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Daily Inspiration Quote by Lucy Liu

"They were concerned about the racial issue. They thought it was not a safe issue to go Asian, unfortunately"

About this Quote

Lucy Liu’s line lands like a tired backstage confession: the problem wasn’t talent, it was “safety.” That one word exposes an industry logic that treats race not as identity but as risk management. “They were concerned” is deliberately vague, the classic Hollywood passive voice that lets decision-makers dissolve into a fog of committees and “market research.” No villain, no accountability, just an ambient anxiety that somehow always points in the same direction.

The phrase “racial issue” is doing double duty. It’s euphemism and shield, a way to frame Asian casting as inherently controversial rather than simply accurate. Liu’s choice to say “go Asian” is especially cutting. It makes representation sound like an edgy creative pivot, like switching genres, instead of casting human beings who exist in the real world. That’s the point: the gatekeepers treat Asianness as an optional flavoring, one that might upset the “mainstream” palate.

“Unfortunately” softens the blow without letting anyone off the hook. It signals resignation built from repetition: this wasn’t a one-off misstep, it’s a pattern she’s learned to name calmly because outrage has historically been penalized, especially for women of color in public-facing industries.

The intent here is less to vent than to document how exclusion is rationalized. Liu isn’t arguing with bigotry in its loud form; she’s pulling the mask off its quiet, corporate version, where prejudice survives by calling itself prudence.

Quote Details

TopicEquality
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Citation Formats

APA Style (7th ed.)
Liu, Lucy. (2026, January 15). They were concerned about the racial issue. They thought it was not a safe issue to go Asian, unfortunately. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/they-were-concerned-about-the-racial-issue-they-130364/

Chicago Style
Liu, Lucy. "They were concerned about the racial issue. They thought it was not a safe issue to go Asian, unfortunately." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/they-were-concerned-about-the-racial-issue-they-130364/.

MLA Style (9th ed.)
"They were concerned about the racial issue. They thought it was not a safe issue to go Asian, unfortunately." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/they-were-concerned-about-the-racial-issue-they-130364/. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

More Quotes by Lucy Add to List
Concern About the Racial Issue: Lucy Liu on Going Asian in Casting
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About the Author

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Lucy Liu (born December 2, 1968) is a Actress from USA.

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