But Lana Condor isn’t having any of this backlash, revealing that the film closely followed the book, written by Jenny Han.
"We tried to stay really close to the book and they weren’t written that way. If Jenny was telling a different story, we would tell it," she told The Cut.
"But I will say this: My boyfriend in real life is Cuban but he is very light-skinned. There are times when people online will say, 'Of course she’s with a white guy.' Oh, so Asian people can only love Asian people? I can only be with my race?"
Lana called out the racism, which extends far beyond the film industry.
"You are being racist unknowingly and continuing to put us in a box that we don’t need to be in. It’s really unfair. People should be able to love who they want to love. It’s offensive to me — you’re continuing to promote tribalism. So I can’t be with who I want to be with? These are probably the same people who have an issue with the LGBT community. It’s the same thing — you telling me who I can love is unfair," she said.
The 21-year-old also revealed that some people were actually going to “boycott” the movie for this reason.
“I don’t really pay any mind to it, but I think it has been affecting Jenny. It’s making what should be an exciting time an anxious and fearful one. I’m so angry at people for making her feel that way,” she said.
"In my experience, I’ve loved all races. It’s not like I can only be with my people. I don’t think we should be stuck to only loving people based on what they look like. For the most part, the fans are really excited and happy. Noah is everything they thought Peter Kavinsky would be. That’s who we are trying to please at the end of the day."
Well said, girl!
