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The #ThankYouMattDamon hashtag lit up Twitter Thursday night as users reached out to thank the actor for being such an inspiration to Asians everywhere.
After the premiere of “The Great Wall” wherein Damon plays a European mercenary in China later captured by Chinese soldiers who then ends up saving the world, many people called out the fact that another seeming perfect role for an Asian actor, was handed to Matt Damon. Some have called the film a “blatant white savior narrative” and the film itself garnered a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Hollywood has often seen uproar due to the lack of Asian actors that are given roles in blockbuster films. As Alan Yang, co-creator and actor in Master Of None noted in his 2016 Emmy Speech, “There's 17 million Asian-Americans in this country, and there's 17 million Italian-Americans. They have 'The Godfather,' 'Goodfellas,' 'Rocky,' 'The Sopranos.' We got Long Duk Dong. So we got a long way to go, but I know we can get there. I believe in us. It's just going to take a lot of hard work.”
Twitter took their own spin on pointing out the inconsistencies in Damon's role in the Chinese based film. Hilarious reactions from “#thankyoumattdamon for teaching me how to use chopsticks to #thankyoumattdamon for saving us so many times flooded twitter.
You've saved us so many times. #ThankYouMattDamon pic.twitter.com/3Jo1ZBSGAV
@JeakPaul
Putting the Asian in Caucasian #ThankYouMattDamon
@Paul_Tanner_
Hands down my favorite Hollywood Asian couple is Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. #ThankYouMattDamon cc. @IsmaelC_C
@Gilluis_Perez
Matt Damon taught me how to use chopsticks. #thankyoumattdamon
@jennyyangtv
Without Matt Damon, I wouldn't be able to differentiate between the 4 tones of Mandarin! #thankyoumattdamon
@BlackDynamiteJC
#thankyoumattdamon got Black Twitter looking at Asian Twitter like... pic.twitter.com/4DbxuqMqok
@Niggenius
#ThankYouMattDamon, @karliekloss, Scar Jo, Emma and Tilda for teaching us we are all Asian. Wait... No we are not. @ConstanceWu @NoTotally pic.twitter.com/AO4eM5gOx9
@PaulinaPlazas
#thankyoumattdamon for finding the asian within yourself to save china, and represent our marginalized community :)
@gracejuice
I'm glad everyone has caught on to this ludicrous film where a white guy saves all of China. Oh yeah, and builds a wall 💁 #ThankYouMattDamon
@CandaceHowze
#thankyoumattdamon for being in yet another movie that it makes no sense for you to star in. #losingfaithinhollywood
@TA_1088
For saving my ancestral homeland, my name backwards actually translates to #thankyoumattdamon
@MingyuLin
Matt Damon is such a fine Asian actor. #ThankYouMattDamon
@ChandranTheMan
Matt Damon figuring out how to save China. #thankyoumattdamon #thegreatwall @jennyyangtv @angryasianman @ConstanceWu pic.twitter.com/GX20yBdtx8
@melissjk
Diversity is what the charming white guy tells you it is. #ThankYouMattDamon
@reallovepunk
MattDamon made mini egg rolls for our church and was the most popular mom at every potluck.#thankyoumattdamon
@PaulLaojokes
Forget Mulan, Matt Damon is the only one who could save China #thankyoumattdamon
@LilyLuo930
Ah, of course! How could I forget? Matt Damon trained Bruce Lee in kung fu. #thankyoumattdamon https://t.co/UxIkCQvCWR
@ArianaZhang
