Top 5 racist facts about Gilmore Girls

When Gilmore Girls came on our screens in 2000, it won hearts with its clever conversations, the bond between Lorelai and Rory, and the allure of Stars Hollow's small-town life. But as time has passed and we look back, some of us can't help but notice that the show had its fair share of moments that were, frankly, very racist. It's like finding a few bad apples in a basket of your favorite fruit - it doesn't ruin the whole thing, but it does leave a sour taste.

The Gilmore Girls cast was mostly white, which is still acceptable for the early 2000s setting, but the show could've done a much better job showing different kinds of people and stories. When they did include characters of color, it sometimes felt like they were just there to tick a box. And there were moments where these characters were painted with a very broad, stereotypical brush.

Notably, Rory has to place an order for Sandeep's Indian food only when Lorelai is at the spa with Emily. Lorelai's repeated discomfort with the smell of Indian food is quite evident, and frankly uncalled for. This scene brings to light the more troubling racist undertones that run through the series.

Below are five of the most glaringly racist moments in Gilmore Girls!

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5 hidden racist Gilmore Girls moments, among many!

1) Emily Gilmore referring to Lane as “Rory’s Asian friend”

Gilmore Girls Season 2 Episode 16: "There's the Rub"

Emily Gilmore frequently treats Lane Kim as if her Korean background is the only thing that defines her, which is not fair because people are more than their race. This happens a lot in the show and is usually played for laughs, but it shows that even a show like Gilmore Girls, which isn't that old, didn't do a great job of handling these sensitive topics.

It's like they were okay with these small, subtle comments that can actually be quite hurtful and didn't push the boundaries to start important conversations about race. These issues of race are still very much around.

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2) Lane Kim was a stereotypical “rebellious Asian daughter”

Notably in Gilmore Girls Season 3 Episode 9: "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving"

Lane Kim’s journey in the show is heavily centered on her relationship with her strict, stereotypically Asian mother, Mrs. Kim. She seems to embody all the not-so-positive images we often see of Asian parents who have moved to America.

Lane's main goal is to break free from her mother's high expectations and blend in with the white American way of life. However, the show tends to lean on these "Tiger Mom" stereotypes instead of looking into the complexities of what it's really like to have a foot in two different cultures.

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3) Michel Gerard was a “colorblind” Black character

Gilmore Girls Season 2 Episode 8: "The Ins and Outs of Inns"

Michel Gerard, the sole recurring Black character, is depicted as a rather formal and demanding Frenchman. Although the show avoids using typical Black stereotypes for his character, it completely ignores his Black identity.

Throughout the series, we never learn about his upbringing or any personal experiences related to being Black. As a result, Michel feels more like a symbolic inclusion rather than a fleshed-out, multidimensional person.

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4) The lack of Black/POC representation at Yale

Gilmore Girls Season 4 and Season 5, but mainly Season 5 Episode 6: "Norman Mailer, I'm Pregnant!"

Despite Yale’s actual diversity, the way Gilmore Girls presents the school is surprisingly lacking in representation. Rory’s social groups at the university are almost entirely missing Black/POC students.

The only notable reference to Black people at Yale comes from Paris Geller, who makes a tasteless, racist comment about developing a "ghetto ear" from living near a certain area. This line is a clear example of how the show approaches race in a very casual and often thoughtless way.

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5) The racist portrayal of Berta in A Year in the Life

"Winter" (the first episode of the 2016 Gilmore Girls revival)

The Netflix reboot featured a character named Berta, a Latina housekeeper with a unique "gag" - no one seems to understand what language she's speaking. Emily Gilmore ends up hiring her even though they can't communicate effectively, which is a stereotype that's not only lazy but also kind of mean.

It suggests that all Latin American immigrants are the same and that their speech is just a jumble that anyone can ignore or not bother to understand.

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By examining the scenes from Gilmore Girls more reflectively, we can check for more meaningful portrayals in the shows we watch moving forward.

Give the show another watch on Netflix and see what you might discover!