Constance Wu is calling out Broadway actor Andrew Barth Feldman amid the casting controversy surrounding the musical Maybe Happy Ending.
If you weren’t aware, the Tony-winning musical was praised for featuring Asian actors in the lead roles and fans were distraught when Andrew, a white actor, was cast as Darren Criss‘ replacement.
Andrew is best known for making his Broadway debut at age 17 in Dear Evan Hansen and for starring in the movie No Hard Feelings opposite Jennifer Lawrence. He will be appearing in Maybe Happy Ending through November 1 and Darren will return to the show after that.
Many prominent actors in the Asian community have spoken out against the decision, with many hoping that Andrew would drop out of the show. He recently had his opening night alongside co-star Helen J. Shen, who happens to be his real-life girlfriend.
Constance took to her Instagram Stories earlier this month to slam the casting. In the weeks since, she has spoke to Andrew privately and while things seemed to be going well, she is calling him out publicly again after being “so disappointed” by a voice memo he sent her.
Keep reading to find out more…
Read the original stories below…
FIRST STORY FROM SEPTEMBER 4:
“Cowardly, disrespectful, and just really really sad to just ignore an entire population and remain silent. Andrew Barth Feldman, to not even acknowledge the thousands of signatures/voices from BD Wong. Historically, remaining silent is complicity in racism. I hope you at least say something ABF, even if it’s disagreement. Please stop ignoring.”
SECOND STORY FROM SEPTEMBER 4:
“Maybe ignoring it will be a lot less drama/headache for you personally Andrew, I get it. But sometimes it’s worth it to suffer a bit of discomfort to at least acknowledge the voices of a population of people who have not had the racial privilege that you were born with. For your own integrity if for nothing else.
“You can respectfully disagree and the way to start that is at least acknowledging the existence and pain of voices on the other side. Yeah you might encounter some drama on the other side of that disagreement but it’s worth it for your own integrity. We are worth it.
“Please stop ignoring us.”
STORY FROM SEPTEMBER 16:
“Recently, Andrew reached out to me to talk and we had an in-depth phone call about Asian American representation and erasure in theater. It was a peaceful call and we spoke at length, followed up by several emails/texts. It made me hopeful. But after a recent voice memo he sent me, all I can say is that I am so disappointed in him. And feeling pretty discouraged.
“It’s hard to keep speaking up when it feels like no one is listening anymore in this new era. It’s exhausting and increasingly lonely. Once again, Asian Americans are left unheard, unacknowledged, invisible. Sadly, we’re used to this. A dozen or so folks behind the scenes at Maybe Happy Ending have remained silent perhaps in the hopes that this will all fade away and you know what? It has. Your plan is working, guys – I heard your box office doing great.
“I’m sorry to the thousands of people on BD Wong’s petition whose signatures he and the producers have yet to publicly acknowledge.
“And honestly, I’m sorry ABF that you’ve been (perhaps unfairly) saddled with this responsibility by your producers. But sometimes we don’t choose our responsibilities, they choose us. So the question that remains is: what are you choosing to do with it?
“Silence is a choice.”
Click through the gallery for the screencaps of the messages…
Andrew‘s girlfriend Helen J. Shen, who stars in the musical, has reacted to the controversy surrounding his casting.