A news anchor from Missouri has gone viral after sharing a voicemail she received from a viewer in response to a segment in which she mentioned eating dumpling soup to celebrate New Year’s Day. In a video posted to her Twitter and Instagram accounts, Michelle Li of NBC News affiliate KSDK played a call from a viewer who felt Li was being “very Asian.”
“This evening, your Asian anchor mentioned something about being Asian, and Asian people eat dumplings on New Year’s Day, and I kind of take offense to that,” the caller said.
“I don’t think it was appropriate that she said that and, she was being very Asian and … I don’t know,” she continued. “She can keep her Korean to herself, alright? Sorry, it was annoying.”
The viewer also complained that Li was given special treatment; she felt as though white anchors who mentioned foods they liked to eat on the holiday would have instead been fired.
Li’s comment came after reading a story about classic foods Americans eat on New Year’s Day. She shared that, like “a lot of Korean people do,” she had eaten dumpling soup. The remark was intended to make the segment inclusive.
“The first time I read that (story at 5 PM), I was like, ‘Are those like, American traditions? Because those seem very Southern,’” Li said in an interview with TODAY Food, “And, you know, I just don’t remember having those traditions.”
Li told TODAY Food that while she initially was not going to share the voicemail, she thought about it for a while and decided it needed to be heard.
“I’d love to say something back,” Li tweeted on Jan. 1.
The clip quickly went viral, with many viewers reclaiming the comment meant to insult Li by making it a hashtag, #VeryAsian, and sharing stories of what they do to display their identity.
Li further explained why she shared what she ate in an article for KSDK News:
Li also noted that the viewer’s comments come amid record levels of violence targeting Asian Americans in the U.S.
According to Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition of organizations dedicated to addressing anti-Asian discrimination, at least 10,370 incidents of anti-Asian bias have been reported from Mar. 19, 2020, to Sept. 30. This data comes alongside others, confirming a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Last month, data by the FBI found that hate crime reports actually rose by 76% in 2020.
“This climate has been really scary in many ways,” Li said. “I still am very cautious about where I go and who I’m with and I hate that — that I’ve had to change my behavior based on the actions of others.”
But while some few were “offended” by her attempt at being inclusive and American— because America is full of different cultures— others were proud and grateful of her mention.
And not to mention Li also had the support of her station.
From local viewers to celebrities, people came together to support Li and share their own stories on social media. One viewer’s hate helped start a movement.
In conversation with NBC Asian America, Li said she was very shocked at how quickly she garnered a response from individuals after posting the video.
“It became this really beautiful thing, where instead of this disheartening feeling that I had the night before, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, people are sharing pictures of their families and their happy New Year meals, and they’re using this hashtag to say something, hashtag #VeryAsian, to show support and solidarity.’”
“It just felt really like this racist, ugly phone call ended up being a real gift,” she added.
Li told TODAY Food that she is very excited to see where the hashtag #VeryAsian goes and plans to call the woman who left her a voicemail back to invite her to get dumplings together.
“Maybe we can call it a segment, ‘Dumplings with Michelle,’ or something,” she laughed.
She even changed both her Twitter and Instagram bios to read “VERY ASIAN.”
Honestly, I am here for it. I am super-Asian and had chicken over rice on New Year’s Day— yes, with both the RED and WHITE sauce. But I do wish I had had dumplings.
Americans eat all types of foods. What did you eat for New Year? Share your food pics and favorite recipes! I’d love to try them.
“This evening, your Asian anchor mentioned something about being Asian, and Asian people eat dumplings on New Year’s Day, and I kind of take offense to that,” the caller said.
“I don’t think it was appropriate that she said that and, she was being very Asian and … I don’t know,” she continued. “She can keep her Korean to herself, alright? Sorry, it was annoying.”
The viewer also complained that Li was given special treatment; she felt as though white anchors who mentioned foods they liked to eat on the holiday would have instead been fired.
Li’s comment came after reading a story about classic foods Americans eat on New Year’s Day. She shared that, like “a lot of Korean people do,” she had eaten dumpling soup. The remark was intended to make the segment inclusive.
“The first time I read that (story at 5 PM), I was like, ‘Are those like, American traditions? Because those seem very Southern,’” Li said in an interview with TODAY Food, “And, you know, I just don’t remember having those traditions.”
Li told TODAY Food that while she initially was not going to share the voicemail, she thought about it for a while and decided it needed to be heard.
“I’d love to say something back,” Li tweeted on Jan. 1.
The clip quickly went viral, with many viewers reclaiming the comment meant to insult Li by making it a hashtag, #VeryAsian, and sharing stories of what they do to display their identity.
Li further explained why she shared what she ate in an article for KSDK News:
Li also noted that the viewer’s comments come amid record levels of violence targeting Asian Americans in the U.S.
According to Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition of organizations dedicated to addressing anti-Asian discrimination, at least 10,370 incidents of anti-Asian bias have been reported from Mar. 19, 2020, to Sept. 30. This data comes alongside others, confirming a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Last month, data by the FBI found that hate crime reports actually rose by 76% in 2020.
“This climate has been really scary in many ways,” Li said. “I still am very cautious about where I go and who I’m with and I hate that — that I’ve had to change my behavior based on the actions of others.”
But while some few were “offended” by her attempt at being inclusive and American— because America is full of different cultures— others were proud and grateful of her mention.
And not to mention Li also had the support of her station.
From local viewers to celebrities, people came together to support Li and share their own stories on social media. One viewer’s hate helped start a movement.
In conversation with NBC Asian America, Li said she was very shocked at how quickly she garnered a response from individuals after posting the video.
“It became this really beautiful thing, where instead of this disheartening feeling that I had the night before, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, people are sharing pictures of their families and their happy New Year meals, and they’re using this hashtag to say something, hashtag #VeryAsian, to show support and solidarity.’”
“It just felt really like this racist, ugly phone call ended up being a real gift,” she added.
Li told TODAY Food that she is very excited to see where the hashtag #VeryAsian goes and plans to call the woman who left her a voicemail back to invite her to get dumplings together.
“Maybe we can call it a segment, ‘Dumplings with Michelle,’ or something,” she laughed.
She even changed both her Twitter and Instagram bios to read “VERY ASIAN.”
Honestly, I am here for it. I am super-Asian and had chicken over rice on New Year’s Day— yes, with both the RED and WHITE sauce. But I do wish I had had dumplings.
Americans eat all types of foods. What did you eat for New Year? Share your food pics and favorite recipes! I’d love to try them.