She rocked it at the Met Gala this year | Photo: Facebook/Lena Waithe
Writer and actor Lena Waithe revealed today (15 August) that she and her team bought out a screening of Crazy Rich Asians.
The romantic comedy, which opens today in the US, comes from director Jon M. Chu and is the first all-Asian Hollywood film in 25 years.
Based on Kevin Kwan’s 2013 bestseller, the story follows an Asian-American woman (Constance Wu) who discovers her boyfriend’s family is one of the wealthiest in Singapore.
The film boasts a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and many people are taking to Twitter to praise it, Waithe included.
Go see this film this weekend! It’s just as important as #BlackPanther & #WrinkleInTime. Let’s do it for the culture. *and if you got an Asian tattoo you should buy a ticket just out of respect. I’m looking at you Wu Tang Clan!!! pic.twitter.com/dMtl0XbN6Y
— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) August 15, 2018
In her tweet, Waithe says the film is ‘just as important’ as Black Panther and A Wrinkle in Time.
‘Let’s do it for the culture,’ she continued, before adding that ‘if you got an Asian tattoo you should buy a ticket just out of respect.’ And then she name-dropped the Wu Tang Clan.
Chu noticed and thanked her for the love, to which Waithe responded with the news that she bought out a theater.
Congrats !! My lady and I were at the premiere and had the time of our lives! Me and my team bought out a theater today.
— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) August 15, 2018
Chu replied in kind, calling her ‘an inspiration’ and ‘the real deal’.
🙏🙏🙏I am such a huge fan and have SO MUCH respect for what you’ve achieved in this crazy town. Such an inspiration and for you to support this movie means the world to me. Thank you for buying out a theater!!! You’re the real deal. Much love.
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) August 15, 2018
Similar acts of support
Other celebrities and creators have done similar gestures for diverse movies in the past.
For this year’s Love, Simon, figures like Matt Bomer, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Oakley, and Kristen Bell all bought out screenings, giving free tickets to people.
Other people, like Octavia Spencer, have done the same for Black Panther and Hidden Figures in the past.
These actions recognize the need for intersectional support and why it’s important for diverse stories to succeed and be seen.
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