Actor Steve Park is reflecting on why he decided to leave Hollywood after filming the popular ‘90s sitcom Friends. In a recent episode of the Pod Meets World podcast, the actor discussed tension from the racism in his work environment and the challenges he faced while dealing with the situation.
Friends aired from 1994 to 2004 and became an award-winning show with millions of viewers worldwide. It was often the subject of discussion among youths and the choice of many in those days. However, Park did not feel like that onset; he had a bitter experience.
Steve Park from ‘Friends’
View this post on Instagram
Steve Park is an Asian American actor and comedian who believes everyone should be treated with mutual respect and honor regardless of race and social background. So, when Park heard one of the Friends crew members refer to James Hong as “the Oriental guy,” he was troubled. He wanted to point this out to the other cast and crew.
However, this was not met with the same enthusiasm as Park had about the situation and would have expected. The celebrated star, who appeared in the season 2 episode “The One With the Chicken Pox” and season 3’s “The One With the Ultimate Fighting Champion,” was displeased by this unending and toxic act.
Faced with this discomfort on the set of Friends, Steve Park decided to contact the Screen Actors Guild and was directed by a representative to write the LA Times about this racist issue on set. However, the letter was never published. Park took a bold step by sending the letter as a mail to some friends, and a breakthrough occurred. He recalled the letter “went viral before ‘viral’ was even a word.”
Quitting Hollywood
By choosing to stand out, Steve Park faced the harsh reality that came with his boldness. Once he noticed the bit of racism in the assistant director who referred to a co-star, James Hong, as “the Oriental guy,” he became more race-conscious than usual.
Steve Park was angry, confused, and lacking a sense of freedom, so he decided to quit. After a while, he returned to acting, but he struggled to move on without being overwhelmed by the struggle to get back in.