Thread by @angiekayhong

Over the past week, jumped with joy several times at the ways in which #BEEFNetflix beautifully understood and portrayed the nuances of underlying rage, Korean men rage, shame, assimilation, Korean church culture, talking to your inner child, self-acceptance..1/

..class divides, socio-economic divides, Orientalism, kindred spirits, trauma bonding, family codependency, honor/shame culture, religiosity, and mental health. Many of us were planning IG Lives, streaming, podcasts, talks and furiously group texting each other. 2/

Then, the conversation shifted. Instead of focusing on all the amazing richness in each of the ten 30-minute episodes, it was overshadowed, then overpowered by the recirculation of David Choe’s 2014 podcast episode where he casually bragged about sexually assaulting a masseuse 3/

Choe later replied that he made up the story, was not mentally well at the time, and apologized. He said that he spent time in mental health facilities and was dedicated to helping others. He took responsibility for his words and owned them. 4/

The masseuse (he said she was biracial black) never came forward, so we don’t know if the story was true or not, or even if there was a masseuse at all. No one else has come forward to corroborate his story or accused him of additional sexual misconduct. 5/

There’s been no documented evidence of his support and dedication to helping others. He tried to take the podcast down. He tried scrubbing his history. He defended his art. This doesn’t look good. 6/

Now, the conversation about #BEEFNetflix has turned into Koreans and anti-Black racism, misogynoir, violence against women, violence against black women, sexual assault, complicity, accountability, bro culture, white rich bro culture assimilation. 7/

I wouldn’t be surprised if David Choe made the whole thing up just to fit into bro culture and getting paid handsomely for it (in the 10’s of millions). I also wouldn’t be surprised if he actually did the things he said, and even more. 8/

What I do know is that this man’s actions and words have overshadowed this brilliant show called #Beef , one with beautiful acting and complicated scenes that was binge worthy and deep dive discussion-worthy. 9/

David Choe is a Korean American man & I’m married to one and raising two. There are fewer degrees of separation between Korean Americans in the States, & because of that we are inextricably connected to each other in ways that refuse the full blown cancellation of each other. 10/

But it's because of this connection that I am deeply disappointed and grieved by his actions, past and present. I grieve the propagation of misogynoir and sexual violence, even if it was a fantasy.

And it's because of this that I wont' be offering any commentary on #BEEFNetflix