Grey's Anatomy Tackles Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in Emotional Episode

Grey's Anatomy took on the topic of anti-Asian racism this week, when a victim of a hate crime was brought to Grey Sloan Memorial. While operating on the victim, the show's Asian characters, played by Lynn Chen, Alex Landi, and Kathy C. An, opened up about what it was like growing up Asian American.

"When I was a kid, I used to stare at my face in the mirror wondering if I could use my mom's makeup to make me look more American, which, of course, I understood to mean more white," said Dr. Michelle Lin (Lynn Chen).

"Do you even think we'll ever stop being seen as foreign?" asked Dr. Nico Kim (Alex Landi).

"Well, being wrongly blamed for COVID did not help," replied Lin. "But also, the Watsonville riots, the Japanese American internment, Vincent Chin."

"A long history of being outsiders. How ironic," said Kim.

Nurse BokHee (Kathy C. An), who rarely speaks on the show, also spoke up, saying, "We are Americans. Your face is American."

Many viewers were grateful for the moment, especially given that the episode aired during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Fans on Twitter thanked the series, with some adding that the scene was "hard to watch."

as an asian american thank you for that scene #GreysAnatomy

— fran 🪐 (@jodiesversion) May 20, 2022

as an asian, this episode is so hard to watch. #GreysAnatomy

— hanna (@ameliaashps) May 20, 2022

i need more asian american representation in this show. that’s all im asking for. but this storyline did hit hard. #greysanatomy pic.twitter.com/MKjy9m7OQW

— christina is currently: sobbing. (@kaimeliaftw) May 20, 2022

I'm loving that they showing more about Asian hate and making people aware of what is still going on #GreysAnatomy

— ❤jaylob❤ (@AleahbarnesJ) May 20, 2022

@GreysABC @KristaVernoff Can we acknowledge that Grey’s did a episode that touches on Asian hate during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. #GreysAnatomy

— Black Queen💗 (@Melaninqueen202) May 20, 2022

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Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.