Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

'Lost' Star Daniel Dae Kim Pleads For An End To Racist Attacks Against Asians In Video Confirming He Tested Positive

'Lost' Star Daniel Dae Kim Pleads For An End To Racist Attacks Against Asians In Video Confirming He Tested Positive
Michael Kovac / Getty Images

After testing positive for the virus at the root of the current public health crisis, Lost actor Daniel Dae Kim shared some truths about the virus.

Not only did he share what it was like to be sick and recover, but he took the opportunity to emphasize how important it is to leave the racial slurs out of the conversation.


Kim posted twice this week about his relationship with the pandemic. Both of these posts were filled with the disappointment of having to address racial attacks in 2020.

On Monday, Kim shared a screenshot of a few of his recent tweets, addressing his silence throughout most of the virus' progression thus far. Like many others, he remained silent because of his disappointment, as well as his concern that one voice may not make the needed difference.

The post was well-received by his Instagram followers, many indicating their disgust against those who have referred to the global pandemic as "the Chinese virus" and those who blame the spread of the virus on Asian people.

Both of these racist actions, which Kim believes hinders the conversation and does nothing to spread useful information about the progress being made by leading scientists and doctors.

After the positive conversation that resulted from sharing the tweet, Kim decided to post again on Thursday, this time a 10-minute video, discussing what it was like to be diagnosed, his healing process and a call for people to call the virus what it actually is instead of a racist misnomer.

Kim explained in the video that his current show, New Amsterdam, was paused in-production due to the need for social distancing, so he flew home from New York on Sunday. Prior to his flight, he said he felt no symptoms of being ill, but during the flight, he developed a scratchy throat.

By the time he got home on Sunday, he self-quarantined and struggled with a fever, body aches and tightness in his chest.

He then tested positive on Wednesday, when he visited a drive-thru checking station. He returned home to self-quarantine and—as of the making of the video—says he feels mostly back to normal.

But the rest of his video focused on the need for everyone to take the virus and the need for social distancing seriously, so the pandemics spread can be brought under control.

He also emphasized the importance of being mindful about how we talk about the virus.

Because of some celebrities and influencers as well as President Donald Trump referring to the virus as "the Chinese virus" and others blaming Asian people as the cause of the spread, much of the social conversation surrounding the virus is hysterical, racially-charged and completely unhelpful.

Kim explained:

"Randomly beating elderly, sometimes homeless Asian Americans is cowardly, heartbreaking and inexcusable. Yes, I'm Asian, and yes, I have coronavirus, but I did not get it from China. I got it in America. In New York City."
"And despite what some political leaders want to call it, I don't consider the place where it's from as important as the people who are sick and dying. If I did, I would call this thing the New York virus, but that would be silly."
"The point is, the name-calling gets us nowhere. What matters is how best to take care of ourselves and one another."

Many on Instagram were grateful for Kim's message and hoped he was truly on the mend.

Daniel Dae Kim / Instagram


Daniel Dae Kim / Instagram


Daniel Dae Kim / Instagram


Daniel Dae Kim / Instagram


Daniel Dae Kim / Instagram

It's important for all of us to continue to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus—and to of course, be mindful of how we're talking about it—so we can share the most insightful information possible.

Kim also thanked in his video the many health care workers, grocery store clerks, and others who continue to expose themselves to social environments every day, so we can go buy what we need as we need it. It's important for us to keep thanking them, too, and to keep thinking about how to make social environments as safe for them as possible.

More from People/donald-trump

Selena Gomez
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Selena Gomez Slams Body-Shamers Who Accused Her Of Trying To Hide Her Body On Red Carpet

Selena Gomez recently responded to online comments about her appearance after fans speculated she was "hiding her body" at the American French Film Festival.

Addressing these comments, Gomez referenced the fact that she has Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), a condition that often leads to bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in body shape.

Keep ReadingShow less
Grimes & Elon Musk; Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Hill/Getty Images; Unique Nicole/WireImage)

Grimes Shades Ex Elon Musk After Olivia Rodrigo Rips Men Who Want To Go To Space

Olivia Rodrigo recently shared one of her dating "red flags" in a lighthearted Instagram interview with Netflix.

The “Vampire” singer explained that she asks dates if they’d want to go to space—and if they say yes, it’s a dealbreaker. Rodrigo joked that anyone with ambitions to travel to space is “a little too full of [themselves].”

Keep ReadingShow less
Herschel Walker
RSBN

Herschel Walker Dragged After Awkwardly Flubbing Trump’s Name Twice During Rally

When it comes to flubbing names at pivotal moments, nobody is likely to ever top John Travolta calling Idina Menzel "Adele Dazeem" at the 2014 Oscars.

But if there ever was a contender, it is former Georgia Senate candidate and right-wing lunatic Herschel Walker during his big moment introducing Donald Trump at his Georgia rally on Sunday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner
NBC10 Philadelphia

Philadelphia DA Issues Epic Warning To Trump Supporters Ahead Of Election—And People Are Cheering

On the eve of the presidential election, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner had people cheering after he issued an important warning to Trump supporters who plan to disrupt voting with violence or intimidation.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he made it clear that his office would crack down on anyone engaging in voter interference—so if they "eff around" they'll definitely "find out" there are serious consequences for such actions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Person holding a paper heart that has been set on fire
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

People Describe The Absolute Worst Ways They've Ever Gotten Dumped

While we know that not every relationship is destined to last, that knowledge really does nothing to make a breakup easier.

Every breakup is going to be devastating in its own unique way, but some breakups certainly outshine the rest.

Keep ReadingShow less