NETFLIX’s fresh series Bling Empire has been blasted by fans for promoting “unreal stereotypes” and “embarrassing” racial myths before it has even hit screens.
The new programme from the streaming service has been dubbed a mash-up between Gossip Girl and Crazy Rich Asians, depicting the lives of wealthy Asians and their Asian American mates all living in Los Angeles.
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Netflix uploaded a sneak peek in a show trailer posted to Twitter, along with the caption: “They’re just like your friends… only so much richer and so much more dramatic.
“Bling Empire premieres January 15.”
In the full series preview, the streaming service added: “While their days and nights are filled with fabulous parties and expensive shopping sprees, don’t let the glitz and glamour fool you.
“Between running multi-billion dollar businesses and traveling the world, these friends are as good at keeping secrets as they are at spilling them.
“And there is certainly no shortage of secrets.”
The teaser clip for the reality series introduces viewers to entrepreneur and fashion designer Kane, who urges; “Just go shopping, that’s the best therapy.”
Meanwhile model Kevin moans: “It’s really hard to flex your abs all day long,” before Christine lets slip that, in China, her husband’s father would be classed as an emperor.
Kelly gushes she “only wants to date for love” while DJ Kim states: “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
We are introduced to Cherie, heiress of a denim empire and Anna, whose father “sells bombs and guns.”
Yet even the first glimpses of the stars has got fans backs’ up.
One took to Twitter for a lengthy series of posts, flagging the apparent use of stereotypes, and posted: “Now we normal workaholic Asians have to live with another list of f**king unreal stereotypes.
“Right now Hollywood is only giving them pictures of obnoxious filthy rich Asians. THAT upsets me.”
Another Twitter user, writing sarcastically, wrote: “Asian ppl be like “GIVE US REPRESENTATION BUT ONLY REPRESENT SUPER WEALTHY EAST ASIANS THAT ALMOST NOBODY CAN RELATE TO!”
They then clarified: “It was a joke abt how the only representation we Asians have is wealthy/celebrity status Asians like Crazy Rich Asians and whatever bull this show is supposed to be. Like we don’t have much representation of like poor/working class, LGBT or mentally ill, etc.”
Another then quizzed: “Wait is this a satire mockumentary reality series or is this an actual reality series i straight up can’t tell from the trailer lol,” as one flagged: “We get it : Asian people (Chinese & Hongkongers) are filthy rich and cartoonish. That’s the message y’all have been pushing for like 4 years, right? we get it. Now show us something else about asians.”
An angry telly fan added: “Now, us Asians have to deal with even more stupid generalizations. This isn’t what we mean by wanting decent representation in media, especially since us workaholics can’t relate to wealthy East Asians who were born with privileges. Relating to the audience is an important thing.”
