'Resident Evil 4' Actor Fires Back at Harasser: "This is not the first time actors of color have faced racist and sexist harassment just for participating.

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'Resident Evil 4' Actor Fires Back at Harasser: "This is not the first time actors of color have faced racist and sexist harassment just for participating.

Lily Gao, the voice actress for Ada Wong who deleted her Instagram last week after being continuously harassed, has returned to Instagram.In a post discovered by TheGamer, Gao fired back at critics who hurled abuse at her, writing, "Criticism is to be expected, but this is not the first time an actor of color has faced racist and sexist harassment," he wrote, "This is not the first time I've faced such harassment just for participating. [Being the first Asian actor to play Ada in a Resident Evil video game is an honor, and I am eternally grateful to the producers and directors for making the decision about authentic representation," Gao wrote, but "with the release of the game came the all too It is unfortunate that a familiar feeling also arose," he added.

In a section that seems to address criticism from some fans, whether intentional or not, that her performance was not as "sexy" as Ada Wong's portrayal of Sally Cahill in the original "Resident Evil 4," Gao wrote, "Sexual, erotic, mysterious It's time to stop using only Asian women and create a space that respects Asian women of all kinds," she wrote. [My Ada is a survivor. She is kind, just, intelligent, and funny. She is unpredictable, resilient, and definitely not a stereotype.

Gao accompanied this post with photos of Asian actresses who have influenced her performance as Wong: Su Qi in "The Assassin" (opens in new tab), Faye Wong in "Chongqing Express" (opens in new tab), Maggie Cheung in "Irma Vep" (opens in new tab).

It is unclear whether this marks Gao's full return to Instagram or simply a statement she felt she had to make. Her performance in the "Resident Evil 4" remake drew a barrage of criticism from outraged fans, often in the harshest possible terms (opens in new tab).

Of course, it is perfectly understandable for someone's work to be criticized, but since this is the Internet, many decided that the best venue for that criticism was Gao's personal Instagram account. The harassment prompted Gao to eventually delete all but one photo (opens in new tab). That post remains up with this new statement, but none of Gao's other photos have so far been restored.

Dataminers have found references in the "RE4" remake files to the original "RE4" DLC "Separate Ways" (opens in new tab) where she plays as Ada Wong, and it seems likely that Gao will return to this role in the near future. I suspect that many of those who are upset with her performance now will still buy "RE4" and somehow become equally upset. The Internet is a nightmare.

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