Karen Fukuhara revealed her experience of an unprovoked racial assault that left her shaken. Taking to social media to share the horrific story, The Boys star assured fans she was physically fine but urged the end of Asian hate in a passionate post.
Fukuhara was born to Japanese parents in Los Angeles and started acting in middle school on the Disney Channel. Currently, she stars as Kimiko Miyashiro in the Amazon Prime original series, The Boys, and previously portrayed the superhero Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana in Suicide Squad. Now, Fukuhara is living up to the feistiness of her characters as she demands something to be done about the vicious hate crimes that plague America.
On Instagram, the 30-year-old actress shared how she was struck in the back of the head “out of nowhere” by a man as she made her way to a café, causing her hat to fly off her head. With no prior exchange or eye contact made between herself and the attacker, Fukuhara was shocked by the assault, telling that while “racial slurs and hurtful actions” had been directed to her in the past, it was the first time she had ever been physically harmed. Initially considering confronting the man, the clear aggression from the perpetrator caused her to decide it was not “worth the risk” and after yelling at her, he eventually left the scene.
The TV star, who stated that she rarely shares her private life, found it was important to tell her story in order to raise awareness. She wrote, “I’ve had conversations with multi-racial friends…that had no idea these hate crimes happen every day, regular people – people they share meals with.” Fukuhara then went on to express her frustration, saying that while she did get lucky, attackers are not being held accountable for their actions “What satisfaction are these perpetrators getting from hitting women, Asians, the elderly?... What can we do as a community to prevent these horrible crimes?”
Many people shared their condolences and support in response to the actress’ post. Her co-star Jack Quaid, who plays Hughie Campbell on The Boys, commented, “Karen thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sorry that happened to you. Love you. Here if you need anything.” Chace Crawford, who also stars in the series as The Deep, took to Instagram to voice his anger, saying, “F this person!! Hope you’re ok this is awful.” Fukuhara is certainly bringing awareness to the ongoing issue of hate crimes against Asians and many other people around the world. Many stand with the actress as she declares, “Us women, Asians, the elderly need your help.”
In the last year, Asian hate crimes have increased by 339 percent in America, with New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles surpassing their record number. Just last week on March 11th, a 67-year-old Asian woman was viciously attacked by her 42-year-old neighbor, who punched her 125 times, kicked her seven times and spat at her in the lobby of their apartment building. John C. Yang, president and executive director of the non-profit civil rights group Asian American Advancing Justice, said that in stressing times like this “solidarity benefits us all” and that people “must bring attention to the hate that impacts all communities.”
The Boys season 3 will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 3, 2022.
Source: Karen Fukuhara/Instagram