With the deadly coronavirus showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, actress and comedienne Awkwafina spoke out about the ‘cruelty’ that has stemmed from it.
The 31-year-old actress (real name Nora Lum) took to Instagram on Tuesday, sharing a photo of her with a black face mask on.
While she didn’t bring up any specific examples, Awkwafina made it clear that she was ‘saddened’ by the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak.
Cruelty: With the deadly coronavirus showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, actress and comedienne Awkwafina spoke out about the ‘cruelty’ that has stemmed from it
‘Have been away working for the past few months in all of this devastation, and wanted to make double sure I was OK to travel before coming back home to the US,’ the Crazy Rich Asians star began.
‘Haven’t said much about this whole thing because mostly I am just saddened by it. I worry for those who are most at risk for serious illness, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions,’ she added.
‘I am saddened by the rhetoric that has come out of this, and the cruelty that came as a result,’ the actress continued.
Devastation: ‘Have been away working for the past few months in all of this devastation, and wanted to make double sure I was OK to travel before coming back home to the US,’ the Crazy Rich Asians star began
‘I hope that while we self isolate and socially distance to stay safe, we also stay sane and calm. Wishing everyone a sense of peace during this batshit crazy time,’ she said.
She concluded by stating she will spend the next two weeks rewatching the hit Netflix series Tiger King, adding, ‘Love you all ❤️❤️❤️’
While Awkwafina, a New York native born to a Chinese American father and Korean American mother, didn’t specifically mention any specific instances of ‘cruelty’ and ‘rhetoric,’ her message comes just a day after The Real host Jeannie Mai opened up with a similar message.
Stay safe: ‘I hope that while we self isolate and socially distance to stay safe, we also stay sane and calm. Wishing everyone a sense of peace during this batshit crazy time,’ she said
The 41-yea-old Mai, who is of Vietnamese and Chinese descent, wrote a passionate editorial for People about how her heritage lead to ‘vulgar remarks and racist memes’ on her own Instagram, due to the virus’ origins in China.
‘It feels like there’s two viruses. COVID-19 … and fearful ignorance,’ Mai began, adding, ‘we all need to open up the discussion of Asian American-directed racial tension that has been caused by the novel coronavirus.’
Mai went on to detail several incidents involving racist acts against Chinese people, including one from her hometown in San Francisco, where a Chinese man was collecting cans to be recycled, when he was, ‘attacked and mocked by a group of men shouting racial slurs.’
Editorial: The 41-yea-old Mai, who is of Vietnamese and Chinese descent, wrote a passionate editorial for People about how her heritage lead to ‘vulgar remarks and racist memes’ on her own Instagram, due to the virus’ origins in China
Awkwafina had been working on the Marvel Studios movie Shang-Chci and the Legend of the Ten Rings in Australia, where filming had been shut down after director Destin Daniel Cretton went into self-isolation.
The filmmaker revealed a few days later that he had tested negative for the coronavirus, though he had been working ‘in close proximity’ with people who had been exposed to the virus.
Awkwafina will next be seen in Breaking News in Yuba County, alongside Mila Kunis, Juliette Lewis and Allison Janney.
Marvel: Awkwafina had been working on the Marvel Studios movie Shang-Chci and the Legend of the Ten Rings in Australia, where filming had been shut down after director Destin Daniel Cretton went into self-isolation
Coming soon: wkwafina will next be seen in Breaking News in Yuba County, alongside Mila Kunis, Juliette Lewis and Allison Janney