A minor character in fashion-magazine comedy The Devil Wears Prada 2 has sparked a major backlash online, before the film has even reached cinemas.
A 38-second clip released on social media by 20th Century Studios on 16 April was designed to showcase “the former assistant’s new assistant” Jin Chao, played by Helen J Shen; she is shown introducing herself and speaking to Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs, who is newly returned to work at the fictional Runway magazine.
However the clip has been greeted with furious reactions on social media, with posts containing accusations that the character is “blatant anti-Asian racism” being viewed millions of times.
The criticism appears to centre on a number of different elements. The character is wearing dowdy clothes and glasses, in contrast to other characters visible in the clip, leading to claims that the film-makers are using an outdated stereotype. Her recital of her academic achievements – “I did go to Yale, 3.86 GPA, lead soprano of the Whiffenpoofs, and my ACT score was 36” – also triggered claims the character played into the Asian stereotype of the “nerdy bookworm”.
Other social media posts have also taken aim at the character’s name, saying it sounds uncomfortably close to a racist slur.
The Guardian has contacted the film’s representatives for comment.
The hotly anticipated sequel is due for release on 30 April in China and 1 May in the US and UK, and has previously been criticised for a brand partnership with coffee chain Starbucks.