‘Barbie’ star Simu Liu slams declare that he’s a ‘token’ Asian ‘thirst lure’

You may’t put “Barbie” star Simu Liu in a field.

The Chinese language-Canadian actor, 34, has ripped HuffPost over a controversial April article labeling him a “thirst lure” and a “token” Asian.

“Solution to try and put us in opposition to each other,” Liu, who was born in Harbin, China, however grew up in Ontario, fumed underneath HuffPo’s Facebook repost of the piece.

“We Love Simu Liu, However He’s Not The Solely Gifted Asian Thirst Lure In Hollywood” criticizes his casting as Ken alongside Ryan Gosling in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming “Barbie” film.

Writer Ian Kumamoto — who’s of Hispanic and Asian descent — argued that “Asian Twitter collectively scratched its head when Simu Liu was named as one in every of many actors” enjoying a model of the enduring polymer heartthrob.

“Don’t get us flawed — we love Liu, and we’re all for an Asian king thriving,” Kumamoto wrote. “However when a single actor seems to be getting the majority of Asian male roles in Hollywood, it begins to really feel rather less like illustration and much more like tokenism.”

He additionally included an inventory of different “sizzling” actors of Japanese extraction who he’d faucet for the half as an alternative.

Potential substitutes have been “The Good Place’s” Manny Jacinto, “Mortal Kombat’s” Ludi Lin, and Steven Yeun, star of the critically-acclaimed Asian-centered Netflix collection “Beef.”

For sure, Liu had critical “beef” with the piece, which he felt unfairly pitted Asian actors in opposition to every one other.

“What ‘bulk’ of roles are you referring to?” the “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” star sputtered. “Are there films I’m in that I’m not conscious of? Do you actually suppose that there’s a quota of ‘Asian male roles’ that may be a zero sum sport?”

He added, “Each factor I’ve taken submit Shang-Chi was not written Asian. We’ve been capable of reshape tales to get extra illustration onscreen. Get your details straight.”

The Publish reached out to Liu and Kumamoto for remark.

Liu additionally shared the article on his own page with the caption: “The trashest take by HuffPo. Additionally I’m not a ‘thirst lure’ I’m a f–king actor.”

Commenters overwhelmingly sided with him.

“That dude mentioned maintain up Simu acquired forged in TWO MOVIES???!!!? Imma want to write down a thinkpiece,” exclaimed one incensed fan.

Liu replied, “Sure I want I might like this a thousand instances.”

One other supporter wrote, “I like once they faux to be progressive by s–ting on an individual of coloration…Additionally, when you have haters, you’re making an affect… so congrats???”

“It was clickbait. Such an excellent reply Simu,” declared a 3rd.

Others questioned why the author was going after Liu and never highlighting the shortage of roles for Asian-Individuals in Hollywood.

“The actual problem is the dearth of roles and tales, not HuffP’s highlander-ish nightmare take of ‘there may be just one,’” one individual argued.