Serving as the show's muse and narrator, Huang insists he chose the title because he wants to respect his roots and so 'refuse to allow dominant culture to limit the words'.
- Feb 4, 2015
AceShowbiz - Amid heavy criticism addressed to new comedy "Fresh Off the Boat", the show's narrator Eddie Huang and star Randall Park have come forward to slam any offensive and Asian stereotypes claims. Huang set the record straight on the reason behind the decision to choose the title, telling ET's Kevin Frazier in an interview, "I called the book 'Fresh Off the Boat' because I identify more with my parents' generation and the country they came from and I wanted to hold onto that and respect my roots."
The celebrity chef went on explaining, "I refuse to allow dominant culture to limit the words that I can use just because I'm afraid of them using it or afraid of them thinking of me a certain way. I will not limit my vocabulary." He then elaborated, "I will not limit my identity, and I think I've said for a long time I want to see Asians in mountains, in the sky, on roller blades, on basketball courts and the thing is I'm not going to let people's expectations of us limit what I'm going to do."
Park, who portrays Eddie's father Louis Huang on the series, admitted, "I do feel that pressure since we're the only one out there right now and it's been so long." Much contrary to the mounting controversy, the 40-year-old actor insisted, "I don't see the show as stereotypical, and I'm proud of the show being from the point of view of the family and the kids."
He went on stressing, "I think it's important to see things from other perspectives. That's how we connect more with people who are different than us on a daily basis in terms of our lives. Hopefully our show can open doors to more shows like it and more diversity of the types of roles that actors of color and actors who are not represented out there traditionally could play." At last he concluded, "We definitely want to represent properly while at the same time be a great show, funny entertaining show."
"Fresh Off the Boat", loosely based on Eddie's book "Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir", tells the story of "11-year-old hip-hop loving Eddie as he and his family uproot from Washington D.C. to suburban Orlando." Off sitcom genre, the series debuts Wednesday, January 4 on ABC. It will air at 8:30 P.M. ET/PT.
