Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D & Nashville Actress Chloe Bennet Has Slammed "Ignorant" Gigi Hadid On Instagram For THAT Video

10 February 2017, 15:23 | Updated: 4 December 2017, 11:10

Chloe didn't think that this was okay.

Gigi Hadid has been the centre of much social media backlash this week after a video emerged of her appearing to mock Asian facial features. 

Her boyfriend, Zayn Malik, may have rushed to her defence, but some fans - and other celebrities - are still not happy.

> Gigi Hadid's Revealed What She & Zayn Get Up To Behind Closed Doors & It’s Weirdly Normal

Which is why Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actress, Chloe Bennet, decided that she had to speak out. Having gone through personal experiences of racism, Gigi’s video struck a chord with Chloe.  

 

Since tomorrow is the last day Iv decided to hand pick TEN shirts to autograph and send off to the buyers, if you support the campaign in the next 24 hours. Or if you've already purchased a shirt. (I might even have to throw in a Daisy Johnson @originalfunko ! ) LINK IN BIO to purchase.

A photo posted by Chloe Bennet (@chloebennet) onDec 1, 2016 at 3:44pm PST

However, instead of slating the model on social media, she decided to write her an open letter explaining why what she did wasn’t okay, regardless of whether it was intended as a joke or not. 

Posting a photo of her with childhood friends, Chloe wrote, “Dead Gigi Hadid. As a kid, (and frankly as an adult) people would make fun of me for being Chinese. For having ‘Asian eyes’. I would laugh it off because it was always a ‘joke’, and if I didn’t I was being ‘too sensitive’. But in reality it made me feel horrible. Like, just BEING ME was a joke that was not meant to be taken seriously. I was embarrassed of who I was. I dyed my hair blonde to make myself look less Asian just so I could feel ‘worthy’ of the people who made me feel less than”. 

 

Dear Gigi Hadid, As a kid, (and frankly as an adult) people would make fun of me for being Chinese. For having "Asian eyes". I would laugh it off because it was always a "joke", and if I didn't I was being "too sensitive". But in reality it made me feel horrible. Like, just BEING ME was a joke that was not meant to be taken seriously. I was embarrassed of who I was. I dyed my hair blonde to make myself look less Asian just so I could feel "worthy" of the people who made me feel less than. Fortunately, now I know that none of this is true. That my value does not come from how I LOOK, but from my CHARACTER. From how I treat others. I know I am not alone in feeling these things. It hurts my heart to see someone like you, a beautiful young woman with so much influence, act in this inconsiderate way. This does not make you a bad person or racist, however, it does make you ignorant to the pain that your actions can cause others. No matter how unintentional those actions are. And, even if it was just "a joke". So...to the young Asian men and women who are used to laughing off others ignorance, even though deep down you are hurting. I HEAR YOU. You are badass. You are awesome. Who you are is not "funny". YOU determine your self worth. Be proud of who you are. --Also, I'm also sorry for how many run on sentences there are in this letter. Love, Chloe P.S. While I'm at it, Asian men are super sexy. So with all due respect fuck you Steve Harvey.

A photo posted by Chloe Bennet (@chloebennet) onFeb 8, 2017 at 3:50pm PST

Chloe proceeded to encourage Gigi to do better in the future. “It hurts my heart to see someone like you, a beautiful young woman with so much influence, act in this inconsiderate way. This does not make you a bad person or racist, however, it does make you ignorant to the pain that your actions can cause others. No matter how unintentional those actions are. And, even if it was just ‘a joke’”. 

Gigi herself has yet to speak out about the incident but has taken the video off Instagram.

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