She also said she and her family lean towards progressive causes especially around the environment and immigration, mentioning some of the "No Kings" protests in which she has participated. Liu has also defended Eileen Gu's decision to ski for China.

Liu and Gu first met each other at a Bay Area Chinese banquet when Alysa just won the US figure skating title at the age of 13. At that point, Gu was 15. They sang karaoke together, and, says Alysa, they've been friends ever since.

Alysa Liu is a favorite in the talk show circuit for her outspokeness and lively personality.

Despite the heavy political discourse that has followed them since the 2022 Beijing Games, both Gu and Liu remain steadfast in their perspective: they see themselves as athletes first, regardless of whether they are representing China or the United States.

Liu has been particularly vocal in her defense of Gu, labeling the intense scrutiny over national loyalty as "hypocritical," she says in an intreview in the New York Times. She points out the irony of critics who tell immigrants to "go back to where they came from" suddenly becoming outraged when an athlete chooses to represent their ancestral heritage. 

For these two, the bond of their shared Bay Area upbringing and Chinese descent outweighs the noise of international politics.What resonates most within the AAPI community is how both young women insist on being athletes first. They are rejecting the rigid binary that demands they choose one side of their identity over the other. 

To Liu and Gu, it isn't about geopolitical maneuvering; it’s about a love for the game and the drive to compete at the highest level. They’ve made it clear that while flags may change, their identity as competitors and friends remains unchanged.

By standing by each other and dismissing the outside noise as "hypocritical," Liu and Gu are modeling a new kind of cultural solidarity. They prove that you can represent different flags while sharing the same roots, reminding us all that the bond of community is far stronger than any political headline.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

2026 Olympics: Eileen Gu's Olympic performance expands her popularity

 

Skier Eileen Gu has reached rock star status with her fans.

The Olympic Games are over and here we are writing about Eileen Gu ... again! There is no denying the media attention the Stanford student has received has increased her popularity-- no matter what her politics might be.

Gu has once again proven she is the undisputed "Snow Princess," but her golden run at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games came with a heavy dose of geopolitical drama and personal heartbreak.

On Sunday, the last day of the Games, Gu successfully defended her Olympic title in the women’s freeski halfpipe, delivering a masterclass in amplitude and technical precision. Despite a fall on her first run, she roared back with scores of 94.00 and 94.75, cementing her status as the most decorated freeskier in history with six career Olympic medals.

Her gold medal comes after she won two silver meals at the Freeski Big Air and Slopestyle events. Combined with the two gold and silver medals that she won in 2022, Gu is the most highly decorated freeski athlete, male or female.

Did I mention that journalists hovered around her like a nest of gnats, asking over and over why she competes for China even though she was born and raised in San Francisco. She has remained consistent with her explanation of her 2019 decision.

“In the U.S. growing up, I had so many idols to look up to,” she said at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, where her stardom exploded when she began winning medals. “But in China, I feel like there are a lot fewer of those. I’d have a much greater impact in China than in the U.S., and that’s ultimately why I made my decision.

Media jiu jitsu

She has shown her adeptness at handling the media. When asked by a journalist what it feels like to "lose" her gold medal after winning a silver medals instead of gold, she responded with a derisive laugh.

“I’m the most decorated female free skier in history! I think that’s an answer in and of itself,” Gu said at the press conference.

“The two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, I think is kind of a ridiculous perspective to take. I’m showcasing my best skiing,” she said. “I’m doing things that quite literally have never been done before and so I think that is more than good enough, but thank you.”

Vice President JD Vance reignited the debate over her decision to represent China, telling Fox News on Feb. 17 that he roots for athletes who "identify themselves as Americans" and benefit from the US system.

Gu, showing the same poise she has on the slopes, "clapped back" during a February 19 press conference, calling Vance's attention "sweet" and "flattering" while suggesting critics lump China into a "monolithic entity" due to political bias.

In another interview, she revealed that she was physically assaulted while at Stanford and her dorm room was broken into and robbed. She believed that the incidents were because she is competing for the Peoples' Republic of China, an economic and. political rival of the US.

No one asked about the political loyalties of Zoe Atkin, a Malaysian American who represents Great Britain and one of Gu's competitors in the half-pipe or the other eight US athletes playing for other countries.

I"’ve been very outspoken about my gratitude to both the U.S. and China for making me the person I am," she explained.

“I don’t feel as though I’m taking advantage of one or the other, because both have actually been incredibly supportive of me and continue to be supportive of me because they understand that my mission is to use sport as a force for unity. To use it as a form of fostering interconnection between countries, and not use it as a divisive force.”

Liu and Gu are not rivals

Gu has been contrasted with figure skater Alysa Liu of the United States in attempt to create a rivalry that doesn't exist. Despite competing for different nations, they maintain a relationship of mutual respect.

Gu reacted to Liu’s Instagram post — which showed her holding her two gold medals with the caption, “These are for y’all” — with a supportive comment: “YESSSSSS” in all caps.

RELATED:

• Alysa Liu's triumphant return from retirement. 
• Asian American Olympians honor immigrant parents
• Asian American skaters key to Team USA gold medal
• 14 Asian American athletes to follow at the 2026 Olympics
• 'Snow Princess' wins a silver medal for China
• Judging controversy tarnishes ice dancing medals
• Chloe Kim offers life lessons after winning a silver medal
• Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu divide the Chinese American community
• Eileen Gu wins second silver medal for China

Gu's triumph Sunday was bittersweet; shortly after her gold medal run, Gu learned that her maternal grandmother, Feng Guozhen, had passed away. Gu dedicated the victory to her, calling her a "fighter" and a "steam ship" who inspired her to take risks and bet on herself.

After winning the gold medal, she was informed that her grandmother had passed away. Growing emotional, Gu shared that she promised her grandmother to be "brave like she has been," and she aimed to make her proud through her performances.

For Gu, the storm isn’t going anywhere, not anytime soon. After a modeling commitment for Milan's Fashion Week, she will fly home to San Francisco to become the Grand Marshall of the Lunar New Year Parade in the city where she grew up. Her role drew criticism from some in the Chinese American community who see her choice to represent China as "ungrateful," or "unpatriotic."

In an interview with The Athletic, Gu gave advice to young people. Don’t wait until you’re older,” Gu said. “Don’t wait until tomorrow. Do it now. Do it now. Do it now … create your own pond. It’s not about fitting into existing molds. It’s not about being the best at things that exist. Create your own reality.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

2026 Olympics: Skating with joy, Alysa Liu wins a gold medal

Figure skater Aysa Liu loves the audience applause after her gold medal performance.

If you weren’t already a member of the Alysa Liu fan club, her performance Thursday night in Milan probably fixed that. 

The 20-year-old from the Bay Area didn’t just win an Olympic gold medal; she reclaimed the joy of a sport that she once walked away from, and she did it with a "megawatt smile" that lit up the entire Milano Ice Skating Arena at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Liu’s victory is more than just a personal win — it’s a historic moment for Team USA. She is the first American woman to stand atop the individual Olympic podium since Sarah Hughes in 2002. For those of us keeping track, that’s 24 years of waiting, finally ended by a skater who prioritizes fun as much as her footwork.

Coming into the free skate in third place, Liu was the picture of "calm, cool, and collected." Dressed in a shimmering gold outfit that seemed to predict the final result, she delivered a masterclass to Donna Summer’s disco classic "MacArthur Park."

Her priorities

From her opening triple flip to her closing combinations, Liu was virtually perfect. She racked up a career-best 150.20 in the free skate for a total of 226.79, enough to edge out Japan’s powerhouse skaters Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai.

After her final pose, Liu didn’t collapse in exhaustion. Instead, she gave a casual flip of her ponytail and a shrug, as if to say, "Yeah, that's done. Time to go hit a karaoke bar."

Fans caught a real moment of triumph on camera as she stepped off the ice, she looked straight into the camera and exclaimed, "That’s what I’m f***ing talking about!" [Note: Viral social media moment]. It was the kind of unfiltered joy we love to see from an athlete who has truly found her voice.

RELATED:

• Alysa Liu's triumphant return from retirement. 
• Asian American Olympians honor immigrant parents
• Asian American skaters key to Team USA gold medal
• 14 Asian American athletes to follow at the 2026 Olympics
• 'Snow Princess' wins a silver medal for China
• Judging controversy tarnishes ice dancing medals
• Chloe Kim offers life lessons after winning a silver medal
• Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu divide the Chinese American community
• Eileen Gu wins second silver medal for China

Skating is something she enjoys, but it is not the most important thing about her life. After her performance she was interviewed by NBC and she barely talked about her her skating:

"Going into this free skate, I have this new dress I was very excited to share on the big stage, and I'm very happy with how I skated.

"I had dinner with (my family) last night and that was unbelievable. But another unbelievable feeling was just when I was skating. When I was skating, hearing the cheers, I felt so connected with this audience. I want to be out there again.

"All I want in my life is human connection and, damn, now I am connected with a hell of a ton of people (laughs)."

Life is more than the medals

For Liu, this journey back to the ice after her brief retirement in 2022 wasn't about the hardware. As she told reporters while her gold medal hung around her neck: "I don't need this... what I needed was the stage."

She leaves Milan with two gold medals—one from the team event and this historic individual title—and a reminder to all of us that the best performances happen when you’re truly having fun.

As she told reporters after winning gold, "I choose to be here ... I love that I was able to come back and choose my own destiny."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

Olympic star Eileen Gu says she was assaulted at Stanford University

Eileen Gu studies when and where she can on the Stanford University campus.

In a series of reports released on February 17, 2026, freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu revealed the dark reality of her time as a student at Stanford University, disclosing that she was "physically assaulted on the street" amid a climate of intense political hostility.

The 22-year-old athlete, currently representing China at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, detailed a pattern of harassment that underscores a deep ideological rift within the Chinese American community and the broader US political landscape.

Gu revealed several harrowing incidents that occurred after she enrolled at Stanford in the fall of 2022:  Gu told The Athletic she was physically assaulted on the street, an incident that required police intervention.

She alleged her dorm room was robbed during her time on campus.and disclosed receiving persistent death threats linked to her 2019 decision to compete for China rather than the US.

Stanford University has remained reticent, citing student privacy as the reason for not providing specific details on the assault or robbery.

“Stanford University’s top priority is the safety and well-being of every member of our community. Our dedicated Department of Public Safety (DPS) is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for everyone on campus," the university statement said.

Chinese American community split

The depth of the ideological split surrounding Gu is most visible in her upcoming role as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade on March 7.

Gu, a San Francisco native, went to local private schools before getting accepted to Stanford, but continues to face backlash for her decision to represent China instead of the United States in international competitions, including the ongoing 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Critics frequently label her a "traitor" or "opportunist" for benefitting from American training while representing a geopolitical rival.

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Supporters and parade organizers, including the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, view Gu as a local hero and a bridge between cultures. They emphasize her commitment to inspiring young girls and her advocacy against anti-Asian discrimination.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gu described a terrifying incident in a San Francisco Walgreens where a man screamed anti-Asian profanities about the virus at her and her grandmother.

Following the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, she spoke out against anti-Asian racism and "domestic terrorism," emphasizing the need to stand against bigotry.

Critics—including some members of the Chinese American community—view her as a "PR asset" for the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party. This faction has allegedly organized petitions to block her Stanford admission.

One more event, then home

Despite the controversy swirling around Gu, she is focused on the Olympics this week having won two silver medals already she has a chance to medal in her preferred event. She will compete in the qualifying round of the halfpipe today, with the final scheduled on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.  

Then she will fly home to be the Grand Marshal for the Lunar New Year Parade in San Francisco. Gu is looking forward to being the Grand Marshall for the Chinese New Year parade ushering in the Year of the Horse. 

"Growing up in San Francisco, this was a huge part of my childhood and I remember going every year," Gu said. "I can't wait to light the fireworks and start the parade and being a part of the Asian community in San Francisco, and coming back to my roots is something that I'm so much looking forward to."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.