Lana Condor Says Some of Her Close Friends Weren't Aware of Anti-Asian Violence

Lana Condor is opening up about anti-Asian racism.

In an interview with Shape, the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before actress discussed the rise in violence against the Asian community since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of speaking out.

She also shared that some of her peers weren’t even aware that it was such a big problem.

Click inside to read what she said…

“When I speak with other people [in the Asian community], we grieve together, then we pick each other up and tell each other to keep going because that’s the only thing to do,” she told the outlet. “You keep going or you stop.”

“I think many people are in denial or believe violence against Asians isn’t a real thing,” she continued. “Even some of my close friends weren’t aware of what was going on.”

Lana added that while this year has been “traumatizing and emotionally challenging” for so many people, she hopes everyone can “stay strong and be hopeful about the future.”

“Things are changing. My demographic is very loud, opinionated, and passionate. I feel a lot of positivity in that,” she said.

The actress went on to say that that her role as Lara Jean Covey in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meant so much to her because it felt like a step forward.

“It was something I’d never seen come across my desk — a rom-com with an Asian American actress as the lead,” she explained. “I remember sitting in the car before my audition thinking, I have to get this.”

“I’m very calculated about the projects I take on now,” she said. “I want to continue to show people who look like me that they can do whatever they want to, regardless of what someone might have told them.”

Lana recently joined the cast of another rom-com where she’ll star opposite Cole Sprouse. Check it out!