‘NOT COOL’: Simu Liu slams ‘celebrity look-a-like’ segment at NBA All-Star game

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Simu Liu might have been on the winning team during the 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Salt Lake City, but the Marvel star wasn’t happy with video segment that aired during the event.

The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star took to social media to call out the in-arena camera operator that displayed his photo alongside an Asian attendee during a “celebrity look-a-like” portion that aired on the video board inside Vivint Arena during a break in the action.

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“I had a great time but this wasn’t cool,” Liu, 33, tweeted in response to a side-by-side photo of him and the fan that appeared on the big screen.

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On social media, many fans quickly sided with the Toronto-raised actor.

“The issue here is that they have no similar characteristics other than being Asian,” one person wrote.

“For anyone who needs clarification … this is not cool because it supports the ‘all Asians look alike’ stereotype,” a second added. “Like Simu says … not even close and the cameraman was too lazy (racist?) to look for someone who resembles him more.”

But several people commented on Liu’s tweet, suggesting that the comparison was probably an ego boost for the fan.

“The guy might have been flattered and excited to be compared to an actor playing a Marvel superhero,” one person commented. “Really, it might have made his day.”

Others implied that the Kim’s Convenience star had “thin skin” and was overreacting to a lighthearted joke that plays out most nights at arenas in North America.

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“I got super offended when that little kid in Role Models said all white people look like Matt Damon. Wait, no I didn’t because I have a sense of humour and (I’m) not desperate to make a scene to stay relevant,” one person chided.

“I’ve seen teams do this ‘celebrity look-a-like’ gag many times … the fans they pick almost never look like the celebs, yet this is the first time I’ve ever seen someone act b——- about it,” a second jabbed.

Liu later returned to Twitter to clarify his message.

“To be perfectly clear the entire (organization) and (operations) team surrounding all-star have been nothing but absolutely stellar to myself and all my friends,” Liu wrote in a follow-up tweet.

“This was just one person with a camera. And no disrespect to my man in the videotron either! He’s gorgeous — we just don’t look alike.”

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Liu was part of the winning side as Team Dwyane (Wade) emerged victorious over Team Ryan (Smith) 81-78.

Other participants in the game included Grammy-winning artist 21 Savage, Janelle Monae, Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf and recently retired baseball slugger Albert Pujols.

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