Actor Stephen Park has revealed a racist incident he witnessed on the set of Friends in the 1990s, shedding light on the discrimination faced by Asian actors in Hollywood.
Stephen Park
Speaking on the Pod Meets World podcast, Park recalled an assistant director using a racial slur when referring to fellow actor James Hong.
He stated that the crew member called out, “Where the f— is the Oriental guy? Get the Oriental guy.”
What shocked Park most was the lack of reaction from anyone on set. He described the environment as toxic, where such language was considered normal.
“This was business as usual in Hollywood in 1997. Nobody felt the need to correct this or say anything about it,” Park said.
Park reported the incident to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), expecting action.
However, he was advised to write an article for the L.A. Times instead of addressing the issue.
When the paper declined to publish his account, he took matters into his own hands—writing an open letter that spread across the country.
His letter highlighted the incident on Friends and the more significant issue of racism in Hollywood.
Park emphasized how negative portrayals of Asians in media contributed to real-world discrimination and the rise of hate crimes.
Despite his efforts, the experience left a lasting impact.
Frustrated by the industry’s silence, Park took a hiatus from acting before returning to roles in The Mindy Project, Law & Order, and Asteroid City.
His story serves as a reminder of the systemic racism in Hollywood’s past and the ongoing need for accountability and change.
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