Daniel Dae Kim uses coronavirus diagnosis to slam xenophobia
After getting diagnosed with coronavirus, actor Daniel Dae Kim used Instagram to share some , he also said the video was a way to shed light on other pressing coronavirus-related social issues, primarily xenophobia.
"Please, please stop the prejudiced and senseless violence against Asian people. Randomly beating elderly, sometimes homeless Asian Americans is cowardly, heartbreaking, and it's inexcusable," he said in the video. "... I got it in America, in New York City. And despite what certain political leaders wanna call it, I don't consider the place where it's from as important as the people who are sick and dying."
The U.S. has seen an also referred to coronavirus as "Chinese virus," even though health officials have continuously urged people to avoid terms that associate coronavirus with a specific country or ethnicity.
Kim added that "the name-calling gets us nowhere."
"When people are ill, what matters most is how best to take care of ourselves, and on another," he said.
As part of taking care of others, Kim urged people to shop locally during the pandemic, and praised and others who continue to put their health at risk to keep communities going.
Kim's final words in the video was a wish of health and social consciousness.
"Please be safe, please be healthy, and please be kind to another," he said. "And stop hoarding the toilet paper. Seriously, how dirty are you down there?"
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