Bowen Yang Delivers Poignant Call To ‘Do More’ To Fight AAPI Hate

Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang joined “Weekend Update” to deliver an impassioned plea against anti-Asian racism. Yang began his segment by mocking his introduction as “Asian American cast member”, to which Colin Jost replied, “That’s how you told me to introduce you.”

“I set your ass up. It feels good,” Yang responded. He continued, “things for Asians in this country have been bleak for the past two weeks — and all the weeks before that since forever.” Yang then rattled off action items he found online to help, such as checking in with AAPI friends to assure them they’re still attractive, amplifying Asian voices who want more Paneras in North Brooklyn, and calling senators to demand they know about the lesbian characters in Sailor Moon.

Yang turned serious after those suggestions, admitting “What can I say to help how insanely bad things are? If someone’s personality is punching Asian grandmas, it’s not a dialogue. I have an Asian grandma, you want to punch her, there ain’t no common ground, mama.”

“I’m just a comedian. I don’t have all the answers,” he added, joking that he would rather be doing his Gay Passover Bunny character instead. “But I’m not just looking for them online. I’m looking around me. The GoFundMe for Xiao Zhen Xie, the grandmother who fought back against her attacker raised $900,000, which she immediately gave back to the community. That’s where we are as Asians. Now come meet us there.”

Yang ended the segment by sharing a Mandarin cheer that means “fuel up”, adding “I don’t know what’s helpful to say to everyone, but that’s what I say to myself. Fuel up, do more. It’s the year of the metal ox, which basically means a car. So everyone, get in, buckle up. It’s no pee breaks. We ride at dawn, Grandmas!”

And just before cutting to commercial break, Yang yelled, “Save Kim’s Convenience!”, the Asian-Canadian series which was abruptly cancelled after 5 seasons on CBC.

Anti-Asian hate crimes have seen a spike since last year when the COVID-19 pandemic began. In the last 12 months alone, the organization Stop AAPI Hate, has tracked 3,795 hate incident reports from APIs in all 50 states and DC. This spike was exacerbated by republicans and Donald Trump continually labelling COVID-19 “the China virus” and other racist monikers. The result has been countless acts of violence and hate, culminating in the Atlanta spa shootings that killed 8 people and injured several more.

Many took to Twitter to celebrate Bowen Yang’s segment and message:

(featured image: screencap/NBC)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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