Former Disney star Brenda Song says she was 'not Asian enough' for 'Crazy Rich Asians,' director responds

Charles Trepany | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Macaulay Culkin steps out in L.A. rocking a new look! Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song Grab Dinner Together in Los Angeles

Though some fans remember Brenda Song for her role as the wealthy London Tipton on Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" and "The Suite Life on Deck," the actress said she missed out on a major opportunity because of her "image."

Song, 31, told Teen Vogue she was denied an audition for the 2018 hit film "Crazy Rich Asians" because she wasn't deemed "Asian enough" for the project.

"A lot of people don't know this, but I never got to read for 'Crazy Rich Asians,' ever," Song said in the article, published Wednesday.

A fan of the original books, Song asked her managers to arrange an audition, but they came back to her with bad news, the magazine reports.

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"Their reasoning behind that, what they said, was that my image was basically not Asian enough, in not so many words. It broke my heart," the actress continued. "I said, 'This character is in her late to mid-20s, an Asian American, and I can't even audition for it? I've auditioned for Caucasian roles my entire career, but this specific role, you're not going to let me do it? You're going to fault me for having worked my whole life?' I was like, 'Where do I fit?' "

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The film's director Jon M. Chu responded on Twitter to Song's statements .

"Would these words ever come out of my mouth? Nope makes no sense," he tweeted. "I feel horrible she thinks this is the reason. The fact is I love Brenda Song and am a fan. I didn’t need her to audition because I already knew who she was!"

🤷🏻‍♂️would these words ever come out of my mouth? Nope makes no sense. I feel horrible she thinks this is the reason. The fact is I love Brenda Song and am a fan. I didn’t need her to audition because I already knew who she was! — Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) November 20, 2019

According to the magazine, Song took time off to travel after the rejection, and returned to Los Angeles with peace of mind.

"I got myself together and said, 'Brenda, there is only one you, and you can't change who you are. You can't change your past.' I am so grateful for every job that I've done," she said. "All I can do is continue to put good auditions out there, do the best that I can — that's all I can ask for."

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