Meryl Streep·Anne Hathaway. Yonhap News

The film ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (hereafter ‘TDWP 2’) has been engulfed in a racism controversy even before its release, facing fierce criticism.

According to major foreign outlets including China.com and Hong Kong’s Oriental Daily on the 21st (local time), the focus of the controversy is the ethnic Chinese character ‘Qinzhou, Qin Chou)’ who appears as an assistant to the protagonist Andy Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway).

What first angered Chinese-language netizens was the character’s name. Critics point out that the pronunciation ‘Qinzhou’ is very similar to the derogatory expression ‘Ching Chong’ used in the West to mock East Asians. One user expressed displeasure, saying, “Out of countless names, choosing one similar to a racially taboo slur raises obvious suspicions of intent.”

Official trailer for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’.

The character’s design has also faced criticism as anachronistic. In the trailer, despite working in the glamorous fashion world, Qinzhou appears in a tacky checkered shirt, thick glasses, and an unkempt hairstyle. This directly mirrors a long-held Western stereotype of East Asians as academically gifted but socially awkward and lacking fashion sense.

Reactions from netizens at home and abroad have turned cold. One user rebuked, “From the way of speaking to the style and the name, it’s crammed with stereotypes. Is this really a film coming out in 2026?” Another criticized the casting bias, saying, “I don’t understand why East Asians always have to be assigned nerdy or overly sensitive roles instead of compelling ‘girl crush’ types.”

In particular, regarding the name, some commented that “the pronunciation ‘Qinzhou’ sounds similar in certain languages to meanings like ‘ugly’ or ‘smelly,’ which is off-putting,” while others voiced cynicism, saying, “If that’s the case, why did you even go on an Asia tour?”

‘TDWP 2’ had drawn high expectations as Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt, the leads behind the original’s box-office success, reunited after 20 years to depict a power struggle in New York’s fashion scene. However, the pre-release ‘racism’ controversy has put its commercial prospects on high alert.

Meanwhile, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is scheduled to have its world premiere in South Korea on the 29th.