After TikTok hearing, users declare their love for the platform — and CEO, Shou Zi Chew
After TikTok hearing, users declare their love for the platform — and CEO, Shou Zi Chew
From 20 dollars in his pocket to a dumpling empire: Din Tai Fung founder dies, age 96
“Asian Americans recorded the fastest population growth rate among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, study finds.”
While this statistic may seem optimistic, there’s more to the story. The growth of the Asian American population in the U.S. has occurred in tandem with increased reports of discrimination and violence since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
As our community grows, we are getting louder, we are telling our authentic stories…and we are making news headlines.
🏆 The Headlines
After TikTok hearing, users declare their love for the platform — and the CEO — TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew thanked users for their support of the platform on Friday morning.
After TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled by the House Energy and Commerce Committee last Thursday, the platform's users shared their support the way they know best — through thirsty fan edits.
Several representatives brought up complaints from their constituents bemoaning TikTok’s negative influence, but Chew insisted most users have positive experiences on the app. Users made videos affirming this and criticizing lawmakers for their lack of tech literacy and unfair questioning.
Some took their love a step further by creating fan edits of the CEO, perhaps one of the highest forms of acknowledgement among TikTok users. They paired the videos with captions praising his testimony.
"Can we talk about how hard he is working for us to prevent the ban," read the caption of one popular edit with 1.3 million views.
In a TikTok posted Friday morning, Chew thanked users for their support and reiterated the app's commitment to protecting the 150 million Americans that use the platform. He doubled down on TikTok's efforts protecting teens, storing American data on U.S. soil, maintaining freedom of expression on the platform and using third-parties to ensure transparency.
From 20 dollars in his pocket to a dumpling empire: Din Tai Fung founder dies, age 96 — The founder of one of the world’s biggest dumpling empires has died.
Yang Bing-yi, who set up the Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung, “passed away peacefully” at the age of 96, the company said in a statement Saturday.
It did not mention the cause of death but said that private funeral arrangements were underway and that the family has asked for privacy.
Born in 1927 in China’s northern Shanxi province, Yang immigrated to Taiwan when he was 20 “with 20 dollars in his pocket,” the company said.
He opened a small shop in Taiwan’s capital Taipei with his wife, naming it Din Tai Fung and selling cooking oil and Xiao Long Bao, steamed Chinese soup dumplings often made with pork.
The business took off and the restaurant became synonymous with dumplings as well as dishes like steamed buns, egg fried rice and noodles.
It expanded into a franchise, with outlets in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Singapore.
Further recognition followed – it was awarded its first Michelin star in 2009 and listed as one of the “world’s best travel franchises” on a CNN Travel list in 2014.
John Wick: Chapter 4 Obliterates Box-Office Enemies — The action flick’s fourth entry topped the weekend box office with a massive domestic opening, raking in $73.5 million from 3,855 theaters.
Keanu Reeves slayed in John Wick: Chapter 4 … and in the weekend box office. The action flick’s fourth entry topped the weekend box office with a massive domestic opening, raking in $73.5 million from 3,855 theaters off the backs of stellar critical reception and audience goodwill, per Hollywood Reporter.
Global audiences were no different — the Lionsgate film racked in a whopping $64 million from 71 markets and reached No. 1 in every international market for a total haul of $137.5 million in its debut weekend.
John Wick: Chapter 4 also bested its own kin: The latest film’s box-office opening set a series record for the highest weekend gross yet, beating out John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum’s $56.8 million opening.
It’s the biggest Lionsgate opening since the pandemic and one of few franchise films to set a series box-office record with its fourth installment.
👎 Not a fan of…
…the South Carolina bill banning Chinese citizens from buying land — The bill is expected to impact Chinese-owned companies and individuals looking to purchase over five acres of land
…Quentin Tarantino’s ‘cartoonish’ Bruce Lee — In a recent interview, Donnie Yen criticized Quentin Tarantino for his depiction of the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee in his 2019 movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
…internet shutdowns in India — Protests have emerged in major cities like Los Angeles and New York in response to the Indian police search for Sikh activist Amritpal Singh. The demonstrations echo civil unrest in the Punjab state of India, where protests in several Punjab cities, including Ajnala and Mohali, began Sunday and led the government to shut down internet access for 27 million people there.
🛫 Traveling to…
…Thailand — After months of rumors and speculation, it has finally been confirmed that “The White Lotus” Season 3 will be set in Thailand.
…Philipinnes — Vanessa Hudgens, the Asian American actor whose career kicked off in Disney’s “High School Musical” series, is set to shoot a travel documentary in the Philippines, the country of her mother’s birth.
📽️ What We’re Watching
✍️, Lea @ Crushing the Myth