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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
LISA LING & RICK YUNE
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:06:42 PM)
he's the most watched Asian woman on American TV. He's the year's hottest Asian American movie hunk. She's 26. He's 29. She's 5-5. He's 6-1. She's Chinese. He's Corean ("Korean", to those who prefer the colonial-era rendering). Both are unquestionably American. She's daringly bubbly. He's recklessly intense. What makes them special to many AA minds is that they defied the odds and the unwritten laws of the American media to become the lone bona fide Asian American star couple.
Rick Yune was barely one when his family left his native Seoul, Corea for Silver Springs, Maryland. His education has been enviably ivy-covered -- private schools topped off by a Wharton MBA. Then came a stint as a Wall Street stock trader and modeling for Versace and Polo. He made a memorable film debut in December 1999 as a young Japanese American husband accused of murder in Snow Falling on Cedars. Yune's character walks and gets the girl. A breathless Newsweek profile didn't hurt his career. His intense and classic Asian features add sizzle to The Fast and the Furious (2001) and will undoubtedly do the same for The Fence (2001).
Lisa Ling is a Sacramento native who got her start in TV at the age of 15 as a reporter for a syndicated teen magazine show called Scratch. Just as she was about to leave for Boston University, Channel One asked her to become one of its peripatetic on-air reporters. She attended USC while working full-time at Channel One's Hollywood studio. All her dates at USC were white, it's rumored. Soon after graduating she joined the panel of The View, ABC's popular daytime talkshow and began spending time with a Disney exec named Morgan Wandell. The fact that Disney is ABC's parent company led to resentment and innuendo. What really raised AA eyebrows was an Old Navy commercial showing Ling cavorting with a group of men and uttering the line "I like my men strong and good-looking". The beef? None of the five men are Asian.
Little wonder that many were skeptical of rumors that surfaced in early 2000 that Ling and Yune had become a couple. Some speculate that it's a sign that Asian men are ascendant. Others suspect it's just Ling's effort at rehabilitating her image with her Asian American viewership. Still others are just glad to see an Asian-Asian star couple at long last.
What do you think?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
Ms. Ling is a bright woman whom I'm very proud of. No one should have to be a walking advertisement. Whomever she's dating is her decision, as she could never, in her existence, be any less Asian, no matter the decisions made.
fo1mock3
Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 20:08:16 (PST)
[4.60.141.171]
i think its a great thing to see, im glad for both of them and hope that there relationship will work out for the best.
kim doung jim kevin_crew@hotmail.com
Tuesday, December 24, 2002 at 20:52:59 (PST)
[68.105.72.118]
Hey....I've heard so many bad things about lisa...I'm not asian american i'm salvadorian american and i know that if there were a salvadorian american out there i wouldnt like for him or her to not take their nationality seriously... b/c it sounds like she's not proud of being asian...I mean like not knowing a thing about asian awareness month..its a shame. And if i were rick yune...I would be ashamed of having a gf who doesnt know a thing about her heritage... I would considor sumone proud of who they are and their nationality.....bt then again thats me...and then again Rick and lisa ARENT GOING OUT ANYMORE....YAY..anyways...just wanted to let all of u know wat i thought... peace out
Jenny from the block
Friday, December 20, 2002 at 14:51:36 (PST)
[152.163.189.199]
It's almost 2003, Rick is nearly off the movie blip screen and LL, well, she couldn't event stand up for Asians when the ladies of the View asked her what National Asian Awareness month was all about. She totally blew off the question and seemed embarassed to talk about it, even though everyone was talking about her going to the White House to represent us during the month of May.....what a poof-head. Aren't there others on the horizon that can represent us better?
proud chopsticks
Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 19:48:16 (PST)
[67.195.140.231]
I really love Lisa, she seems like such a strong, smart woman. I like what she's about: not afraid to express herself and make decisions that other people may be afraid to make. I also find her to be very beautiful.
slim
Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 15:09:53 (PST)
[207.24.91.6]
Ok.. Here's how I see it. Rick Yune is an American man of Korean heritage. Does that satisfy everyone?
PoeticMuse313 poeticmuse313@hotmail.com
Monday, December 16, 2002 at 06:33:52 (PST)
[167.196.239.213]
Rick Yune should find a White chick to date, he's too good for Lisa Ling.
Azn boy dating a wht girl
Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 21:32:05 (PST)
[12.240.4.130]
I agree that race does not matter when it comes to relationships. I also agree that Lisa Ling could be more culturally aware, and not hide her Asian side. One can still be keep one's Asian side and still be an American. But to give up one's Asian side completely is to be denying who you are and being a disgrace to the race. Just to be clear I am not referring to her dating Rick Yune, or any other person outside her race. I am simply referring to the lack of pride she seems to show for her Asian side. For example, on the show called "The View," i thought that she was on that show in order to depict the viewpoint of a STRONG Asian woman, not to adhere to stereotypes of Asian women or simply not showing her Asian side at all. I am simply dissappointed that most of the Asians on TV and movies depict either exaggerated stereotypes, the epitomy of all evil, or someone that has completely lost touch with his/her Asian side. And believe me! I would love to blindly support all Asian actors, because there is such a lack of them, however, I will not show support for Asian actors that deny their Asian side or portray something that is DEFINITELY not true.
Not a fan
Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at 15:11:35 (PST)
[165.247.246.29]
just think rick yune is incredibly hot. i love asian men with their black hair. to me pale blonde guys are so blah and boring. but all races have their appeal. being asian myself, i tend towards the yellow side. asian men are so hot!!! (as long as they're not short and skinny)
ets
Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at 12:41:16 (PST)
[206.17.37.194]
Have nothing bad to say about LL, all i gotta say is that rick yune is one of the best looking actors i've ever seen, his eyes are soo intense and i like his smile, hope to see him in more roles. They do make a good looking couple don't care what ethnicity they are. he's just hott.
rick's R.I. fan
Monday, December 09, 2002 at 13:27:33 (PST)
[131.128.17.192]
To all,
Lisa and Rick have BROKEN UP, but remain friends.
I'm not sure if either of them have hooked up with anyone yet, however I imagine not since it seems they've both been really busy (Rick with his movies, and Lisa with her new gig with the National Geographic).
To glad to see LL go,
Target pulled those items off the shelves when a customer first realized what the shirts actually said. There were shirts that said "88", but NO SHIRTS that said "Hail Hitler".
I don't recall Lisa being in a Target ad (Old Navy yes, but not Target) but I have no doubt that she would have put the brakes on such a project if she found out the store was selling merchandise of hate.
Emily
Monday, December 09, 2002 at 11:49:31 (PST)
[208.48.177.5]
As for Lisa Ling and Rick Yune dating, it IS their own business. People are attracted to certain people for different reasons. To say that ethnicity does not play a part in that is ridiculous because it does. The degree to which it affects the attraction, however, is up to the individual. Also, don't say race, because race refers to all of human kind. I believe that it is correct to say ethnicity.
In repsonse to "glad to see LL go" I have to agree that Lisa could be more culturally aware. Just the other day, she took no offense when Joy Behr said, "I don't mind being interupted by a Chinese girl." Is that suppose to infer that Chinese girls are meek and quiet or somehow they are less offensive? If one of my friends, no matter how close they were, said that to me, you can bet I would be upset and have a long talk with that person.
Since she is such a popular figure, Lisa does need to exhibit more culturally aware behavior and set an example for all the ignorant people (which includes Asian Americans and non-Asian Americans alike).
Cultural gaps
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 18:11:06 (PST)
[208.253.253.61]
Who Lisa Ling dates or marries is nobody's business but their own. This is not a qualifications matter, this is a compatibility matter.
To "Glad to see LL go" I think you are putting a lot of things into nothing. Maybe she should knock the chip off her shoulders so she can enjoy life and not let her misconception interfere with the enjoyment of her life. If she dressed like a puppy dog would she be a closet animal racist?
Opal
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 12:21:44 (PST)
[67.36.176.123]
lisa ling is an awesome person. she is a generous, genuine, down to earth individual. she does not deserve to have her intentions of any person she decides to date or not date, be called into question. because she is one of the highest profile asian american's, everything she does and says is under a microscope. i think the asian american community should support her and her decisions, not be criticle and bring her down.
Lisa Ling Fan
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 21:45:15 (PST)
[66.108.104.56]
If you think I'm jealous, then you're certainly entitled to your own opinion and there is nothing me or anyone else can do to change that. I do agree with you about Lisa Ling being intelligent and witty and I'm also sorry she's leaving the View.
As far as loving all races are concerned, no one can really love a race because race is an anthropological category. I've crossed the street when I've seen any big, burly guy walking in my direction, whether he's an African American guy in Chicago or a white guy when I'm visiting my family in Poland.
AK Chicago
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 17:11:40 (PST)
[192.124.98.242]
Lisa Ling is a positive role for all Asian American women and it upsets me that she's leaving the view. Don't hate because it's obvious you're jealous. She's brilliant and witty and I feel that she and Rick Yune are a cute couple. She does what she does because it's her job. Can you honestly say that you love all races? You've probably crossed a street once in your life because you saw an African-American in your path. Don't hate just because you're jealous.
Lisa Ling's the best
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 10:58:10 (PST)
[205.188.209.20]
Who cares if Lisa Ling and Rick Yune are the same race? If Lisa Ling or Rick Yune were to date people of other races or just dated other Asians, then that's their business.
People are people. We have the same basic needs, laugh, cry, and bleed. Our HUMAN average body temperature is the same 98.6. Its RIDICULOUS how people get all up in arms about about interracial dating and marraige. Its not as if people who chose to marry and date interracially are marrying and dating goats. Also, simply because someone dates their own race or other races, doesn't HAVE to mean that they are "betraying their own race", "have no pride", or are diplaying "White power","Asian power", "Black power", etc.
Lisa and Rick are simply two Asians who seem to enjoy eachother's company and find eachother attractive and compatible. Get over it people!!!
I wish them the best of luck with eachother and having to contend with being branded the "Asian power couple". As if they don't have to deal with enough pressure as it is.
Angela Krakowska
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 06:37:42 (PST)
[192.124.98.242]
Izzy,
I completely agree with you! It is boring to be with your own people. I prefer Asian guys and think Rick is hot.
lidia of hell's kitchen
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 02:00:43 (PST)
[192.124.98.242]
im just here to say that I'm glad there are finally some Asian-Americans in this white, white business. And also: whoa momma Rick Yune is hot =) i hope Asian American actors/actresses will get better roles in the future though, not just as sinister Asian villains..(Zhang Ziyi in Rush Hour 2, Rick Yune in Die Another Day, etc.) and kung-fu(ers)? (Jackie Chan, Jet Li, etc.) why not do romance? Uhh..Lisa Ling isn't that pretty..but oh well. Hmm by the way, John Cho is cute, too =) and so damn hilarious.
someone from CA
Monday, December 02, 2002 at 22:35:32 (PST)
[66.214.178.253]
Just saw Lisa Ling at a club called Firecrack in LA, the chick is hot. Smokin hot.
Ricksux
Monday, December 02, 2002 at 07:10:37 (PST)
[208.246.35.242]
hey!
dont be dissin Rick just cuz you're jealous. Don't be dissin on us Koreans either. just cuz we're the minority doesn't mean you have to talk crap about us. just love everyone, even if we all look different.
Rakey
Saturday, November 30, 2002 at 21:17:56 (PST)
[4.62.59.45]
i cant really say he is cute cause he is too old for me but he is, i guess a better word would be he is handsome/hot!!!
chariya
Saturday, November 30, 2002 at 19:41:05 (PST)
[66.109.195.86]
I firmly beieve that LL is culturally and racially absent-minded either or she is a closet racist. First she sponsored a Target ad, which has been known to support and sell white supremist goods...i.e...goods with signs of "88" or "Hail Hitler". Then, she appears on The View during Halloween week exploiting America's cultural melting pot dressed to ridicule a stereotypical African American "sista". She wore an "afro" and a basketball outfit. Where does LL attain the right to exploit the African-American culture? If I were Star Jones I would be outraged. She either needs a better informed publicist or she is a closet racist. I hope it is not the latter, because if so, she has no right to represent ANY strata or demography in American society where racism was once permitted.
glad to see LL go
Saturday, November 30, 2002 at 10:18:43 (PST)
[66.119.34.39]
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