Constance Wu is not holding back. The Crazy Rich Asians actress just called out Broadway star Andrew Barth Feldman after he was cast in a role originally written for an Asian character in the musical Maybe Happy Ending.
Wu shared on her Instagram story that Feldman personally reached out to her. She says they actually had a full-on phone call, plus emails and texts after, that left her “hopeful” about where the conversation around representation was going. But according to Wu, that hope didn’t last.
“After a recent voice memo he sent me, all I can say is that I am so disappointed in him. And feeling pretty discouraged,” she wrote.
Feeling Invisible (Again)
Wu explained how draining it feels to speak up about Asian American erasure when it feels like nobody is listening anymore. “It’s exhausting and increasingly lonely,” she admitted. “Once again, Asian Americans are left unheard, unacknowledged, invisible. Sadly, we’re used to this.”
She also pointed out that the team behind Maybe Happy Ending has stayed quiet, likely hoping the controversy would just disappear. “Your plan is working, guys. I heard your box office doing great,” Wu added.
The Petition Nobody’s Talking About
In her post, Wu brought up the petition started by actor Gwongbd, which got thousands of signatures. She apologized to those supporters, saying Feldman and the producers still haven’t acknowledged it.
And while she did note that Feldman may have been put in this position by his producers, Wu stressed that doesn’t excuse his silence.
“Sometimes we don’t choose our responsibilities, they choose us. So the question that remains is: what are you choosing to do with it? Silence is a choice.”
Where Feldman Stands
Feldman, who most people know from Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and from starring alongside Jennifer Lawrence in No Hard Feelings, hasn’t responded publicly yet.
But Wu’s post puts him right back in the spotlight, this time not for his talent, but for how he’s handling an issue that’s way bigger than just one role.
