Simu Liu: Hollywood’s Champion, China’s Fashion Spice‑up
What the Internet Came to Say
Simu Liu, the freshly minted Marvel champion and star of the first Asian‑led superhero flick, found himself in the hot seat when a YouTube video called “Is the Asian Lead For Marvel ‘Too Ugly’ For Chinese People?” aired on August 8. The 30‑year‑old actor’s face was put under the microscope by a panel of netizens from across China—one of whom didn’t shy away from calling him “old‑fashioned” and “futuristic” scar‑myth.
- A woman skimmed him with a 3.5/10 rating and said he looks like a vintage mannequin.
- Another voice claimed Simu’s an expert at scamming people—and not sure if that means charming audiences or drilling away expectations.
- In words lighter than a dandelion, yet just as poignant, a third quoted: “He doesn’t meet my standards of what a handsome man should look like.”
Thoughts on the Shang‑Chi Role
When pressed about why he was chosen for the hero, a respondent offered a confessional line:
“When foreign filmmakers hire an Asian role, they often pick someone we don’t find attractive. But that still means the actor is putting China on the map.”
Beauty Norms in China (The Righteous Verdict)
The bracket suggestions were crystal clear: the perfect face is all about prominent features, big eyes, and a small, sharp face—time-tested classics exemplified by the Taiwanese star Eddie Peng.
Simu’s Comeback
Unfazed, Simu took to Facebook to fill the void, cheekily reminding audiences “I’m still doing my thing and I’m over the moon happy to get this amazing opportunity.” He urges fans not to let a handful of doubters derail their own dreams. The outcry has, in turn, sparked a wave of support from netizens, cheering the actor on and deriding the harsh critique.
Takeaway
Even a blockbuster hero can find himself in a ring of cultural clashes. But when everyone lifts a hand for the hero, the real story is that Simu is just getting started on an epic journey—much like the one he’ll guard in the Marvel universe.
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Hollywood’s Growing List of Diverse Asian Leading Men
We’ve all seen the old trope: a Hollywood film that sticks to the “stereotypical Asian look.” But the scene is changing faster than you can say “blockbuster.” After a quick hunt through our feeds, we’ve discovered five genuinely diverse and strikingly handsome actors who’re carving out their own space on the big screen.
- Henry Golding – 32 (the cheeky chameleon of cinema, with a grin that could light up any plot)
- Daniel Dae Kim – 51 (the seasoned veteran with a charisma that hits all the right notes)
- Charles Melton – 28 (the silky smoothy face that’s making waves lately)
- Mena Massoud – 27 (the dark‑haired dynamo who’s got talent on every level)
- Manny Jacinto – 32 (the muscle‑and‑mind combo that’s proving acting isn’t skin‑deep)
These nine figures demonstrate that Hollywood’s casting can actually be as bold as it’s built on. If there’s one takeaway, it’s that talent, charm, and diversity are increasingly the sunny side of the future—no more pigeonholes needed.
