The highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada has sparked controversy in East Asia over a Chinese assistant character, with some online communities calling for a boycott. The film, which sees the return of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, features a new character named Qin Zhou, played by Chinese American actor Helen J Shen.
The backlash began after 20th Century Studios released a promotional clip on Friday. Critics argue that the character's name sounds similar to a historically racist term used to mock Chinese people. Hong Kong's Oriental Daily News described the phrase as a “symbolic racist slur historically used in the West to ridicule Chinese immigrant workers in the 19th century”.
In the clip, Qin Zhou is seen in a buttoned-up striped shirt and checked skirt, boasting about her Yale education and 3.86 GPA. Social media users criticised this as a stereotypical “nerd” portrayal, particularly in a fashion industry setting. One user on X wrote: “Child-like dress, glasses, overqualified, Ivy League credentials and at top of her game yet obsequious and insecure of her competency: these are not Asian American stereotypes, they’re white women’s fantasies.”
Another user described the character as “stereotype-riddled discrimination: an awkward Asian woman who's a bespectacled, communication-impaired type”. On Reddit, a user noted that the name sounds like “Zhen Chou”, meaning “really ugly” in Chinese. Critics also highlighted a contrast between the film's marketing, which featured K-pop star Jang Won Young in promotions, and the on-screen portrayal of Qin Zhou. One user commented: “While putting Jang Won Young … at the forefront of promotions, the movie features an understated, stereotypical Asian character.”
The Independent has contacted 20th Century Studios for comment, but neither the studio nor the cast have responded. The film is scheduled to open in China on 1 May and will have its global premiere in South Korea on 29 April.
