The Devil Wears Prada 2 hasn’t even landed in movie theatres yet, and people are already calling for the sequel to be boycotted.
The movie, which is arriving 20 whole years after the 2006 hit The Devil Wears Prada, is facing backlash in some Asian countries, some even accusing the film of being racist.
It comes after a short clip from the eagerly anticipated movie was released, showing Anne Hathaway’s character Andy Sachs interacting with her new assistant, a young woman called Jin Chao, played by Helen J. Shen.
In the clip, Jin is telling Andy how she came to being her assistant, because none of the other interns wanted to work in her department as it’s ‘not actual fashion.’ Reading the expression on her new boss’ face, Jin quickly assumed Anne was hesitant and would’ve preferred someone else to fill the role.
In bid to prove her worthiness, Jin starts reeling off all her credentials, telling her: “If you don’t want me, you can interview someone else. That’s totally fine. I did go to Yale, 3.86 GPA, lead soprano of the Yale singing group the Whiffenpoofs, and my ACT score was 36 on the very first time.”
Backlash over Jin Chao’s character
Sounds pretty on brand for the new era of The Devil Wears Prada, right? Except the portrayal of Jin’s character as an incredibly academic and intelligent Asian woman, who happens to be wearing glasses and very non-high fashion office attire, has sparked controversy across China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and more, over racial stereotypes.
Many people on social media have suggested the name Jin Chao sounds too similar to the phrase ‘Ching Chong,’ which is highly offensive and racist. It has also been said the way her character dresses, her social awkwardness and the fact she is an extreme academic over achiever simply plays into the old Hollywood stereotypes of Asian people.
A person from Japan took to X, writing: “The Devil Wears Prada, the promotion up to this point was really great, but right before the release, they suddenly hit us with blatant anti-Asian racism and flipped the car.”
“We are in 2026…” an X user based in South Asia added. “What made them think we’ll find this kind of racism funny?”
The former assistant’s new assistant.
Watch a new clip from The Devil Wears Prada 2 and experience the film only in theaters May 1. Get tickets now: https://t.co/BJd5wLTnLS pic.twitter.com/f2w0NWr8q5— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) April 16, 2026
A Korean user added: “All the East Asians are f***ing p**sed off, and the fact that a few quotes from those living in the West are turning it into ‘overly sensitive snowflakes’ is the perfect finishing touch.”
“The way they draw Asians is so blatantly stereotypical it’s gross,” A Japanese user commented, in a post which has now been widely shared.
“I lived in New York until recently, but these days it’s harder to find young Asians like this in New York. Everyone’s out there working their a*ses off, looking clean and cool as hell. Kills my motivation to watch. I mean, this actress probably dresses way more stylishly in her private life, right?”
Some people even called for the movie to be boycotted after another post on X was viewed more than a million times.
The post read: “The Devil Wears Prada 2, Asian (Chinese), name is Chinchon, glasses, nerdy bookworm, even if they graduated from a prestigious school, they’re uncool. Hits us with the most blatant racial stereotype racism in 2026 and it gives me chills. Did they use this scene in the promo because it’s ‘funny’? #BoycottTheDevilWearsPrada2″
Korean-American filmmaker weighs in on debate
While many media publications have shared the calls to boycott, Korean-American filmmaker Joseph Kahn has shared his own thoughts on all the backlash.
“There’s an uproar with Japanese Twitter about this Asian character. They feel she’s a caricature, which she is, but not about Asians but Gen Z,” he suggested.
“Her outfit is actually very couture in a film about fashion. Her glasses and hair clips are of the moment. The body shape disparity comes from Anne Hathaway who mandated there would be ‘diversity of sizes’ which could either be taken as genuine virtue signaling or an actress wanting to be the skinniest and tallest onscreen.”
Kahn went on to say Jin’s character is being depicted as ‘fashionable, striver in the fashion world with typical Gen Z neurodivergency.’
“Nerds don’t exist in Gen Z because they’re all awkward freaks and all dress like Nintendo cartoons,” he added, in a rather bold claim. “Anyway Japan, welcome to America.”
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