Myth of the "submissive Asian girl”
“The White Lotus” delivers one of TV’s most talked-about scenes of the year.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #46
Trump invokes a WWII-era law once used to imprison Japanese Americans — this time to deport Venezuelans. Over 50 universities are now under federal investigation for racial discrimination, while Google agrees to a $28M payout over unequal treatment of Latino and Indigenous employees.
Meanwhile, “The White Lotus” ignites conversation with a raw monologue on Asian fetishization, and China cheers the shutdown of U.S. government broadcasts into the region.
Plus: Ke Huy Quan gets real about being mistaken for Jackie Chan, “Ne Zha 2” breaks global box office records, and Filipino American talent shines in Max’s hit drama The Pitt.
Over 50 universities under federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination
Federal officials launched investigations into dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, complying with President Donald Trump’s executive orders against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Driving the news: The Department of Education named the universities under probe on March 14, exactly a month after it warned that institutions risk losing federal funds over “race-based preferences.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said students “must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin.” The department’s directive expands the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against race-based college admissions to encompass all educational programming.
About the investigations: Most probes target universities’ ties with the PhD Project, a nonprofit supporting underrepresented groups seeking business degrees. Department officials allege that the organization restricts eligibility by race, claiming affiliated colleges are “engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.” Six additional universities face scrutiny for “impermissible race-based scholarships,” while the University of Minnesota is being investigated both for its PhD Project partnership and for allegedly running a program that segregates students by race.
What the universities are saying: Some universities have begun responding to the allegations. For one, the California State system said it “continues to comply with longstanding applicable federal and state laws and CSU policies and does not discriminate or provide preferences on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.” Ohio State also defended its policies, saying it “does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or any other protected class, and our PhD programs are open to all qualified applicants.” Meanwhile, the PhD Project said it aims to “create a broader talent pipeline of current and future business leaders who are committed to excellence and to each other,” noting that they have opened membership applications to “anyone who shares that vision” this year.
What’s next: The Education Department is already facing legal challenges from the country’s two largest teachers’ unions, which argue that its memo is too vague and violates educators’ free speech. Some institutions have already begun disbanding affinity groups, including Asian American organizations, and putting cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year events on hold while awaiting further clarity on the new policies.
Google to pay $28 million in case claiming it favored white, Asian employees
Google will pay $28 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused it of giving preferential treatment to white and Asian employees through higher compensation and superior career advancement opportunities.
Catch up: The suit, initiated in 2021 by former employee Ana Cantu — who identifies as ethnically Mexican and racially Indigenous — alleged that Google routinely assigned Hispanic, Latinx, Indigenous, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Alaska Native workers to lower employment tiers than their white and Asian colleagues doing identical work. Court filings indicate that despite Cantu’s strong performance over a seven-year period, she reportedly saw no advancement while colleagues from white and Asian backgrounds received better compensation and career progression. The class action encompasses over 6,600 Google staff employed in California from mid-February 2018 through the end of 2024, with plaintiffs citing internal documentation purportedly revealing compensation discrepancies.
Google’s response: While acknowledging the settlement, Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini maintained the company’s position of innocence, stating, “We continue to disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone differently, and remain committed to paying, hiring and leveling all employees fairly.” The resolution received tentative endorsement from Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Charles Adams, who described it as fair and “a good result for the class.” Following the deduction of legal expenses and associated costs, approximately $20.4 million will be distributed to eligible class participants.
The big picture: The resolution comes as Google and numerous other companies have reduced their diversity programs amid growing political scrutiny, echoing previous discrimination controversies such as a 2018 legal action by former recruiter Arne Wilberg, who claimed Google’s diversity hiring practices discriminated against white and Asian applicants. Cathy Coble, an attorney for the class action suit, commended the “bravery of both the diverse and ally Googlers who self-reported their pay and leaked that data to the media,” adding that “suspected pay inequity is too easily concealed without this kind of collective action.”
Judge Adams has scheduled a hearing on Sept. 11 to determine whether to grant final approval to the $28 million agreement.
Judge halts White House effort to shut down USAID
A federal judge dealt a significant blow Tuesday to the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), ruling that DOGE chief Elon Musk’s actions likely violated the Constitution.
Driving the news: The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang requires restoration of email and computer access for USAID employees and halts efforts to shutter the 64-year-old foreign aid agency. The lawsuit, brought by the State Democracy Defenders Fund — representing dozens of unnamed USAID staff and contractors — challenges the administration’s rapid dismantling that began last month. Nearly 90% of USAID’s 4,765 direct-hire employees had been placed on administrative leave, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirming the cancellation of 83% of agency programs.
What the judge is saying: Judge Chuang’s 68-page opinion rejected claims that Musk is merely an advisor, finding evidence that he wielded “significant authority” properly reserved for Senate-confirmed officials. “There is no statute that authorizes the Executive Branch to shut down USAID,” Chuang wrote, adding that Musk’s actions had “usurped the authority of the public’s elected representatives in Congress to make decisions on whether, when and how to eliminate a federal government agency.”
Why this matters: The ruling interrupts what critics see as a core piece of the administration’s government reduction agenda. Across Asia, the USAID freeze has already created immediate impacts. Thailand’s Mae Tao Clinic, which serves Myanmar refugees, can no longer purchase essential medical equipment after losing 20% of its annual funding. In Vietnam and Laos, programs to clear unexploded American bombs from the Vietnam War era have halted, while Indonesia has seen HIV and tuberculosis prevention efforts suspended. The Philippines, on the other hand, faces delays in supplying educational materials for lower grades, with approximately $70 million in basic education assistance at risk.
What’s next: White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has called the decision a “miscarriage of justice” by what she termed “rogue judges,” signaling a likely appeal. Despite the setback, an internal planning memo reviewed by The New York Times indicates that the administration intends to reorganize remaining USAID functions under State Department control as the “U.S. Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance,” a move requiring congressional approval.
The “Hague Hilton”: Inside former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's new home
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is now detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) facility in Scheveningen, The Hague, as he awaits trial for crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on drugs. This marks a historic moment as the 79-year-old career politician becomes the highest-profile Filipino leader to face prosecution on the international stage.
Inside the “Hague Hilton”
The ICC's detention center, located within the Scheveningen complex of The Hague Penitentiary Institution, is often referred to as the "Hague Hilton" due to its emphasis on humane treatment and detainee welfare. Duterte was transferred to the facility on March 12, following his arrest by Philippine authorities under a warrant issued by the ICC on March 7.
The detention unit is recognized for maintaining high standards of care in line with international human rights guidelines. Each detainee, including Duterte, is housed in a private 15-square-meter (161-square-foot) cell equipped with an en-suite bathroom, a television and a computer without internet access to assist with legal research and case preparation.
Detainees are granted freedom of movement within their unit during the day, allowing them to engage in activities such as physical exercise in the gym, cooking in shared kitchens and participating in educational programs like language and vocational courses. Religious services are also available, and family visits, including conjugal visits, are permitted several times a year.
The facility provides comprehensive medical care through an on-site medical unit and offers mental health support to assist detainees coping with the psychological impact of prolonged detention and legal proceedings. Security remains stringent, but detainees follow a structured daily routine designed to promote well-being and rehabilitation. Despite its relative comfort, the "Hague Hilton" is still a prison. Prisoners are locked in their cells during guards' lunch breaks and at night.
The road to trial
Duterte appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC on March 14 via video link from the detention center. During the hearing, the Chamber verified his identity and informed him of the charges against him. The confirmation of charges hearing is provisionally scheduled to begin on September 23. This proceeding will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds for a trial.
The ICC alleges that Duterte is individually responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder, reportedly committed between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. If the charges are confirmed, the case will move to a Trial Chamber for formal proceedings. While the Philippines withdrew from the ICC on March 17, 2019, the Court retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was a State Party.
If convicted, Duterte will not serve his sentence at the Scheveningen facility. Instead, he would be transferred to another country designated by the ICC to serve his prison term. For now, Duterte remains in custody under conditions that, while far better than those in Philippine prisons, still represent a significant fall from his years as a powerful head of state.
China celebrates as Trump admin shutters Voice of America, Radio Free Asia
Chinese state media and pro-Beijing commentators have hailed the recent shutdown of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) following budget cuts under U.S. President Donald Trump. The closure marks the end of over 80 years of uncensored news broadcasts into China, a development that Beijing’s media outlets have framed as a victory against "U.S. propaganda."
Major win for Beijing
In a statement on Tuesday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning dismissed VOA as a “lie factory” with a “notorious track record” in covering China. For Beijing, the shutdown represents not just the end of foreign broadcasts critical of the Communist Party but also a broader weakening of U.S. soft power efforts in Asia.
The Global Times, a state-affiliated tabloid known for its nationalist stance, called the shutdown “gratifying,” describing VOA as a “carefully crafted propaganda machine” designed to advance Washington’s ideological interests. “When it comes to China-related reporting, VOA has an appalling track record,” the platform’s editorial read. “From smearing human rights in China's Xinjiang to hyping up disputes in the South China Sea, from supporting "Taiwan independence" forces to backing Hong Kong rioters, from fabricating the so-called China virus narrative to promoting the claim of China's "overcapacity," almost every malicious falsehood about China has VOA's fingerprints all over it.”
End of an era
Since World War II, VOA and, later, RFA played a unique role in providing independent reporting on issues censored by Chinese authorities. These outlets offered rare insights into sensitive topics, including human rights abuses in Tibet and Xinjiang. In 2017, RFA’s Uighur-language service was the first to expose mass internment camps in Xinjiang — reporting that eventually earned international accolades.
“VOA TV broadcasts and RFA radio reach people who otherwise would not have access to independent information,” Bethany Allen of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute told Aljazeera. “Many censorship circumvention tools are now illegal in China and thus risky to use, and they are also too complicated for people who aren’t internet savvy.” David Bandurski of the China Media Project added that VOA, in particular, had been “hugely influential” in shaping liberal thought among Chinese journalists during the 1980s. Experts warn that the loss of these broadcasts risk the silencing of independent voices as Beijing tightens its grip on information.
Roki Sasaki debuts, Shohei Ohtani hits 1st homer of the season in Tokyo Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday. The Dodgers’ 6-3 victory is highlighted by Shohei Ohtani's first home run of the season and the much-anticipated Major League Baseball debut of Roki Sasaki.
Sho-time in Tokyo
Ohtani thrilled the sold-out crowd of over 40,000 with a towering solo shot to right-center field in the fifth inning. Despite a fan interference review, the home run was upheld, making Ohtani just the second Japanese-born player to homer during a regular-season MLB game at Tokyo Dome, following Hideki Matsui in 2004.
Ohtani finished the Tokyo Series 3-for-8 with two extra-base hits, including a home run in Saturday's exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants, his first appearance as a Dodger in Japan. "I'm happy that my teammates got to experience Japan on and off the field," Ohtani later said. "But most importantly, coming away with two wins is something really huge for us."
"If there's ever a superhero, I think Shohei just seems like a superhero," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at the conclusion of the series. "In the biggest of games or the biggest of moments, he seems to always deliver."
Sasaki's MLB debut
Sasaki's debut showcased both promise, with the 23-year-old fireballer hitting 100 mph (160 kph) with his first three pitches and striking out three batters. However, his command wavered as he issued five walks over three innings. Despite the struggles, Sasaki escaped multiple jams and allowed only one earned run, throwing 56 pitches — just 25 for strikes.
Viewership history
Game 1 of the series between the Dodgers and Cubs attracted 25 million viewers in Japan, according to MLB PR. This figure accounts for one in five Japanese citizens, shattering the previous MLB viewership record in Japan, which was 18.7 million viewers during the 2024 Seoul Series in South Korea.
For context, the 25 million viewers surpass any American baseball audience since Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, which drew 28.2 million viewers. Even the highly anticipated Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, which garnered 23 million American viewers, fell short of the Tokyo Series' popularity in Japan.
Premium ticket prices
With Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Sasaki headlining the Dodgers' roster, fans in Japan eagerly paid premium prices to witness their homegrown stars on the MLB stage. According to Eric Fischer of Front Office Sports, tickets sold for about $2,000 for the first game and $1,500 for the second game between the Dodgers and Cubs.
Some resale prices reached as high as 1.5 million yen ($10,100), reflecting the overwhelming demand to see Ohtani and other Japanese-born stars play in their home country. Both Yamamoto and Sasaki took the mound to start the two games for the Dodgers while outfielder Seiya Suzuki and pitcher Shota Imanaga represented the Cubs. The Dodgers and Cubs will now return to the U.S. for a final week of spring training before MLB's domestic opening day on March 27.
Filipino American actresses shine in Max’s medical drama “The Pitt”
Max’s hit medical drama “The Pitt” is breaking new ground with its realistic portrayal of emergency medicine while spotlighting the contributions of Filipino American healthcare workers. The show follows the intense, fast-paced environment of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, with each episode capturing one hour of a 15-hour shift.
A hospital show with Filipino nurses
While Filipinos comprise only 1% of the U.S. population, they make up 4% of the nursing workforce in the U.S. In 2019, one out of 20 nurses was trained in the Philippines and, tragically, 24% of the nurses who died from Covid-19 complications were Filipino.
Since its debut, “The Pitt” has garnered praise for its accurate depiction of medical emergencies, hospital politics and the unsung heroes who keep the healthcare system running. Among the ensemble cast are three talented Filipino American actresses — Isa Briones, Amielynn Abellera and Kristin Villanueva — who bring depth and authenticity to the series.
Isa Briones as Dr. Trinity Santos
Isa Briones, known for her role in “Star Trek: Picard,” portrays Dr. Trinity Santos, an outspoken physician navigating the challenges of the emergency room. Briones advocated for a meaningful change to her character by requesting a surname that reflects her Filipino heritage — a request that was granted.
"It showcases the diversity that does exist in the medical field and is often not represented on TV," Briones shared during a panel discussion. Her portrayal of Dr. Santos adds complexity to the narrative, offering viewers a character who is both overconfident and compassionate.
Amielynn Abellera as Nurse Perlah Alawi
Amielynn Abellera portrays Nurse Perlah Alawi, a calm and compassionate figure who provides unwavering support to patients and colleagues. With credits spanning “Bosch: Legacy,” “The Cleaning Lady,” “NCIS” and “Shrinking,” Abellera brings a wealth of experience to her role in “The Pitt.”
Drawing from her Filipino heritage, Abellera infuses her performance with personal authenticity. "My parents, aunts, and uncles built a full healthcare facility from the ground up," she told Perception Mag. "Everything about me results from my Filipino background, so I can’t help but infuse every character I play with my ancestry."
Kristin Villanueva as Nurse Princess Dela Cruz
Former theatre actress Kristin Villanueva, who starred in the 2022 drama “The Courtroom, plays Nurse Princess Dela Cruz, a diligent and caring professional who also brings humor through her workplace gossip. Her portrayal captures the humanity and camaraderie essential to the high-pressure environment of an emergency room.
While she brings humor and heart to “The Pitt,” Villanueva hopes to explore darker, more complex roles in the future. "What I’m rarely cast as is somebody batshit. Some of my favorite shows are 'The Wire,' and 'Narcos,'” she told DocumentedNY. “Those are pretty gritty evil shows because of all the drugs and murder and stuff.”
“The Pitt,” which holds a 93% average Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, has already secured a second season renewal ahead of its Season 1 finale on April 10.
Ke Huy Quan on being mistaken for Jackie Chan: "I take that as a compliment"
Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan recently addressed being frequently confused for martial arts legend Jackie Chan in a recent Wired interview. The 53-year-old star embraced the comparison, acknowledging Chan’s profound influence on his life and career.
Inspired by a legend: “I love Jackie Chan… I think I take it as a compliment,” he remarked. Reflecting on his early inspirations, Quan credited Chan and other Hong Kong action stars for sparking his love of martial arts and the action genre. “When I was a kid, I loved watching [Chan’s] movies. They inspired me to learn martial arts,” he shared.
A name for himself: Quan’s admiration extends to Chan’s collaborators Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, whose work helped shape his understanding of physical performance and on-screen storytelling. While the actor appreciates the comparison to Chan, he remains committed to carving out his own identity. “I need to work a lot harder,” he acknowledged. “Because one day, I want people to say, ‘That’s Ke Huy Quan,’ not ‘that guy looks like Jackie Chan!’”
“Ne Zha 2” surpasses “The Force Awakens” to become world’s 5th highest-grossing film
Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has overtaken “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to become the fifth highest-grossing film of all time worldwide. As of this weekend, the sequel has amassed over $2.085 billion globally, edging past the 2015 Star Wars installment’s $2.071 billion.
Backed by local support: The film’s overwhelming success is largely fueled by its domestic dominance in China, where it has grossed over 15.19 billion Chinese Yuan ($2.09 billion), according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan. The film’s release over the Lunar New Year holiday — a peak period for family cinema visits — contributed to its rapid ascent. With its international rollout ongoing, “Ne Zha 2” is poised to reach even greater heights in the coming weeks.
A cultural epic that resonates: The film’s success also aligns with a broader cultural narrative known as guoyun, or "national destiny," offering a sense of collective triumph in challenging times. Directed by Yang Yu, “Ne Zha 2” draws from Chinese mythology to deliver a visually striking and emotionally charged narrative. The film follows Ne Zha, a rebellious demon child raised by humans, as he embarks on a perilous quest to save his friend Ao Bing, a dragon prince whose body has been destroyed by a lightning strike.
The hard truths a “White Lotus” monologue unveils about Asian fetishization
Carl Samson
The following critical analysis contains spoilers for “The White Lotus” Season 3, Episode 5, “Full Moon Party.”
We’re still pushing a quarter in 2025, but Sam Rockwell’s brief appearance in Episode 5 (“Full Moon Party”) of the third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus” has already delivered one of TV’s most talked-about scenes of the year. In case you missed it, what starts as an innocuous Bangkok reunion between old friends transforms into a shocking five-minute confession about sexual tourism and Asian fetishization.
In the now-viral moment, Frank tells Rick (Walton Goggins) that he moved to Thailand because he “always had a thing for Asian girls.” He describes how he became “like a kid in a candy store,” indulging himself with “petite ones, chubby ones, older ones, sometimes multiple ladies at night.” This language itself — comparing women to candy — immediately signals the objectification at play, unveiling the first of the scene’s hard truths: the dehumanizing foundation of fetishization.
Beyond fetishization
What makes Frank’s monologue particularly revealing is his eventual realization: “Maybe what I really want is to be one of these Asian girls.” As he explains to a stunned Rick, “I got in my head what I really wanted was to be one of these Asian girls getting fucked by me.”
These words expose a disturbing truth about fetishization; that it is not just about desire for the “other,” but about possession and power. Frank’s fantasy of becoming an Asian woman while simultaneously being the white man (in possession of her) represents the ultimate colonization of identity. Here, the monologue unveils a second hard truth: fetishization is not just about objectifying others, but about appropriating identities while maintaining power.
The myth of the “submissive Asian girl”
Frank’s journey exposes the harmful “lotus blossom” — otherwise known as “china doll” or “geisha girl” — stereotype that portrays Asian women as exotic, compliant and existing primarily for the pleasure of white men. His quest to sleep with women of “all ages and body types” reduces them to interchangeable objects of consumption, revealing another uncomfortable truth: the persistent, damaging myths of Asian femininity that serve white male fantasy. Frank’s confession functions as a mirror, reflecting back the uncomfortable reality of how Asian women are viewed and consumed in Western contexts.
Power dynamics exposed
Frank’s confession also reveals the power imbalance inherent in sexual tourism. Despite his fantasy of submission, the reality remains that as a wealthy, white American man paying for these encounters, he maintains ultimate control over the situation — a privilege that fundamentally undermines his claim of authentic role reversal.
Even in his fantasy of submission, Frank remains in control, hiring “an Asian girl who’d just sit there and watch the whole thing” while he imagines himself as her. He admits, “I’d look in her eyes while some guy is fucking me, and I’d think: ‘I am her and I’m fucking me.’” This part sheds light on another pressing truth: that even when some white men imagine themselves “becoming” the object of their fetishization, they do so from a position of economic and social privilege that ensures they never truly experience the vulnerability or objectification they fantasize about.
Normalizing the problematic
Perhaps equally revealing is Rick’s reaction throughout Frank’s confession. Goggins delivers a masterful performance listening to the disturbing revelations with visible shock, but notably without judgment. As Goggins himself explains to Vanity Fair: “Here’s a person who you think judges fucking everyone at The White Lotus, but when he connects, there is no judgment and there’s just listening.”
This reaction, however, illustrates how even deeply problematic patterns of fetishization can be normalized between friends, unveiling another hard truth: our social tendency to accept rather than challenge such behaviors. On social media, many praised Rick’s listening skills, with comments celebrating how he remained “supportive” despite his shock. But this positive framing of Rick’s non-judgmental response raises questions about complicity in systems of exploitation, suggesting that fetishization persists through silent acceptance rather than critical examination.
Breaking the cycle
Frank’s eventual turn to Buddhism represents his attempt to escape “the never-ending carousel of lust and suffering.” Yet even this spiritual awakening reveals another hard truth: the privilege of selective cultural consumption. For all we know, Frank can appropriate Asian spirituality just as easily as he once appropriated Asian bodies and identities, choosing which aspects of Thailand to consume while discarding others. His journey from sexual tourism to, apparently, spiritual tourism, continues the pattern of white entitlement to Asian cultures.
Frank’s monologue ultimately exposes how white male desires can appropriate not just Asian bodies, but identities and cultures, all while maintaining the privilege to walk away when the fantasy no longer serves them. This reflects what I feel is the ultimate hard truth unveiled by Frank’s confession: the persistent imbalance of power that allows some to consume others’ identities as a phase or fetish without experiencing the reality of living within those identities.
For Asian viewers, Frank’s confession may feel uncomfortably familiar. It is a rare moment when television actually exposes the dehumanizing gaze many have experienced, where personhood is secondary to fulfilling someone else’s exotic fantasy. In communicating these dynamics with such admirable clarity, Rockwell’s monologue succeeds not just as provocative entertainment, but as a mirror forcing audiences to confront truths that typically remain unspoken.