The Devil Wears Prada 2 criticized over portrayal of Chinese character

WorldEntertainment
24 Apr 2026 • 6:01 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The sequel to The Devil Wears Prada is facing backlash from online communities in East Asia over the depiction of a Chinese assistant character.
  • The character, Qin Zhou, played by Helen J Shen, has drawn criticism for her name, which some argue is phonetically similar to a historically racist term used to mock Chinese people.
  • Social media users also criticized Qin Zhou's portrayal as a "nerd" stereotype, citing her appearance and emphasis on Ivy League credentials as out of touch for a fashion-centric film.
  • The controversy has led to calls for a boycott, with critics highlighting a contrast between the stereotypical character and the film's marketing, which featured K-pop star Jang Won Young.
  • Neither 20th Century Studios nor the film's cast has yet commented on the criticism ahead of the movie's global premiere on May 1.

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