2 Broke Girls: ‘so racist it’s baffling’

While the debate about the all-white casting on HBO’s Girls has been garnering attention on the blogosphere, it’s surprising there hasn’t been a similar dialogue concerning the portrayal of Asian-Americans in US sitcoms.

E4’s latest aquisition, 2 Broke Girls, is the most problematic. Created by Sex and the City’s Michael Patrick King, it’s the story of two white waitresses (Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs) who work in a Brooklyn restaurant whose boss is Asian-American Han Lee ( Matthew Moy). Short, asexual and work-obsessed, Lee is ridiculed for his broken English and failing to “get” US culture. In one episode Dennings’ character says, after a run-in with Lee: “You can’t tell an Asian he made a mistake. He’ll go in back and throw himself on a sword.”

In response to criticism (the New Yorker called it “so racist it is less offensive than baffling”), King argued that his minority status allowed him free rein: “I’m gay. I put in gay stereotypes every week! I don’t find it offensive … I find it comic to take everybody down, which is what we are doing.”

Other US shows such as Don’t Trust The B**** In Apartment 23 and Are You There Chelsea? contain racist quips and/or stereotypical Asian Americans. Kane Carpenter, the editor of the Chinese American newspaper Sampan, thinks the lack of outrage is because “the term “Asian American” refers to such a diverse group of people of different ethnic backgrounds. There is less of a response from our community when racism is directed towards us.”

Here in the UK, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had promised us a government of stability and competence – not forgetting professionalism, integrity and accountability – after the rollercoaster ride of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Remember Liz? These days she seems like a long forgotten comedy act. Instead, Sunak took us even further through the looking-glass into the Conservative psychodrama.

Elsewhere, the picture has been no better. In the US, Donald Trump is now many people’s favourite to become president again. In Ukraine, the war has dragged on with no end in sight. The danger of the rest of the world getting battle fatigue and losing interest all too apparent. Then there is the war in the Middle East and not forgetting the climate crisis …

But a new year brings new hope. There are elections in many countries, including the UK and the US. We have to believe in change. That something better is possible. The Guardian will continue to cover events from all over the world and our reporting now feels especially important. But running a news gathering organisation doesn’t come cheap.

So this year, I am asking you – if you can afford it – to give money. Well, not to me personally – though you can if you like – but to the Guardian. The average monthly support in Vietnam is around $4, however much you give, all that matters is you’re choosing to support open, independent journalism.

With your help, we can make our journalism free to everyone. You won’t ever find any of our news reports or comment pieces tucked away behind a paywall. We couldn’t do this without you. Unlike our politicians, when we say we are in this together we mean it.

Happy new year!