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Boycotted Marvel Star, Awkwafina, Blew Up the Internet Last Night

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Posted on by Thomas Hitchen 105 Comments
Awkwafina as Katy in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'

Credit: Marvel Studios

Last night, during Super Bowl LVI, The Walt Disney Company debuted a brand-new commercial for their ever-expanding Disney+ streaming service. The primetime television ad saw numerous goats dressed up as famous characters from the Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars franchises; it wasn’t the farmyard animals that drew ire from viewers though, but its host, Disney and Marvel star, Awkwafina.

And the Internet had thoughts.

awkwafina as katy in marvel shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings character poster
Credit: Marvel Studios

Following Nora Lum’s — professionally known as Awkwafina — turn as Sisu in the Academy Award-nominated Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), September saw the actress make her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). Joining Simu Liu’s titular character — the Master of Kung-Fu, Shang-Chi –, Awkwafina portrayed Shang-Chi’s best friend, Katy.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings gained rapturous praise from critics and fans, decimating the competition at the domestic box office when it debuted on Labor Day weekend, and subsequently shot past the holiday weekend’s previous record-holder, Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007). The horror movie held the title for 14 years.

simu liu as shang chi powers
Credit: Marvel Studios

Related: Marvel Star’s Resurfaced Controversial Comments May Upset ‘Shang-Chi’ Release

The movie, which predominantly featured an Asian-American cast (a first for Kevin Feige’s Marvel Studios), saw the MCU delve deeper into the history of one of the universe’s most powerful heroes, and expanded on the sinister Ten Rings terrorist organization set up in Iron Man 3 (2013). But, for all its praise, hype, and reception, fans threatened to boycott Marvel’s 25th MCU feature film due to its leading lady, Awkwafina.

awkwafina, ronny chiung, and simu liu in shang chi
Credit: Marvel Studios

Over the years, the Oceans 8 (2018) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018) actress has come under fire for imitating and perpetuating Black culture and a “Blaccent” throughout her career — that is using AAVE (African American Vernacular English) in her performances and comedy. This controversy was further ignited when a resurfaced 2017 interview revealed Awkwafina’s own thoughts on people portraying the Asian experience in film. In brief, the Golden Globe winner said:

“I refuse to do accents. I’m not OK with someone writing the Asian experience for an Asian character. I make it very clear, I don’t ever go out for auditions where I feel like I’m making a minstrel out of our people.”

The backlash and cancellation from fans did not leave the actress out of work, however, as in December last year, Awkwafina landed a new role in Universal’s Renfield (TBD) alongside Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult. In a new turn of events, The Farewell (2019) star, released an official statement on the matter of her alleged cultural appropriation which left some fans with a sour taste in their mouths. Awkwafina then quit the social media platform, Twitter.

awkwafina as katy and simu liu as shang chi
Credit: Marvel Studios

But, despite the backlash, threats to boycott, and arguable cancellation of one of its profitable stars, Disney’s Disney+ commercial brings Awkwafina back once again. The streaming service ad debuted during the Super Bowl game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams, immediately garnering heat from fans with the Awkwafina-led commercial polarized audiences.

Featuring goats dressed as popular characters in a parody on the term GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), Awkwafina’s ad was deemed awkward among other things.

Twitter user, T. Biggs (@TBiggsTequila) said:

Awkwafina loses her Blaccent to cash that Disney check, huh?

Another tweet from @willowhalliwell suggested similar sentiments:

Awkwafina did a disney+ Super Bowl commercial

Disney fans were anxiously waiting for something other than the Awkwafina ad — the Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer, for example. As one other viewer noted:

Who greenlit this terrible ad? There were so many hopes from #disney property fans, particularly for an #obiwan teaser. Instead you put the biggest mess of a sanitized Awkwafina, who is mired in her own scandals, with literal goats for your millions of dollars? #SuperBowl

However, there were some who enjoyed the new celebratory ad of Disney’s premier streaming service. Brianna (@brie_ennis) said:

Loved the Awkwafina Disney commercial – the goats were so cute! Really clever #pixar #AllTheMarvelGOATS #DisneyPlus

These are just a few of the thousands of polarising views surrounding the divisive Disney+ Super Bowl commercial. For those who haven’t seen it, check the video out below to make your own opinions. The official Disney+ account shared:

You’ve GOAT to see it to believe it. #DisneyPlusGOATS

Related: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ “Sequel” May Come to Disney+ Sooner Than Expected

The Super Bowl also hosted the new trailers for the next MCU blockbuster, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), and another more in-depth look at Oscar Isaac’s (Marc Spector/Steven Grant/Moon Knight), new series, Moon Knight.

Disney+ is currently delivering record numbers. With an ever-growing slate of franchise television shows like The Book of Boba Fett and the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi from Lucasfilm, as well as Marvel’s Phase Four series, WandaVision, Hawkeye, Loki, and more, the Disney streamer is a hit with fans.

encanto madrigal family mirabel gift
Credit: Disney

Just last week at the most recent Disney Earnings Call for Q1, Disney CEO Bob Chapek stated that moviegoing is not the only way to build a franchise, commenting on the immense success of their 60th animated classic, Encanto (2021). And, now with the news that Netflix favorites like Daredevil and Jessica Jones are likely moving to the Disney streamer, it just goes to show how the Mouse House are bolstering their small screen service.

As for Awkwafina, the actress will next appear in Universal Pictures’ The Bad Guys (2022), Disney’s live-action remake, The Little Mermaid (2023), where she voices Scuttle, and as Rebecca Quincy in Renfield. She continues to star in Comedy Central’s Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens with BD Wong (Wally) and Lori Tan Chinn. The comedy series details the story of her character, Nora Lin, as she navigates adulthood in New York City.

What did you think of Disney using Awkwafina to promote Disney+? Let us know in the comments down below!

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Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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