Opinion: Whitewashing rife in Asia, too. Just look at the adverts in Hong Kong
Those accusing Hollywood of “whitewashing” Asian roles should take a look at the advertisements in Asia. Hong Kong brands such as Giordano, Bossini and Baleno; Japanese label Uniqlo; and Chinese brand Huawei, all use Caucasian models
There’s no shortage of voices crying foul every time Hollywood “whitewashes” a film character, and rightly so. A term referring to the choice of a white actor to play a role that is ostensibly Asian, several cases of whitewashing have caused an uproar in recent years.
British actress Tilda Swinton starred as a Tibetan mystic in the 2016 Marvel blockbuster Doctor Strange. (Making matters worse, the original character was a man.) The latest case to cause a stink was the casting of American actress Scarlett Johansson as a cyborg in this year’s Ghost in the Shell, based on a Japanese manga series. Filmmakers even dyed the famously blonde actress’ hair black.
A walk around the retailing mecca of Causeway Bay, however, confirms that Asian brands are just as guilty – preferring to use Caucasian models in their advertising campaigns.