We Love Simu Liu, But Hes Not The Only Talented Asian Thirst Trap In Hollywood

When the star-studded cast of the  Barbie movie was announced, most reacted with excitement it seemed like everyone we love, from Issa Rae to Dua Lipa, was going to make an appearance. But Asian Twitter collectively scratched its head when Simu Liu was named as one of many actors playing a version of Ken in the film.

Dont get us wrong we love Liu, and were all for an Asian king thriving. But when a single actor appears to be getting the bulk of Asian male roles in Hollywood, it starts to feel a little less like representation and a lot more like tokenism.

All were saying is, we dont want a predominantly white Hollywood to gatekeep sexy Asian male representation like it has for decades when there are so many other attractive and talented Asian men who deserve to be seen and appreciated by the general public.

Lius portrayal of the superhero Shang-Chi proved that he was absolutely Marvel material. But while Marvel Studios often crafts American sweethearts out of ethnic actors and quickly transforms them into highly visible stars, this shouldnt be the only way to ascend in the industry as a person of color. Give us some options!

In the spirit of thirst and true diversity, Twitter users suggested dozens of other hot East Asian figures who would have been perfect for the role of Ken. Here are some of their picks:

Manny Jacinto

Lets cut to the chase: Manny Jacinto hasnt been given the flowers he deserves. The 35-year-old Filipino Canadian actor has been in award-winning shows such as The Good Place and played a minor role in Top Gun: Maverick, so we know hed be more than capable of appearing in Barbie. If the movie doesnt deliver on storyline, at least we wouldve had Jacintos jawline.

Ludi Lin

Another Canadian actor, Ludi Lin played the role of Liu Kang in the 2021 reboot of Mortal Kombat and the black ranger in the 2017 Power Rangers film. Not only can he fight, but he also knows three languages. Imagine a Ken that speaks Cantonese. Now thats hot.

Jackson Wang

A former K-pop star, Jackson Wang is a Hong Kong rapper and dancer who has that it factor a Ken should have. Hes smooth, fashionable and just the right amount of cocky which is exactly what we would want to see in the Barbie movie.

Kevin Kreider

Kevin Kreider, a Korean adoptee, has long spoken out about the lack of good Asian male representation in the industry (and how poorly he was treated as an Asian model), so it would only be appropriate for him to appear in Barbie. Hes most recently known for appearing in the Netflix series Bling Empire, so hes got the bougie part of Ken down.

Steven Yeun

OK, Steven Yeun is not necessarily an underrated actor, but we couldnt not include him, seeing as though so many people on the internet wanted him as Ken. We cant deny the impact he had as one of the first modern Asian American male heartthrobs when he played Glenn in The Walking Dead. An appearance in Barbie would have been unlikely anyway, however, since Yeun was probably too busy working on the series Beef while the movie was filmed.

Justin H. Min

You dont need much explanation for why Justin H. Min would make a great Ken just look at those teeth. Aside from a beautiful mug, hes more than qualified for the role, considering that he was on the Umbrella Academy series and, like Yeun, is also on Beef.

Alex Landi

Korean Italian heartthrob Alex Landi is best known for playing Dr. Nico Kim, a gay surgeon on the show Greys Anatomy. But it wasnt until he was the love interest in Doja Cat and SZAs Kiss Me More music video that his status as a sex symbol was solidified. That said, most Americans havent seen him since then, and we need to see more of him everywhere, or else.