USA TODAY International Edition
‘ Bling’ gives Asian Americans time to shine
If you liked “Crazy Rich Asians,” get ready for “Bling Empire,” among the first Asian- led reality TV shows.
The Netflix series ( now streaming) follows a group of wildly wealthy Asian American socialites in Los Angeles, who introduce us to their luxurious lifestyles filled with Botox parties and private jets.
The eight- episode season provides us the mindless entertainment we all need, including the petty rivalry between wealthy heiress Anna Shay and international fashionista Christine Chiu, as well as the brewing love triangle among self- made entrepreneur Kelly Mi Li, model Kevin Kreider and her exboyfriend, “Power Rangers” actor Andrew Gray.
And, of course, what’s reality TV without the trashiness? Watch a friendship end over a penis pump and see how an extravagant trip to France leads to tears and counseling. There’s plenty of drink- throwing, crying and sabotaging throughout the series, and if you’re not sure what a leather party is, you’re about to find out.
Aside from the scandalous gossip and tense relationship drama, “Bling Empire” is, more seriously, a pivotal step toward Asian representation in entertainment, especially as Hollywood turns its focus to diversity and inclusivity.
While the reality show offers the cattiness and escapism of such series as “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” ( they share an executive producer, Jeff Jenkins) or the “Real Housewives” franchise, “Bling Empire” also scratches beneath the surface of the glitz and glam to expose the reality of being Asian in America.
It’s refreshing to see this diverse cast – their families hail from China, Korea, Singapore, Japan and Vietnam – portrayed as three- dimensional characters who stray from the sometimes stereotypical introverts and timid types, such as Erwin Kim ( Hayden Szeto) in “The Edge of Seventeen” or Lilly ( Hana Mae Lee) in “Pitch Perfect.”
Kelly Mi Li says one of the goals of the show was to showcase the cultural differences of Asian Americans.
“Asian culture is so diverse ... so this show covers as much as it possibly can,” she says, pointing to differences in Japanese and Chinese cultures . And it’s true: We get to see the Japanese perspective on having children before marriage as well as the different Chinese cuisines.
Each star avoids just “being Asian” and has their own subtle nuances. Kevin, an adopted Korean American, struggles to embrace his ethnic roots after growing up in a predominantly white Pennsylvania suburb, and Christine, the wife of a Song Dynasty heir, comes to terms emotionally with not wanting a second child in a culture that emphasizes the importance of reproduction.
Despite their differences, one thing they have in common is a commitment to balancing their Eastern and Western values – a relatable dichotomy for many Asian Americans. It’s common for people like me, a Korean American, to have trouble feeling accepted in a country where we look so different yet also feel rejected by our ancestors’ countries of origin for not being “Asian enough.”
“Bling“beautifully shows us that it is indeed possible to be both Asian and American. The real- life “Crazy Rich Asians” don’t exactly conform to Eastern traditions of keeping a low profile as they flaunt their extravagant car collections and shoe closets and tell explicit ( and hilarious) sex stories – taboo in Asian cultures valuing privacy. At the same time, they keep in touch with their roots, with shamans. fortune tellers and a glamorous 100- day party – a tradition in countries such as Japan, Korea and China celebrating the 100th day after a child’s birth.
“Asian culture is kind of like, ‘ Let’s hide things, let’s pretend things are great, don’t air out your dirty laundry,’” Li says. “Opening your issues and problems to the rest of the world was such a beautiful thing, because hopefully there’s a couple that’s out there that went through the same issue I did.”
Li hopes “Bling“will stimulate some changes in the entertainment industry. “I hope moving forward, we give a bigger platform to Asian Americans.”
So if you’re looking for lots of laughs and Louis Vuitton, “Bling Empire” is for you. But if you’re looking for something to make you proud of the entertainment industry, “Bling Empire” also is very much for you.