Just days before its theatrical release, The Devil Wears Prada 2 has ignited a firestorm of criticism over what many are calling outdated and racist portrayals of Asian characters. The sequel, arriving 20 years after the beloved 2006 comedy-drama starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, is set to hit cinemas later this week. However, a promotional clip released ahead of time has sparked widespread backlash.
Controversial Clip Sparks Outrage
The teaser, shared last week, features Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs, now working as features editor at the fictional magazine Runway, meeting her new assistant, Jin Chao, played by Chinese-American actress Helen J. Shen. In the scene, Jin misinterprets Andy’s hesitation and assumes she might prefer another candidate. She quickly lists her impressive credentials, saying, “If you don’t want me, you can interview someone else. That’s totally fine. I did go to Yale, 3.86 GPA, lead soprano of the Whiffenpoofs, and my ACT score was 36 on the very first time.”
Within a week, the clip garnered over 26 million views, with many viewers criticizing the portrayal of an Asian woman as socially awkward, unstylish, and an academic overachiever. A particularly contentious issue is the character’s name, which some argue sounds similar to a historically racist slur used against Chinese people.
Social Media Backlash
Users on X (formerly Twitter) voiced their displeasure. “I don’t quite get how the name Zhao Jin ends up being pronounced as Chin Chou,” questioned user Eva. “It’s 2026 already, and we’re still flip-flopping back and forth on racial discrimination issues – I just can’t wrap my head around it either.” Another user, supermartian, posted, “It’s 2026 already and they can’t even come up with a normal Chinese name.” Badbaddustbin added, “They couldn’t pick something like Stephanie Wu or Jennifer Wang or countless other names that don’t sound like a racial slur?”
Many also criticized the character’s fashion sense and personality. “It’s 2026 and they’re still playing on the old Asians are nerdy/boring stereotypes. Her name, outfit and styling are wtf… Even using this scene as a trailer for marketing?” Moonbaby questioned. PeytonLang wrote, “A petite Asian woman with accomplished academic record with low self-esteem and wearing different patterns? A stereotype or a caricature? Really? In the year 2026? I thought this type of character belongs to Ugly Betty era.”
Accusations of Racism and Calls for Boycott
Others labeled the characterization as “tone-deaf” and “blatant racism,” calling for a boycott. “The promotion for The Devil Wears Prada 2 up to this point was really great, but right before release, they suddenly hit us with blatant anti-Asian racism and flipped the car,” one user commented. Another added, “It feels like the way Asians are portrayed in Hollywood movies from 20 years ago.”
Boba Cyclist shared a sharp critique: “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.”
Potential Box Office Impact
The studio behind the film, 20th Century Studios, and the main stars have not yet responded to the backlash. However, East Asian media outlets suggest the controversy could hurt the film’s box office performance. Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily reported, “There are forecasts that this controversy could negatively affect the film’s reputation and box office performance.” Shi Wenxue, a Beijing-based film critic, told the Global Times, “This controversy touches many deeply rooted sensitivities. The old ‘Yellow Peril’ narratives produced villainous figures, while newer labels such as the ‘model minority’ stereotype portray Asians as high achieving but socially awkward.”
Despite the backlash, some critics have praised The Devil Wears Prada 2 as “phenomenal,” “sharp and witty,” and “worth the wait.” Metro has contacted 20th Century Studios for comment.
