Harris Donor Unhappy, Squid Game Stress, “pro-MAGA” Comment Drama

November 13, 2024

Good Morning- November 13, 2024

Your daily update on stories impacting the Asian and Asian American community, along with key insights into business, culture, and trends.

TOP STORIES

DNC official goes on Fox to slam Harris’ loss as “$1 billion disaster”

Lindy Li, a DNC National Finance Committee member and Harris campaign fundraiser, called Vice President Kamala Harris' failed presidential bid a "$1 billion disaster" after her loss to Donald Trump. Speaking on "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Saturday, Li criticized the Harris campaign for its supposed overconfidence and suggested that Harris was President Joe Biden’s ill-conceived choice for revenge after being pressured out of running. “I actually think President Biden, you know, the whole endorsing her 30 minutes after he dropped out, I think that was a big ‘F you’ to the party,” she said. Harris’ campaign, which raised and spent over $900 million, now reportedly sits $20 million in debt. The campaign's financial woes are compounded by lavish spending on star-studded rallies and high-profile ads, including a purported $450,000 projection on the Las Vegas Sphere. Criticism within the Democratic Party highlights clashing views on campaign strategy, with some arguing for more progressive messaging and others warning against alienating moderates.

“Squid Game” creator says he lost up to 9 teeth due to stress of filming

South Korean director Hwang Dong-hyuk has opened up about losing more teeth due to stress while filming the first season of “Squid Game” than he had previously shared.

  • What he’s saying: Speaking to the BBC on the set of “Squid Game” Season 2, Hwang said he actually lost eight or nine teeth during the first season. In 2022, he told Variety that he lost six. As a result, Hwang vowed to never put himself through such kind of pressure again, though he returned to continue the story for the money. “Even though the first series was such a huge global success, honestly I didn’t make much. So doing the second series will help compensate me for the success of the first one too,” he told the BBC. Due to the inaugural season’s massive success, however, Hwang admitted that “The stress I feel now is much greater.”

  • What to expect: Season 2 will see Lee Jung-jae’s Gi-hun, who is now “more desperate and determined,” return to the deadly games to bring it down and save the contestants. Contestants will also get to decide after each game whether to continue or surrender by choosing a dormitory that reflects their vote, with the majority decision determining the outcome. In contrast, contestants in the first season were only given one chance to vote after the first game “Red Light, Green Light.” Meanwhile, cast member Lee Byung-hun teased that fans will get to see his character’s past in the upcoming season, which “may help [the viewers] better understand his choices.” “Squid Game” Season 2 will premiere on Netflix on Dec. 26.

Nicole Scherzinger sparks fury over “pro-MAGA” comment on Russell Brand post

Singer and actor Nicole Scherzinger is facing backlash after engaging with an Instagram post deemed by users to be supportive of Donald Trump by comedian Russell Brand. Brand, who endorsed Trump at the Republican National Convention in July, is accused of rape and abuse by multiple women and publicly embraced Christianity amid the allegations, even getting baptized in April. Despite Scherzinger issuing an apology, the outrage has continued, even prompting hosts of “The View” to defend the singer.

  • What happened: Scherzinger, who is currently receiving rave reviews for her performance on “Sunset Boulevard,” commented on Brand’s Election Day post, which showed the comedian holding a red hat that said “Make Jesus First Again.” The now-deleted comment — “Where do I get this hat!!!?”, along with prayer hands and red heart emojis — was quickly met with backlash from Instagram users, who saw it as an endorsement of Trump and Brand. Critics pointed out that Scherzinger’s fanbase, especially within the LGBTQ-plus community, has long supported her career, with some even calling for her Tony Award consideration to be revoked.

  • What she said: Scherzinger issued an apology in response to the backlash, clarifying that her comment was rooted in her  faith, not politics. “I made the mistake of not realizing that [my comment] could be easily interpreted as being politically related,” she wrote in an Instagram Story. “Many presumptions are being drawn, which do not reflect who I am, what I stand for, or who I voted for.” The Pussycat Dolls singer went on to reaffirm her support for marginalized communities, writing, “I stand with them, as I always have, throughout my life and career. If you know me, you know that.”

  • What “The View” hosts are saying: “The View” hosts came to Scherzinger’s defense on Monday’s episode. Ana Navarro described the backlash as “overkill” and criticized social media for being a hostile environment. Sunny Hostin called the uproar “ridiculous,” especially in light of suggestions that the controversy could affect Scherzinger’s Tony chances. Sara Haines condemned the “poisonous and toxic” nature of social media outrage, while Whoopi Goldberg urged people to calm down. “She liked a hat about Jesus. Relax,” Goldberg said, echoing Scherzinger’s assertion that her comment was faith-driven and had nothing to do with politics.

BUSINESS AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS

South Korean President Preps for Golf Diplomacy with Trump

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has picked up golf for the first time in eight years, preparing for “golf diplomacy” with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Golf was key to Trump’s diplomatic relations during his first term — Japanese late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for one, famously gifted him gold-plated clubs in 2016 — and Yoon’s practice, according to a senior official, aims to facilitate meaningful conversations with him. Following Trump’s victory, concerns about his “America First” approach have resurfaced, especially on issues like U.S. military cost-sharing. Trump in his first administration demanded that South Korea significantly increase payments for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed on the peninsula, a presence considered vital for deterring North Korean aggression. After congratulating Trump by phone, Yoon noted that while conditions would differ from President Joe Biden’s era, his administration is ready for upcoming challenges.

Night Cycling for Dumplings Goes Viral in China

Nighttime cycling for dumplings has become a viral sensation in central China, drawing thousands of university students who pedal from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng for a taste of the city’s famous “guantang bao” (a type of soup dumpling). State media say the craze began on June 18 when four students embarked on an impromptu, five-hour ride to savor the dish. Since then, waves of young cyclists, inspired by slogans like “Youth is priceless,” have filled the roads at night, bringing energy and tourism to Kaifeng’s historic streets. “It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said participant Liang Yalin, who reveled in the exhilaration of the journey despite the fatigue. However, the sheer scale of the movement — with up to 200,000 riders at its peak — has created significant traffic disruptions, prompting police to shut down major cycling lanes and bike rental firms to impose geographic restrictions. While they initially welcomed the trend, authorities now stress its strain on public resources and safety hazards, urging more organized and reflective participation.

Chinese Store Features Models on Treadmills as Mannequins

A resurfaced video of a Chinese clothing store displaying real models walking on treadmills has gone viral on X, amassing over 9.5 million views since its posting on Sunday. It shows several pairs of models walking side by side on treadmills, strutting as if they were on a runway. The video appears to have been taken from at least one branch of Chinese retail store ITIB, with Instagram account @Chinainsider first sharing the same clip in December 2023. Local reports say shopping malls in some cities have adopted the trend over the past two years, believing  it could help demonstrate how the clothes look in motion on actual people. Needless to say, the models also get a cardio workout as they promote the clothes. One X user wrote, “Not a bad hustle if you’re looking for some extra cash…and it keeps you fit too!” Another commented, “This is actually a great idea! Exercise with a paycheck.”

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Dwayne Johnson speaks out on alleged tardiness, peeing in bottles during filming

Dwayne Johnson has addressed an article published earlier this year that accused him of lacking professionalism on the set of Amazon MGM Studios’ Christmas movie “Red One,” set for release on Nov. 15.

  • What it said: The article, published by The Wrap in April, claimed that Johnson’s tardiness, which purportedly involved seven to eight hours of being late and missing “several entire days” of filming, had cost the production $50 million, driving its total budget to $250 million. It also claimed that the 52-year-old actor habitually urinated in water bottles while filming to save time, which “upset” the crew.

  • What he’s saying: In a new interview with GQ, Johnson admitted to peeing in bottles, saying, “Yeah. That happens.” He also confirmed the occasional tardiness, “But not that amount, by the way. That was a bananas amount. That’s crazy. Ridiculous.” Claiming pride in being direct and accountable, Johnson added, “I’ve said a thousand times: ‘Hey, I’m here. Come and ask me. And I’ll tell you the truth.’” He slammed the overall controversy as “bullsh*t.”

  • What others are saying: “Red One” director Jake Kasdan and co-star Chris Evans rallied behind Johnson to defend him against the report. Kasdan told GQ that, despite Johnson being late sometimes — as that is “the case with everybody” in Hollywood — he “never missed a day of work ever. He has a lot going on.” The director added that he has already worked with the actor in three big films, stating, “I’ve never seen him be anything but great to every single person on the set.” Meanwhile, Evans said Johnson “shows up when he’s scheduled to show up,” as that is something “that the producers, the director and [his team]” knew about. He explained that it was “part of the plan.”

Take a first look at Lisa in “White Lotus” Season 3

Max dropped an electrifying teaser for the third season of “The White Lotus” on Monday, giving fans their first look at Blackpink’s Lisa, who apparently makes her acting debut as a White Lotus employee named Mook. The Thailand-set season, which involved filming in Bangkok, Koh Samui and Phuket, features a scene of Lisa welcoming guests with a gracious, “Welcome to The White Lotus in Thailand, ka.” In an interview with Elle in August, Lisa shared her emotional reaction to being cast by creator Mike White: “I think I cried. I was with my friends, my mum’s friends and my mum as well, but I didn’t tell them that I auditioned for it.” The Blackpink member also relished the opportunity to film in her home country and reconnect with her roots, emphasizing that Thai food and her mother’s presence on set made the experience special. As White previously teased, the upcoming season will take a satirical look at themes like death and Eastern spirituality, promising a “longer, bigger, crazier” experience.

Jon M. Chu misses “Wicked” Los Angeles premiere to welcome 5th child

Jon M. Chu missed the “Wicked” premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday as he and his wife, Kristin Hodge, welcomed their fifth child. Chu, 45, broke the news on Instagram just hours before the event, sharing a photo from his wife’s hospital room with two bracelets that read “defy gravity,” a nod to the signature “Wicked” song “Defying Gravity.” The “Crazy Rich Asians” director wrote, “Today is a day I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. Two babies (a movie and a little girl) all at one time and I truly couldn’t be happier.” Chu also recorded a video that was later played at the premiere in which he jokingly said, “Of course, this little girl knows when to show up on premiere day.” The newborn joins her siblings Willow, 7; Jonathan Heights, 5; Ruby, 3; and Iggy, 20 months. Although he missed the premiere, Chu made a quick appearance at the afterparty before heading back to his family.

Over 600 Attend Dev Patel Look-alike Contest in San Francisco

Hundreds attended a Dev Patel look-alike contest held at Dolores Park in San Francisco over the weekend. The event, organized by friends Sitara Bellam, Tasnim Khandakar and Sahana Rangarajan, welcomed a total of 600 people, including 19 contestants who were each given time to showcase how much they resemble the “Slumdog Millionaire” actor and convince the crowd to vote for them through cheers. In the end, Jaipreet Hundal, a 25-year-old from San Jose, was crowned winner with a $50 cash prize, a bouquet of flowers and a small monkey statue, an homage to Patel’s directorial debut film “Monkey Man.” Speaking to San Francisco Chronicle, Hundal said his girlfriend was the one who encouraged him to join: “[She] hypes me up all the time … she always says I look like Dev Patel or (Bollywood actor) Ranveer Singh. I didn’t realize I’d actually win.” Organizers noted that they did not expect to see so many people. One X user expressed gratitude for the organizers, writing, “Thankful for the Dev Patel lookalike competition for putting so many beautiful Indian men on my timeline today.”

Stay informed, stay inspired. We’ll be back tomorrow with more stories that matter to the Asian and Asian American community.