Constance Wu: I was sexually harassed by a member of the "Fresh Off the Boat" production for years

Constance Wu revealed in her memoir “Making a Scene” that a member of the “Fresh Off the Boat” production team sexually harassed her for years.

Wu, who only uses the production member's initial, alleged that he controlled her, demanded that she seek approval for all her business ventures, and told her what to wear. Wu claimed that she considered him a friend and mentor at first, but then she was afraid of what would happen if she didn't oblige.

"'Fresh Off the Boat' was my very first TV show. I was thrown into this world," Wu said. 30 years old, people thought I knew what I was doing. It made me paranoid and embarrassed."

In 2015, the production crew member touched Wu's thigh at a sporting event and then brushed his crotch. A subsequent argument during “Fresh Off the Boat” Season 2, which ran from 2015 to 2020, led to Wu cutting ties with the production crew member in question; the dispute was whether or not she would accompany him to a film festival. ABC declined to comment on the allegations.

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In 2019, Wu tweeted, "Damn hell" and "So upset right now I'm literally crying. Ugh. Shit." after the ABC sitcom was renewed for a sixth season. Wu later clarified, “Today's tweets followed a tough day and weren't timely with the show news. Plz know, I'm so thankful for the FOTB renewal. I love the cast and crew. I am proud to be part of it. For all the fan support, thank you, and for everyone who supports my occasional use of the word goddamn thank you too. »

Wu's self-proclaimed "careless tweets" garnered backlash, leading Wu to attempt suicide.

Now the 'Crazy Rich Asians' actress spoke to the NYT about her "Fresh Off the Boat" trip.

"I had a public image that didn't look much like me. I'm not really a sane person," Wu said. "I try not to come across as a hero. I try to pass myself off as a fairly normal person who has flaws like everyone else. I'm not really into the actor's memoir where it's like, 'I overcame the odds, and I'm this person who was humble and just kept working. I was the victim. "It's less black and white than simply victim and perpetrator."

Wu spoke about racism in Hollywood, while being told she was a "disgrace to Asian Americans" and a "plague" to the community.

"Every time I didn't get a role, I never thought it was because I was Asian, I always thought it was because I wasn't enough pretty or not talented enough," Wu said. "Now that I'm in Hollywood, I don't think that's the case. I see how the machine works. I think those casting decisions have more to do with perception from the public, social media numbers. But I think race plays a role in all of this."

Wu continued, "It was almost joyful. It was almost like they couldn't wait to tear me down. I think the Asian community in Hollywood is still hyper-focused on positive portrayal, which to me is an illusion. The whole human representation is more complex. And I think it's interesting for me to see how, at that time, when I could have used their help the most, they were the ones who put me to shame . »

Wu is currently starring in “The Terminal List” and the upcoming movie “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.” She also stars in "East Bay," writer/director Daniel Yoon's portrayal of the son of Asian immigrants living in the Bay Area and going through a coming-of-age crisis. Wu is also set to reprise his role in "Crazy Rich Asians" for the planned sequel.

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