Cameron Crowe Has a Comment on Casting Caucasians in ‘Aloha’

Emma Stone is not 1/4 Chinese. You may have become aware to this fact in the onslaught of negative responses to Cameron Crowe‘s latest cheeseburger in paradise rom-com Aloha. Among the many, many criticisms of the movie, the most difficult to accept was Crowe’s decision to cast the big-eyed Easy A star as Captain Allison Ng, a character meant to be 1/4 Hawaiian. It’s a decision that Crowe himself is now calling “misguided” in a nearly 400-word explanapology on his website The Uncool.

In the post “A Comment on Allison Ng” Crowe calls Aloha a “misunderstood movie,” before offering, “a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice.” Crowe notes that this character had existed in a similar form since 2007, based on a real-life, red-haired local that the filmmaker had once met. While acknowledging that this element to the film has been the point of a lot of discussion, Crowe maintained his pride in Aloha‘s diverse hires. “I am so proud that in the same movie, we employed many Asian-American, Native-Hawaiian and Pacific-Islanders, both before and behind the camera.”

Aloha has been subject to controversy ever since its appearances in several emails released as part of the Sony Hack. Read the full explanation / apology from Cameron Crowe below:

From the very beginning of its appearance in the Sony Hack, “Aloha” has felt like a misunderstood movie. One that people felt they knew a lot about, but in fact they knew very little. It was a small movie, made by passionate actors who wanted to join me in making a film about Hawaii, and the lives of these characters who live and work in and around the island of Oahu.

Thank you so much for all the impassioned comments regarding the casting of the wonderful Emma Stone in the part of Allison Ng. I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice. As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud ¼ Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearances, she looked nothing like one. A half-Chinese father was meant to show the surprising mix of cultures often prevalent in Hawaii. Extremely proud of her unlikely heritage, she feels personally compelled to over-explain every chance she gets. The character was based on a real-life, red-headed local who did just that.

Whether that story point felt hurtful or humorous has been, of course, the topic of much discussion. However I am so proud that in the same movie, we employed many Asian-American, Native-Hawaiian and Pacific-Islanders, both before and behind the camera… including Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, and his village, and many other locals who worked closely in our crew and with our script to help ensure authenticity.

We were extremely proud to present the island, the locals and the film community with many jobs for over four months. Emma Stone was chief among those who did tireless research, and if any part of her fine characterization has caused consternation and controversy, I am the one to blame.

I am grateful for the dialogue. And from the many voices, loud and small, I have learned something very inspiring. So many of us are hungry for stories with more racial diversity, more truth in representation, and I am anxious to help tell those stories in the future.

Thanks again

Cameron Crowe