Bling Empire's core problem is that it wants to be three programs in one: lifestyle porn, cultural education, and human interest

Entertainment Weekly

"It only excels at the former, however, and minimizes the latter two in the process," says Rachel Yang, pointing out the importance of Asian-American representation at this moment as Asians in the United States have increasingly become the victims of hate crimes amid the pandemic. "When the show strives to humanize its stars, it also flattens their cultures," she adds. "As Christine Chiu laments her in-laws' incessant pressure for her to bear another child, she draws sympathy for herself by castigating the monolith of 'the Asian culture,' as if a diverse continent is made up of one country with the same beliefs. And then she goes on to reinforce traditional gender roles herself by chastising her friend Cherie Chan for daring to propose to her boyfriend. This is the woman who also bragged about donating to needy kids at a lavish party for her 1-year-old featuring a Gucci claw machine. And I laughed out loud at Kreider's assertion in the premiere that 'growing up in Philadelphia, I was the only Asian.' Really, in a city of nearly 1.6 million that's 7.8 percent Asian? Even if that was just awkward phrasing and not genuine ignorance, the producers make no attempt to correct or follow up on his proclamation."