Celebrities, activists added to MTV's 'See Us Unite For Change' celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month

Olivia Munn, left, and Henry Golding, center join host Ken Jeong in the MTV celebration.

With Ken Jeong set to host, MTV's AANHPI Heritage Month celebration announced more celebrities joining the star-studded  television event.

MTV's "See Us Unite for Change" event just announced a massive expansion to their roster. With additions of Olivia Munn, Henry Golding, the Black Eyed Peas, Steven Yeun, Mike Shinoda and Sesame Street's Elmo and Alan. Additional presenters also include Chloe Bennet, Cheryl Burke, Tim Chantarangsu, James Hong, Alan Kim, Michelle Kwan, Lisa Ling and Jeremy Lin. the celebration is set to kick off on May 21st at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will include performances from Jhene Aiko, Saweetie, and Sting.

"To truly shift perceptions on a larger scale, we must come together to take a stand against discrimination, slander and violence in all of its forms, utilizing every platform and tool that we have access to," said See Us Unite campaign Executive Producer Sheila Lirio Marcelo.

"But anti-Asian hate has had a long history in this country, and to truly shift perceptions on a larger scale, we must come together to take a stand against discrimination, slander and violence in all of its forms, utilizing every platform and tool that we have access to."

"Ultimately, our culture is our greatest asset in our effort to change hearts and minds," she added.

Featuring music, comedy performances, short films, and inspirational speakers, the event will spotlight notable Asian American Pacific Islander contributions to art and media and education.

Asian American public figures and those working to combat violence against the AAPI community will also speak. Other speakers include Amanda Ngoc Nguyen, Ai-Jen Poo, Prof. Karthick Ramakrishnan and John C. Yang.

The Asian American Foundation partnered with the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation to fund the event.

The goal of the event, which is a partnership between MTV Entertainment Studios and the Ford and MacArthur foundations, is to help educate its viewers about the powerful impact the AAPI community has had on American culture and help garner support against the hate and discrimination that continues to afflict the AAPI community in the wake of the pandemic, and beyond.

News of the celebration emerged amidst these ongoing acts of violence against the AAPI community. "We are outraged and deeply saddened by the escalation of hate crimes against AAPI communities and stand with them in the fight against xenophobia and bigotry," said MTV President Chris McCarthy. "Hate against one of us is hate against all of us and by working together on a global scale, we can help end this senseless violence."

"Despite these difficult times for our community, the formation of TAAF and their bold work on the See Us Unite campaign represent the best of what can emerge when we share a collective resolve for change," said actor Daniel Dae Kim, who is also on the TAAF board of directors. "They're both great signs for our future."

See Us Unite for Change will air Friday, May 21 at 8 PM EDT on MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, BET, and Nickelodeon. Click here for more information.

#StopAsianHate Together video features Hollywood AAPI actors

Hollywood personalities of Asian descent are fighting against the surge of hate-inspired anti-AAPI violence in the best way they can by using the tools of their trade.

A year of mounting attacks has spurred AAPI actors and producers to use their media platforms to speak out against the racism against their community.

“The racist, verbal and physical assaults have left my community fearful to step outside,” Vietnamese American actress Olivia Munn wrote on Instagram. “These hate crimes have spiked since Covid and continue to increase even though we ask for help.”

Because millions of people follow the celebrities, some AAPI actors have become more outspoken in giving voice to those AAPI who don't have the outreach that the artists have built.

This recent effort hopes to raise funds for community organization in the frontlines fighting against the racist hatred.

The video features, (in order of appearance): Olivia Munn, Ken Jeong, Simu Liu, Akemi Look, Lisa Ling, Khalif Boyd, Lacy Lew Nguyen, Winston Duke, Diana Barbadillo, and Vivian Bang.

A GoFUndMe account #StopAsianHate, has been set up with donations going to a number of anti-hate organizations. 

"Together, it is our responsibility to condemn anti-Asian acts and create lasting social change," says the website. "We must amplify AAPI voices and find ways to uplift, empower, and protect the AAPI community. The AAPI Community Fund aims to do just that, addressing the urgent issues that face the AAPI community as well as broader, systemic problems."

#StopAsianHate Voices From Asian America: AAPI entertainers talk activism efforts & giving back

Should entertainers use their platforms to express their personal views outside the realm of acting and performing? 

Why the hell, not? As citizens of this country, they have the same rights that all American have. They're entitled to their views if you believe in the Constitution's First Amendment that guarantees Freedom of Speech.

Movies and television help shape American culture and the way we see ourselves. Progress is occurring, but so much more needs to be done to include AAPI actors and representation onscreen. 

First up, on a Zoom call, Daniel Dae Kim, George Takei, Olivia Munn, Dianne Doan, Hari Kondabolu, and Chloe Bennet sat down with EW on Sunday March, 14th 2021 to speak about their experiences as Asian artists and the rise in attacks against Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We can't really address the racism that's happening towards Asian Americans without addressing the racism that is happening towards African Americans, our Latinx brothers and sisters," states Bennett, the Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actress.

Below, Ken Jeong, takes a break from his usual comedic nature and gets serious on Late Night.

Unfortunately, "It's going to get worse before it gets better," says the New York-born actress Lucy Liu (below) as she is interviewed by CNN's Erin Burnett.

Margaret Cho, puts the current wave of violence towards Asians in the context of American history. "In the industry I work in, we have a distorted view of Asian Americans," she says.

The more we shift away from the single Eurocentric world view, the better we will be as a country. 

The more we see Americans as more than White, the more we can accept citizens who don't conform to the American self-mage.

#StopAsianHate: On this Day of Action, Voices from Asian America -- Olivia Munn

Olivia Munn, an actress of Chinese/Vietnamese heritage, has not been afraid to use her celebrity platform to speak out. This interview was conducted before the shooting spree in Georgia that killed six Asian women.

Kevin Tsujihara's downfall continues

Former  Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara

This shouldn't come as a surprise. Deadline reports that Kevin Tsujihara, who resigned as chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. last week, is being kicked off (dramatic pause) the Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment. 

Tsujihara’s was forced to resign it was revealed he’d engaged in sexual misconduct with actress Charlotte Kirk and then attempted to help her find roles in Warner Bros. films. 

The Hollywood-based Commission was formed in late 2017 in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Its commissioners include the heads of the major studios, networks, talent agencies, record labels, trade associations and industry unions. It is chaired by Anita Hill, whose accusations against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas made sexual harassment part of America's lexicon.

The pending ouster of Tsujihara comes after actress Olivia Munn, whose mother is Chinese, lambasted the Japanese American CEO for being part of the misogynistic culture that pervades the entertainment industry.

Olivia Munn and Brett Ratner.

Munn, who has been one of the more outspoken actresses in the #MeToo movement,  accused Tsujihara of fostering a culture that did not take sexual misconduct seriously, as he had approved a deal with director/producer Brett Ratner despite him publicly lying about sleeping with her.

“Since #MeToo people often ask how the abuses were so prolific. It’s easy if the people at the top don’t care…” Munn tweeted. “In 2013, Tsujihara approved Brett Ratner’s very unorthodox $450m financing deal, just 2 yrs after he had to apologize for using homophobic slurs & lying about me.”

After Munn wrote a book about an unnamed director masturbating in front of her, which the Hollywood rumor mill speculated that it was Ratner, Ratner denied the inference and in an apparent reprisal against Munn, bragged that he allegedly had sex with Munn numerous times.

“I wrote a book where I discussed him anonymously. A year later, (Ratner) named himself and went on to lie about me. A few days after that, he was on the Howard Stern show publicly apologizing for lying, saying he was sorry. Yet, two years after that moment, he gets a $450 million licensing deal with Warner Bros,” she previously told Rogue magazine.

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Backlash against Olivia Munn after striking a blow against a sexual predator

This scene from The Predator with Olivia Munn and Steven Wilder Striegel was deleted prior to the movie's release.

EVEN THOUGH  the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns have brought greater awareness of sexual misconduct, the entertainment industry is still struggling with inappropriate behavior on sets and on the casting couch. 

Since the revelations about movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, many actresses have come forward with their experiences as victims of powerful Hollywood figures.

Asian American actress Olivia Munn took action against a registered sex offender and suffered the consequence of being made to feel like she was the one who did something wrong when her fellow cast members failed to immediately support her.

Shane Black, director of The Predator, apologized publicly for casting Steven Wilder Striegel, who is a registered sex offender, but that apology didn't satisfy Munn.

Black, who is Striegel’s longtime friend, was aware of the actor’s past when he chose to cast Striegel in the movie. Striegel had a small part in a scene with Munn. The scene was cut at Munn's insistence, who brought Striegel's past to Fox’s attention weeks ago. She said she found it surprising and unsettling that Black did not mention Striegel’s sex-offender status to the cast and crew.

Munn told Ellen Degeneres that she felt "chastised" by the studio for telling her costars about Striegel, whose past she learned about from an acquaintance. She felt isolated from her costars after telling them even though it was to ensure they weren't blindsided by the news. (She did not learn full details of Striegel's case until the L.A. Times published a story about it).

Striegel pleaded guilty in 2010 to having an online relationship with his "distant relative," a then-14-year-old girl (he maintains there was no physical contact, but the allegations say there was). 

At the Toronto International Film Festival, where The Predator was premiered, she was surprised and hurt when the other members of the cast gave Black a standing ovation even though they were blindsided, as Munn was, by the news of Striegel's past. She told reporters that she felt shunned by her castmates.

During a scheduled interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Munn said her co-stars bailed on her, with the exception of 11-year-old actor Jacob Tremblay.

"It’s a very lonely feeling to be sitting here by myself when I should be sitting here with the rest of the cast," Munn told THR. "I do feel like I’ve been treated by some people that I’m the one who went to jail or I’m the one that put this guy on set."

Predator co-star Boyd Holbrook admitted on Instagram that indeed he "did pull out of a small amount of press on Saturday, as this type of social commentary is new to me ..."

Since Munn's feeling of being shunned became known, Holbrook issued this statement on his Instagram account:

"The people who collude to keep people like this in positions of power, that's the real problem, the people who keep turning blind eyes," Munn says.

Ssince Munn's statements in her interview, several other costars have issued statements s including This Is Us star Sterling Brown:

Munn continued: "It’s amazing how many people expect you to put the movie first, especially if you’re the lead. On something like this – where a child has been hurt – my silence will never be for sale. And if it costs me my career they can take it."

The Predator will have its general release this Friday, Sept. 14.
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SAG awards: Olivia Munn represents; No AAPI winners; Ansari stays away

SCREEN CAPTURE

Olivia Munn and Niecy Nash had a hilarious intro to awarding SAG's best actor in a drama series.

ASAM NEWS

ASIAN/AMERICANS were shut out at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, but the fastest growing ethnicity in the country did have one shining moment.
Olivia Munn, whose mother is Chinese, stole the show when she made a cutting reference to the lack of Asian/American nominees while presenting the award for best actor in a drama series with Niecy Nash.

Munn was about to announce the winner when she was interrupted by Nash.

“Wait, wait, wait. If it’s Sterling K. Brown, can I say it?” Nash interrupted.

Munn looking a little puzzled, asked why.

“Cuz he’s Black. I mean, but you can say anybody’s name who is Asian that’s nominated.”

“I think its just White guys and Sterling K Brown, but I’ll take one of the White guys,” said Munn.

Turns out Brown did win and, true to her word, Munn allowed Nash to announce the winner.

Of course, both Nash and Munn knew there were no Asian Americans nominated in that category.

Aziz Ansari was nominated for outstanding actor in a comedy series for his role in Netflix's Master of None. He chose to stay away following the fallout from accusations he sexually violated a date who said she made it clear to Ansari she did not want sex. Ansari has since apologized saying he misread his date’s cues. 

When Ansari's name was announced as one of the nominees, there was a notable lack of applause. The Indian/American comedian did not win, losing to William Macy of Shameless.

Hong Chau of Downsizing also did not win. The award went to Allison Janey of I, Tonya in the category of outstanding actress in a supporting role. Chau also loss to Janey in the same category earlier this year at the Golden Globes.

The cast of the motion picture The Big Sick, which starred Pakistani/American Kumail Nanjiani, was shut out. Instead Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture.

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.

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Olivia Munn alleges director of sexual misconduct

Brett Ratnere, left, and Olivia Munn.

ASIAN AMERICAN actress Olivia Munn was among the women who have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Hollywood director and producer Brett Ratner, the man behind X-Men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour, and other Hollywood blockbusters.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Munn alleged Ratner masturbated in front of her on the set of After the Sunset, a film he directed in 2004 when Munn was still an up-and-coming actress.

She was asked to deliver a meal to the director's trailer. According to Munn, she was assured that he would not be there.

It was much to her surprise, then, that Ratner was not only in his trailer, but was also sans pants and eating a shrimp cocktail.

She told the L.A. Times she let out a "startled scream" and called her sister, Sara Potts, who backed up Munn's story.

“I've made specific, conscientious choices not to work with Brett Ratner,” Munn said. "It feels as if I keep going up against the same bully at school who just won't quit. You just hope that enough people believe the truth and for enough time to pass so that you can't be connected to him anymore."

Munn was among the six women who have come forth, emboldened by the #MeToo campaign against sexual harassment and assault and inspired by the over 70 women who have come forward against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Ratner denied the allegations outlined in the report to CNN through his attorney, Martin Singer.

"Brett Ratner vehemently denies the outrageous derogatory allegations that have been reported about him, and we are confident that his name will be cleared once the current media frenzy dies down and people can objectively evaluate the nature of these claims," the statement read. 

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Zayn Malik voted Top New Artist; fashion oops & downs at the American Music Awards

Zayn Malik receives his award as New Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards.

BRUNO MARS, the Filipino/American R&B singer from Hawaii, got the American Music Awards off to a rousing start with his performance of his hit "24K Magic," highlighted by his electrifying choreography, a combination of James Brown, Michael Jackson and a healthy dose of Jaberwockeez. the Asian/American dance team

RELATED: Bruno Mars has quite a night on '60 Minutes' & 'American Music Awards'

Other Asian/Americans had their moments in the spotlight last Sunday, (Oct. 20) as presenters and award recipients.

Teen-heartthrob Zayn Malik was named New Artist of the Year for his first solo album after leaving the popular  boy group One Direction. He gave special thanks to his Pakistani father when he received the award.

"Standing here is crazy. My mom, my dad, everybody in my family that's been supporting me the past year, especially my dad. Thank you, Dad. Also, big thank you to you guys. I didn't expect anybody to still vote for me. So thank you, and I"ll put it on my fireplace." In his album he included a song in which he sang some of the lyrics in Urdu, his father's native language.

Olivia Munn with Silicon Valley's T.J. Miller presented the award to Tim McGraw for Favorite Country Singer. As they introduced the singer, they did a hilarious bit mocking award show presenters. 

The Chinese/American actress also got some attention she didn't necessarily want when most fashionistas put her on their lists of "worst dressed" celebrities wearing a Reem Acra floral ensemble. Apparently, Munn broke a fashion rule, wearing a mini, showing off a lot of leg, and also showed a lot of cleavage. In the fashion world, the rule is one or the other, but not both. (I don't make the rules.)

SCREEN CAPTURE

Chrissy Teigen's risqué dress.

On the other end of the fashion spectrum was Chrissy Teigen, who wore a floor-length black dress with two side-slits that were dangerously high, confirming that the Thai/American model was not wearing underwear. At least one photographer caught the wardrobe malfunction as Teigen walked the Red Carpet.

A wave of tweets criticized her and she responded as only Teigen can:  “I was walking. It floated. It’s over. I can’t take it back. Here is a formal apology. What else would you like?”

Teigen, who's been known to speak her mind, introduced her husband, John Legend, but couldn't help but turn the introduction into a political statement.

“What can I say? I’m very inspiring,” she said, according to Billboard, continuing, “but his songs are bigger than either of us and on the heels of what’s been a really interesting interesting f**ked up election for all of us, I think we could all use a little love tonight.” The awards show censors blocked her statement at "interesting" leaving the home audience wondering what she said.

She didn't apologize for the introduction.

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