Things have been pretty crazy for Constance Wu with the success of Crazy Rich Asians, but before she starred in that film, she got her break as Jessica Huang in Fresh Off the Boat.
The actress surprised her fans and made headlines yesterday after exclaiming “f***ing hell” in response to the news FOTB had been renewed for a sixth season.
So upset right now that I’m literally crying. Ugh. Fuck
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) May 10, 2019
Fucking hell.
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) May 10, 2019
That was not a rampage, it was just how I normally talk. I say fuck a lot. I love the word. Y’all are making a lot of assumptions about what I was saying. And no, it’s not what it’s about. No it’s not..what this is all about. Stop assuming.
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) May 10, 2019
Todays tweets were on the heels of rough day&were ill timed w/the news of the show. Plz know, Im so grateful for FOTB renewal. I love the cast&crew. Im proud to be a part of it. For all the fans support, thank u & for all who support my casual use of the word fuck-thank u too?
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) May 11, 2019
Unsurprisingly, the Internet had a lot of thoughts…
Forget Crazy Rich Asians, Constance Wu being messy af and sticking it to a job she hates is the representation I really need
— Stephanie Soh (@steph_soh) May 11, 2019
My pitch: let Constance Wu out of her contract to do movies, make the show about a divorced dad, who's busy with three boys, who falls in love with a divorced mom, who has three girls of her own. What I'm saying is turn it into The Brady Bunch.
— Erik Patterson (@erikpatterson) May 10, 2019
Constance Wu’s publicist sitting down to a cold white wine knowing that the show is being picked up and her work is done. Then her phone beeps… pic.twitter.com/vPBw7WFnHO
— darlingheart (@oh_darlingheart) May 10, 2019
original writer / creator of fresh off the boat: they made the show into racist-humor episodic garbage. i want nothing to do with it.
constance wu: rightfully displeased after six seasons of working in an accent in a hollywood stereotype role.
the internet: disrespectful!— ?????? ???? (@HabibiAssemble) May 11, 2019
Constance Wu’s wikipedia page right now is- pic.twitter.com/YzOgpsWkk4
— яoss (@rossbhriain) May 10, 2019
Katherine Heigl calling #constancewu giving her career advice like —- pic.twitter.com/FgyoKFzqk1
— Gabby Revilla Lugo (@gabbyrevlugo) May 10, 2019
So sorry you have to do TV when you wanna do movies ???? pic.twitter.com/m2ZaZK9886
— Sarah Smith-Jones ? (@sarmizegethusa) May 10, 2019
Now, the actress has taken to Twitter to share a statement about what she meant as many people slammed her for being insensitive to those actors who are struggling to get jobs. She revealed she was upset because the show getting renewed meant she had to turn down another job that she was really excited for.
“FOTB is a great show that I’m proud of and that I enjoy. I’ve gotten to fully explore my character and I know her like the back of my hand. So playing Jessica is fun and easy and pleasant. I get to work with a kind and pleasant cast/crew. Which makes it all quite enjoyable — so obviously I don’t dislike doing a show that is fun and easy and pleasant.
“But in general, I’ve always sought artistic challenge over comfort and ease. I was disappointed in not being able to do that other project — because that other project would have challenged me as an artist — that other project would have been really hard and not easy or pleasant at all.”
The actress went on to add, “But my words and I’ll-timing were insensitive to those who are struggling, especially insensitive considering the fact that I used to be in that struggle too. I do regret that and it wasn’t nice and I am sorry for that.
These words are my truth. I hope you hear them pic.twitter.com/l6SvbFcUlj
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) May 11, 2019
“I know it’s a huge privilege that I even HAVE options – options the FOTB has afforded me. But if one does have privilege, they ought to use that privilege as best they can. For me – that means pushing myself artistically. Constantly challenging myself by doing what’s unfamiliar and scary. So I am trying my best to use it well.”
She finished, “People can hold conflicting feelings in their hearts — that conflict is a part of being human. So I can both love the show/cast/crew but at the same time be disappointed that I lost that other unrelated job,” she writes. “I appreciate those who have given me the space and faith to believe what I say about both parts of my heart. Thank you. It’s meaningful when you make the choice to believe women.”
What had people seriously scratching their heads was that final sentence which references the #MeToo movement.
Overall the statement was fine (aside from pleasant being used in a way that comes across as patronizing) – and I do understand internal conflict of wanting two things at once- but that last line just ruined it. What *was* that?
— Gennie Frey (@BlueEyedVivi) May 11, 2019
That last line. Yikes.
— Allie R (@ACummins26) May 11, 2019
Believe women…. what? pic.twitter.com/YezMnTiBTW
— Brandi (@cpckkisses) May 11, 2019
Wtf was that last sentence??? Sksksksks
— sara flowers (@Petty_Confetti) May 11, 2019
Look, we get it, she’s ready to move on and has built up her career to a point where she’s lucky enough to have more jobs coming through, but maybe next time she should think before she tweets!