'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMG/8QAHxABAAIBBQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFESFRFWFx/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAv/EABsRAAEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAQMxMkHh/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCeu3TWz3Se4Sam6LU0RBIhJSweHwO/zzNH8zadNVHP2K4xgIGtKCUsdN1f/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
During an appearance on the latest episode of the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast Pod Meets World, Steve Park claimed that the Friends set was "kind of a toxic environment." Park opened up about the incident that led him to write his iconic mission statement in 1997.
Park starred in a guest role in the 90s sitcom Friends. He appeared in two episodes: Season 2, Episode 23 in 1996, The One with the Chicken Pox, and in Season 3, Episode 24, in 1997, The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion.
Steve Park claimed that he witnessed a crew member referring to veteran actor James Hong with an alleged racial slur.
"It was at the time, I felt it was kind of a toxic environment. James Hong was the actor who was also on the episode with me, and (the AD) was calling him to the set and you know, essentially saying, you know, 'Where the f**k is the Oriental guy? Get the oriental guy."
Park explained that he then called the Screen Actors Guild to file a complaint and was recommended to write an article for The LA Times at the time. Although he did speak to the reporters of The LA Times, the outlet "never printed it."
More about Steve Park's mission statement to Hollywood
Korean American actor and Comedian Steve Park revealed the incident that led him to write a mission statement to Hollywood in 1997, calling for better representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood. After appearing as a guest role in the 90s sitcom Friends, Park experienced alleged racism.
At the time, Park sent out the statement to everyone on his email list, mentioning, "If this moves you, please send it along." Soon, publications from around the world were asking him permission to print it. The statement was published in several outlets in the Spring of 1997 and detailed his experience on the sets of Friends,
"Working with the people involved with this show was an extremely painful experience for me. A disturbing lack in generosity of spirit and basic human courtesy, in addition to a racial incident on the set, has forced me to speak out."
In the statement, Steve Park mentioned that the 1st Assistant Director called an Asian-American actor to the set over a walkie-talkie where he said,
Trending
"I don't have time for this! Where's Hoshi, Toshi or whatever the f*** his name is. Get the Oriental guy!"
While recalling his experience on Pod Meets World podcast, Steve Park mentioned that the entire experience left him wanting to take a step back from showbiz since he had become so "race-conscious."
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
