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“Actors have no power until they become a star.”
Office is one of the most beloved American sitcoms of the past 20 years.
In the episode, actor Kat Ahn played Amy, one of the two Asian waiters at restaurant Benihana mentioned in the title of the episode.
“A Benihana Christmas” also features Michael Scott (Steve Carell) referring to the restaurant as “Asian Hooters,” as well as the character using a Sharpie to tag the other Asian waiter so he can tell the two apart.
Chris Haston / NBC / Getty Images
Now, Ahn talks about his experience filming the episode, as well as how it reinforced Asian stereotypes.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Ahn said she felt that when she was cast for the episode, she was “just there to be the joke.” She said, “You are told to shut up and be grateful. Actors have no power until they become a star.”
This isn’t the first time Ahn has spoken about his experience directing the episode. In January, she posted a TikTok detailing the “problematic” elements of the episode: “The storyline with myself and the other Asian American actress is that we were the ugliest version of the Benihana actresses.” , she explained.
“Plus, all Asians are alike, we’re one big monolith, and we’re just one big walking stereotype with no personality or individuality, which is problematic.”
Ahn is not the only one either Office actor who challenged “A Benihana Christmas”. Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey recently addressed the episode’s offensive jokes about their Ladies Office podcast, with the two actors agreeing that the Sharpie moment made them “cringe”.
Charles Sykes / Getty Images
“I just don’t think that script would have been written today,” Kinsey said, with Fischer in agreement, “I don’t think so either.”
Charles Sykes / Bravo / Getty Images
Go here to find out how you can help prevent hate crimes against Asian Americans.
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