There are rumors that Hailee Steinfeld might be joining the Marvel x Disney+ universe as Kate Bishop, Hawkeye’s protege. However, there are fans who are skeptical of the casting choice because the actress is “not Asian enough.”
Next Shark cited tweets accusing Marvel and Disney of whitewashing Kate, who’s allegedly Asian in the “Young Avengers” comic series. “Hailee Steinfeld doesn’t even look like Kate Bishop, if they won’t hire an Asian woman to get Asian [people] more representation they could at least hire someone that looks like comic Kate,” a netizen wrote.
Based on the tweets, it seems like people weren’t aware that Hailee has Filipino ancestry. But it’s also understandable for people to perceive her as a predominantly White woman.
Here’s the kicker though: It was never confirmed that Kate is Asian in the comics. Even “Young Avengers” artist Jim Cheung said in a Tumblr Q&A that he “definitely never thought of her as Asian at all, but I can understand how people might interpret her that way from my art style.” He added that her ethnicity was never discussed in the comics, and many are saying that fans only assumed her ethnicity. So her identity is open for interpretation at this point.
(No Sarcasm intended) Ok so people are upset Hailee Steinfeld (who has Asian ancestry) was casted as Kate Bishop (who might be white but perceived as Asian by fans) because it’s white washing
This is a lot to process pic.twitter.com/lkpXOaamni— Xandaya (@HeeHeeHarley) September 9, 2019
Now, we ask you: What do you think of Hailee Steinfeld playing Kate Bishop?
[Next Shark]
Photo courtesy of Hailee Steinfeld’s Instagram account
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