“The Chinaman” is what they call an Asian American character in The Big Lebowski. This term is used throughout the movie for the sole purpose of one thing — to get laughs. To have this screening at an outdoor venue, where crowds gather, is not only dangerous, but tone-deaf to the times we’re living in now where anti-Asian sentiment runs rampant. Movies like this have normalized the use of these words. 

As an Asian American I’ve seen the damage movies like these have caused. Watching Asian Americans being assaulted across the country is the result of years of anti-Asianess in the media. The current administration has only enforced this sentiment. 

When I reached out to Heather Hope-Allison (Principal Director at Street Food Cinema) to ask that this movie be removed from the schedule, her response was: “For the upcoming event, we have already paid for licensing and tickets have been sold. We will absolutely reconsider scheduling it in the future.”

This is unacceptable. We want change now. We refuse to be the collateral damage of racist jokes anymore. We will not accept your finances as a reason why “the show must go on”. People’s lives are more important than your licensing fees and the number of tickets sold. Stop screening The Big Lebowski now.