In a recent article released by Paste Magazine, Nancy Wang Yuen, author of the book Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism, recalled a casting director saying “…Asians are a challenge to cast because most casting directors feel as though they’re not very expressive.”
The article was quoted on Twitter and angry Asians instantly retaliated with the hashtag #ExpressiveAsians to prove it wrong.
“Asians are a challenge to cast because most casting directors feel as though they’re not very expressive." https://t.co/q7Zk4toviu
— Angry Asian Man (@angryasianman) September 8, 2017
Can we start #ExpressiveAsians? pic.twitter.com/PlwnNuxuBQ
— Maurene Goo (@mauxbot) September 8, 2017
People began showcasing how expressive they can be because clearly, the casting director, or Hollywood in particular, don’t know us Asians.
Been expressing myself since I was in diapers✌️ #expressiveasians pic.twitter.com/HB07Anqv75
— Kat Cho (@KatCho) September 9, 2017
this is qwhite interesting #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/j3cmXTYsIY
— nat (@hadesghouI) September 9, 2017
Look Ma, two different emotions at once! #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/hbyNIOA8f5
— Phire (@phirephoenix) September 9, 2017
Others took it as an opportunity for them to show Hollywood that expressive people like them have always been around — they just don’t know where to look.
#expressiveasians I love this hashtag omfg IT'S MY TIME TO SHINE pic.twitter.com/RILuenmxvc
— mochi 💠 (@MochiWaDaisuki) September 9, 2017
hey hollywood if you like what you see, go on over to https://t.co/H7wKbQk7YR, like, comment, subscribe, tickle my balls #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/sfOQThs63v
— SungWon Cho (ProZD) (@prozdkp) September 9, 2017
Seriously, whoever said Asian aren’t expressive enough clearly haven’t seen Asian dramas before.
has no one in hollywood ever watched an asian drama before #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/7GlQNJ18LU
— Nikki🌟@commissions! (@rotomfortunae) September 9, 2017
are you sure hollywood?? #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/SzoDmdGNO0
— a (@asianult) September 9, 2017
Kris Aquino alone can prove that Asians can be way too expressive sometimes!


Saying “Asians are not very expressive” is just another petty excuse to justify whitewashing in films when Asian actors proved they’re expressive and deserve their roles in Hollywood films.
Im feeling so much right now.. but in case you wanna see what that looks like Hollywood! #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/WZaS4o7xSX
— jo. (@BBMonarch) September 9, 2017
Tony Leung can express more complex emotions with just his eyes than many Western actors can with their whole bodies. #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/DWoOZWQlHV
— Decervelage (@Decervelage) September 10, 2017
Ana May Wong literally made her career being expressive…she was a SILENT FILM STAR. Hollywood, learn your own history! #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/V9n8mfrMb9
— Mary Fan 🐉🎻🚀 (@AstralColt) September 9, 2017
"Asians are not very expressive." #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/whjvutpAzQ
— Snowpierced (@k_hanfelt) September 9, 2017
really hollywood? #ExpressiveAsians pic.twitter.com/zpi7iayzJY
— malak 천사 (@shumsende) September 9, 2017
Now go tell Hollywood to go back and try again because we Asians are expressive AF especially when we’re triggered! *Gigil Level: Asian*
#ExpressiveAsians TRY AGAIN HOLLYWOOD! NOT IN FRONT OF MY SALAD 😡😡🤧 pic.twitter.com/usEcvhWJ7N
— daddyrhee (@hannahstrash) September 9, 2017
White people don't think we're "expressive" bc they're invested in Orientalist narratives that present us as all the same #ExpressiveAsians
— Ju-Hyun Park (@Hermit_Hwarang) September 9, 2017
Hollywood whities calling Asians inexpressive when their whites cover emotional range of a teaspoon #ExpressiveAsians
— Suhasini (@PatronusMalec) September 9, 2017
Clearly they haven’t seen angry Asians express themselves like this before.

Join the fun and express yourself on Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressiveAsians!