Current Events > The Office Actor on Show's Asian Jokes: 'You're Told to Shut Up and Be Grateful'

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Kat Ahn is an actress who appeared in the December 2006 episode of The Office titled A Benihana Christmas, but she tells The Washington Post (via Vanity Fair) nearly 15 years later that her appearance on the show was used for nothing more than punchlines about her Asian identity. The episode centers on Michael Scott (Steve Carell) going to the eponymous restaurant, which he nicknames Asian Hooters, and ends with him using a sharpie on one of two Asian waitresses he brings back to his office Christmas party so that he can tell them apart. Ahn starred as one of the two waitresses.
Speaking to The Post, Ahn said her excitement on landing a guest role on the popular NBC sitcom (then in its third season) deflated after she realized she was just there to be the joke. The actress added, Youre told to shut up and be grateful. Actors have no power until they become a star. Ahn said the offensive Office joke bled into her real life, as a co-worker once attempted to draw on her arm with a sharpie as a callback to the episode.
As noted by Vanity Fair, Ahn previously spoke out against The Office on Tik Tok at the beginning of the year. In a video post, Ahn called the depiction of Asian women on The Office problematic and added, The storyline with myself and the other Asian-American actress is that we were the uglier version of the actresses at the Benihana. Also that all Asian people look alike; were one big monolith; and were just one big, walking stereotype without any personality or individuality, which is problematic.
The Office series regulars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey host a podcast, Office Ladies, in which they discuss the NBC sitcom at length. The actresses addressed the Benihana Christmas episode during one podcast installment and both agreed the joke of Michael using a sharpie to distinguish the Asian characters made them cringe. Kinsey reacted saying, I just dont think this storyline would have been written today, to which Fischer replied, I dont think so either.
Ahn spoke to The Post about her experience on The Office as part of a larger profile on Asian and Asian-American actors speaking out on how Hollywood has failed them.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/office-actor-kat-ahn-calls-133950078.html

Haven't watched it for a while but I recall it being more about how horribly dumb Michael Scott is rather than really any slight against the waitresses.

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We have to be more sensitive about how we portray Michael Scott's stupidity.

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I agree that the show portrayed it as unfavorable for Michael to behave that way, but I'm not going to invalidate how the actress felt here. She's allowed to feel uncomfortable with being used as a prop

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The Top Crusader posted...

Haven't watched it for a while but I recall it being more about how horribly dumb Michael Scott is rather than really any slight against the waitresses.

ThePrinceFish posted...

We have to be more sensitive about how we portray Michael Scott's stupidity.

These but

Eyeratosthenes posted...

I agree that the show portrayed it as unfavorable for Michael to behave that way, but I'm not going to invalidate how the actress felt here. She's allowed to feel uncomfortable with being used as a prop

This as well

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I don't like The Office, but I remember this being treated as wrong. The joke wasn't about Asians, but about Michael being a piece of shit.

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Eyeratosthenes posted...

I agree that the show portrayed it as unfavorable for Michael to behave that way, but I'm not going to invalidate how the actress felt here. She's allowed to feel uncomfortable with being used as a prop

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Welcome back Rebel

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CM_Ponch posted...

I don't like The Office, but I remember this being treated as wrong. The joke wasn't about Asians, but about Michael being a piece of shit.

That is what it was.

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Wasn't the whole point was that it was supposed offensive and Michael Scott was the butt of the joke. The waitresses weren't the butt of the joke because he couldn't tell them apart like the ignorant child that he is?

It's sad that this joke was flipped on its head behind the scenes these actresses were marginalized. Also disgusting of SAG for not protecting them.

Thats one of my favorite episodes. Hope they dont take it down!

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Well for those who have seen the episode, do the actresses even get any lines or chance to be real people and not just props?

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CyricZ posted...

Well for those who have seen the episode, do the actresses even get any lines or chance to be real people and not just props?

a little? Michael and Andy each take a waitress back to the office party. they mostly exist to be talked about but they have a couple lines

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CyricZ posted...

Well for those who have seen the episode, do the actresses even get any lines or chance to be real people and not just props?

They don't get many lines at all. They have a few and eventually Michael Scott is embarrassed by his ignorance and offensiveness but they were pretty much there as part of the bit, yes. Similar to Asian Jim.

This is basically the same issue that Always Sunny runs into. The joke itself is that the Gang are horrible, monstrous people and that the things they are doing are abhorent and in no way an endorsement of such beliefs, behaviors, and actions. But it's a fine line between that and actually being offensive in itself. I think one thing you should at least strive for from a production perspective is that the talent involved is on board and comfortable. The fact that an actress felt uncomfortable is more of the problem than the joke.

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One of the problems with jokes like this is that because the person making them is supposed to be seen as wrong, it's not taken as seriously. Like the actress said, it ended up affecting her later on
Contrast this scene with the Asian Jim prank and that's different because the joke is more at Dwight's expense

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The joke was Michael's racism, not the asian characters themselves.

Gheb posted...

he fact that an actress felt uncomfortable is more of the problem than the joke.

This, however, is unfortunately true.

Reno 911 gonna get theirs real soon

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Now watch them take the episode down because stupid people dont get who the episode is actually making fun of.

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I mean, this one's a tough one sort of.

I barely have ever watched the Office and as soon as Michael Scott was mentioned I assumed the joke was meant to be about how dumb, ignorant, and offensive he can be.

I don't think it is wrong for the actress in question to have been uncomfortable, but she shouldn't have done it if she was. Though the greater issue here is that the people running the show should have made sure she was comfortable with it before casting her.

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Infinite 2003 posted...

Now watch them take the episode down because stupid people dont get who the episode is actually making fun of.

the episode doesn't need to be making fun of them for a stereotype to make them feel uncomfortable. Its making fun of Michael but they're obviously playing up a stereotype in the episode. Lets not play dumb about that.

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Unfortunately Asians or being Asian are pretty much solely jokes in The Office. Im having trouble thinking of characters that arent. That might just be due to lack of such representation in the main or side cast? Since normally such race-based comedy situations are offset by characters of that race being in other situations too.

But guys they make fun of every race!

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VipaGTS posted...

the episode doesn't need to be making fun of them for a stereotype to make them feel uncomfortable. Its making fun of Michael but they're obviously playing up a stereotype in the episode. Lets not play dumb about that.

And their discomfort is legitimate and should be respected, but it doesn't make the episode offensive. It's the same as people who trashed on Tropic Thunder for this.

this just screams like someone who wants 15 minutes of fame trying to ride the cancel culture wave. Her entire character's existence was for offensive asian jokes, that's the way it was written. She accepted the role after trying out for it. Maybe she should take a look in the mirror?

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HouIe posted...

Wasn't the whole point was that it was supposed offensive and Michael Scott was the butt of the joke. The waitresses weren't the butt of the joke because he couldn't tell them apart like the ignorant child that he is?

Some of the others in the office even question Michael not being able to tell them apart when they find out about it.

CyricZ posted...

Well for those who have seen the episode, do the actresses even get any lines or chance to be real people and not just props?

I actually just watched it over the weekend. They get a few lines, but theyre a really small part of the episode. There are several storylines going on in the episode, and one of them is Michael being an idiot who cant tell two waitresses apart. There is also dueling party planning committees and Andy vs Dwight for gaining Michaels attention.

For the amount of time that the two girls are show, they get a fair amount of lines, IMO.

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RadiantJoyrock posted...

And their discomfort is legitimate and should be respected, but it doesn't make the episode offensive. It's the same as people who trashed on Tropic Thunder for this.

i agree. I'm just saying lets stop being disingenuous or playing dumb and say "its jsut making fun of michael not asians!"...that's clearly not the issue the actress is bringing up.

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She's cute

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Naysaspace posted...

really dumb post

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The Top Crusader posted...

Haven't watched it for a while but I recall it being more about how horribly dumb Michael Scott is rather than really any slight against the waitresses.

Bingo

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Yeah, this one's tricky. Yes, Michael is the punchline being made to look in the wrong as usual. But if the actors are sort of used as a blank prop for the gag without any input, that's a problem.

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Hayame Zero posted...

Yeah, this one's tricky. Yes, Michael is the punchline being made to look in the wrong as usual. But if the actors are sort of used as a blank prop for the gag without any input, that's a problem.

A good use of cultural jokes that made Michael look stupid would be the Diwali episode. And thats because Mindy Kaling actually had input (well, wrote it). This is just a very basic Asian stereotype with two Asian people brought in to be cardboard cutouts for the joke. So I understand the actress concern.

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The Office wouldve never survived if it aired these days

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Probably wouldnt have made it past the first episode because of Michaels Hitler impression

Or if not that, I could see the Problematic Police having a field day with Diversity Day lol

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It's a big problem with shows like the office or always sunny where, if you get the joke, you understand the point is how cringe worthy michael or the gang are being and how they represent the worst of those among us, but literally probably the overwhelming majority of viewers like those characters for how relatable they are to them, as the worst among us. Homer simpson is another example of this. It's like how most people will watch a satire like robocop or starship troopers and just think it's a cool action movie. Most people don't have the media literacy to understand overt satire, let alone subtle satire.

Comedy is dead. Are there even any good comedies on the air anymore?

Naysaspace posted...

this just screams like someone who wants 15 minutes of fame trying to ride the cancel culture wave. Her entire character's existence was for offensive asian jokes, that's the way it was written. She accepted the role after trying out for it. Maybe she should take a look in the mirror?

It's an easier way to gain fame than acting, certainly

VipaGTS posted...

This is just a very basic Asian stereotype with two Asian people brought in to be cardboard cutouts for the joke. So I understand the actress concern.

Yeah what Vipey is saying. The joke on Michael works but the issue is that the women aren't....given any sort of agency. The joke is that Michael is an idiot and has these women as interchangeable but....the show itself did the same by giving them no kind of characterization. Had they did that, shown them interacting with other characters to build them up then I'm not sure the actress would have had an issue. At least if I am reading her correctly.

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CM_Ponch posted...

I don't like The Office, but I remember this being treated as wrong. The joke wasn't about Asians, but about Michael being a piece of shit.

The joke was set up at the expense of two working Asian actors. They were used in a dehumanising manner in order to create an air of "OMG how wrong is this guy lol!".

I still don't udnerstand the love for the US verson of the Office. It didn't really say all that much as a show.

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fuming posted...

It's a big problem with shows like the office or always sunny where, if you get the joke, you understand the point is how cringe worthy michael or the gang are being and how they represent the worst of those among us, but literally probably the overwhelming majority of viewers like those characters for how relatable they are to them, as the worst among us. Homer simpson is another example of this. It's like how most people will watch a satire like robocop or starship troopers and just think it's a cool action movie. Most people don't have the media literacy to understand overt satire, let alone subtle satire.

This is very true.


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> Be on a komedy starring an idiot
> just there to be the joke.
surprisedpikachu.jpg

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https://youtu.be/f0nYKgkFvMM
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Diversity Day.. would not go well.


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The chick that Michael brought with him and marked with a marker was cute. Her friend was uggo lol

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The waitresses look really different. Michael is just an idiot.

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Kastrada posted...

Yeah what Vipey is saying. The joke on Michael works but the issue is that the women aren't....given any sort of agency. The joke is that Michael is an idiot and has these women as interchangeable but....the show itself did the same by giving them no kind of characterization. Had they did that, shown them interacting with other characters to build them up then I'm not sure the actress would have had an issue. At least if I am reading her correctly.

I dont think they made a big enough of a deal about Michael being really offensive. It was mostly just eyerolled as Michael being Michael.

It's a similar problem I have with the second Lethal Weapon episode of IASIP. The first one has an ongoing commentary about racism, appropriation and blackface, but the second one just has Dee appear in blackface with little to no comment on how offensive it is, even though we obviously know she's being offensive whilst doing it.

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Oh my fucking god lmao. If this isn't the most brain dead attempt at "cancelling" yet.

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DeadlyNinjaBees posted...

It didn't really say all that much as a show.

It said more than the majority of shows that are out there.

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the difference between this and michael's "ping" character I think bears note

one is explicitly a joke about michael's racism and stupidity

the other is a joke about the victims of michael's racism and stupidity

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Sackgurl posted...

the difference between this and michael's "ping" character I think bears note

one is explicitly a joke about michael's racism and stupidity

the other is a joke about the victims of michael's racism and stupidity

Ping seems FARRR worst than that.

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