Published on
27/04/2026 – 15:02 GMT+2
The hotly anticipated sequel to 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada hits theatres this week, and a 38-second clip from the film has already sparked backlash online.
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The extract shows “the former assistant’s new assistant” Jin Chao, played by Chinese-American actress Helen J Shen. She introduces herself to Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs, who is back at work at the fictional Runway magazine.
During their interaction, Chao displays the characteristics of social awkwardness, is eager to please, dressed in unflattering clothing, and proceeds to list her academic achievements…
“If you don’t want me, you can interview someone else, I don’t mind,” she tells Hathaway’s character. “I did go to Yale, 3.86 GPA, lead soprano of the Whiffenpoofs and my ACT score was 36 on the very first try.”
This clip has been viewed over 26 million times and has been blasted online for being guilty of caricaturing Asian behaviour and leaning on dated stereotypes, with accusations of “blatant anti-Asian racism”.
“Hollywood is so out of touch it’s embarrassing. It’s 2026 and THIS is your Asian rep? The name, styling, whole look. Lazy stereotypes,” wrote one X user, while another commented: “Child-like dress, glasses, overqualified, Ivy League credentials and at top of her game yet obsequious and insecure of her competency: these are not Asian American stereotypes, they’re white women’s fantasies.”
Other social media posts have also highlighted that the character’s name sounds like a racist slur.
One Japanese post, which has been viewed over a million times on X, states:
“The Devil Wears Prada 2
・Asian (Chinese)
・Name is Chinchon
・Glasses
・Nerdy bookworm
・Even if they graduated from a prestigious school, they’re uncool
Hits us with the most blatant racial stereotype racism in 2026 and it gives me chills. Did they use this scene in the promo because it’s “funny”? #BoycottTheDevilWearsPrada2″
On the Reddit forum r/asianamerican, one commenter said the name “is what a white person thinks a Chinese name should sound like”, before drawing comparisons to Cho Chang – the name of the Asian student at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 sees Hathaway joined by returning cast members Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.
The Devil Wears Prada grossed $326 million globally and became a streaming hit.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is out on 30 April in China and on 1 May worldwide.
Source:
www.euronews.com