We all know that London Tipton was the original crazy rich Asian, but according to the actress who brought her to life, Brenda Song says that she was told that she wasn’t Asian enough to audition for the movie. The allegations have raised many questions about whether it was acceptable for Brenda to be turned away due to her career history and appearance.
Yet, it has also sparked debate on whether she purposefully underwent a double-eyelid procedure to “appear less Asian.”
Did Brenda Song Have Double-Eyelid Surgery?
Brenda has never acknowledged getting her double eyelids removed. Nevertheless, there is no proof that she underwent surgery to alter the appearance of her eyelids other than the possibility that her eyes may have appeared somewhat different in form in recent years. She could have applied her makeup differently, which would also explain this.
She “possibly” underwent the procedure, and according to @celebrityplastics on Instagram, she “possibly” had filler injected to slim down her face. These rumors haven’t been confirmed by the Dollface actress. Therefore, it seems unlikely that they are accurate. In the photo above, which was shot in 2004 when she was 16 years old, she looks to have double eyelids, making the double-eyelid surgery unnecessary.
This is her current appearance at the age of 31.
Brenda claimed that the issue behind her not being able to audition was her “image.” Speaking to Teen Vogue, she said, “I said, ‘This character is in her late to mid-20s, an Asian American, and I can’t even audition for it? I’ve auditioned for Caucasian roles my entire career, but this specific role, you’re not going to let me do it? You’re going to fault me for having worked my whole life?’ I was like, ‘Where do I fit?‘”
Brenda underwent double-eyelid surgery, then? Probably not, but a more pertinent query would be whether Brenda’s potential cosmetic treatment, known as Asian blepharoplasty, is sufficient justification for not considering Brenda for a role in Crazy Rich Asians. The surgery is the third most prevalent cosmetic operation worldwide and the most popular in Asia. Kevin Kwan, the author of the novel that served as the inspiration for the movie, has come out against the surgery.
Will We Ever See Brenda In A Crazy Rich Asians Sequel?
The movie’s director, Jon M. Chu, said that he’s not sure how Brenda received the impression that she wasn’t welcome to audition but that there must have been a misunderstanding. In reaction to the issue, he stated that he was already a fan and never would have needed the former Disney Channel star to audition.
Brenda Song wasn’t allowed to audition for Crazy Rich Asians because she was ‘not Asian enough’ https://t.co/pcsxKG00s1
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) November 20, 2019
In one of the forthcoming Crazy Rich Asian sequels, which will be based on the other books in the series, Crazy Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Issues, Jon’s response may pave the way for Brenda to appear on the big screen. We’ll have to settle for watching her in Dollface, which is currently available on Hulu.