The Devil Wears Prada 2 Faces Chinese Backlash Over 'Pocket Asian' Stereotype
Released in China on April 30, 2026, The Devil Wears Prada 2 has encountered criticism regarding its Chinese American assistant character, Jin Chao (Jin Zhao/Qin Zhou). Detractors have labeled her a clichéd 'Pocket Asian' following a promotional video that disclosed her Yale GPA and ACT score. The controversy ignited when blogger Mengshen Mumu published an article on QQ News on April 18, suggesting the name resembled the derogatory term 'Ching Chong,' a claim that gained traction through China.com and The Guardian. However, the uproar appears to stem more from media coverage than genuine public outrage, as discussions did not trend on Weibo. While some commenters decry the stereotypical portrayal of Asians, others express enthusiasm for the film.
Key facts
- The Devil Wears Prada 2 was released in China on April 30, 2026.
- The film stars Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, who attended the Shanghai premiere.
- Chinese American actress Helen J. Shen plays the assistant character Jin Chao (also Jin Zhao or Qin Zhou).
- Blogger Mengshen Mumu first reported the controversy on QQ News on April 18, 2026.
- The character's name was claimed to sound like the racist slur 'Ching Chong,' but this is based on a translation error.
- The term 'Pocket Asian' has been used on Weibo to describe the stereotypical portrayal of Asian sidekicks in Hollywood.
- The film's promotional clip shows the character listing her Yale GPA and ACT score.
- The controversy has been covered by international media including The Guardian and Global Times.
Entities
Artists
- Anne Hathaway
- Meryl Streep
- Helen J. Shen
- Manya Koetse
Institutions
- The Guardian
- Global Times
- QQ News
- China.com
- Douban
- Disney
- Vogue China
- Xiaohongshu
- IMDb
Locations
- China
- Shanghai
- Seoul
- New York
- Paris