Actor Katie Leung has shared her unguarded opinion on Cho Chang, the character she portrayed in the Harry Potter film series, amid renewed debate over the character’s name and the sensibilities of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
Leung’s thoughts can be summarised thusly: Black and trans lives matter.
Taking to Twitter last night, Leung told her followers she was prepared to discuss her thoughts on Chang, an apparent response to a new wave of criticism directed at the character’s name, her depiction in the children’s book series, and Rowling’s other contentious beliefs.
https://twitter.com/Kt_Leung/status/1269574865733988356
In recent days, Rowling’s description of Chang has been debated by readers, some of whom believe the character is a lazy assembly of stereotypes.
I love how cho Chang is trending. Gotta get that one off my chest. Jk Rowling gave the one chinese character the name equivalent of ching Chong. Then that character ended up being a snitching ass square. And did literally nothing in the series but date people.
— Kimmy (@kimmythepooh) June 7, 2020
Cho Chang is trending. Over 20 years after she was introduced in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, people are expressing irritation that JK Rowling lazily named her only East Asian character Cho Fucking Chang. Yes, we’ve been holding on to this one for a long time.
— Phil Yu (@angryasianman) June 7, 2020
JK Rowling: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
also JK Rowling: Cho Chang
— ☾ divya (@itsdivyag) June 7, 2020
Leung previously called for “a more truthful representation on our screens”.
But, instead of directly adding to the discussion on Twitter, Leung used the opportunity to highlight a number of fundraisers and organisations supporting black members of the LGBTQ community.
https://twitter.com/Kt_Leung/status/1269574876081328129
Leung ended her Twitter thread with some clear words of her own: #AsiansForBlackLives.
https://twitter.com/Kt_Leung/status/1269574883337474049
Leung’s decision to highlight organisations supporting black communities in the UK and abroad comes during global protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
But her decision to promote causes which specifically champion trans people is notable, as Rowling is well-known for her trans-exclusionary feminism.
As it stands, Leung is fielding plaudits for using her position to stick up for black and trans people worldwide.
Meanwhile, Rowling is still attempting to magically disappear the “T” from “LGBTQ.”
