Marvel actor Simu Liu calls out look-alike cam at NBA Celebrity Game in Salt Lake
“I had a great time but this wasn’t cool,” the star of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” tweeted.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Simu Liu goes to the hoop, as Guillermo Rodriguez defends, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
Actor Simu Liu was over the moon about getting his chance to shine on the basketball court at the Huntsman Center on Friday.
Before the game, the star of Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” expressed his love of Utah even if the elevation left him winded after a quarter of play. (“I feel like such a professional athlete because I get to talk about the air,” he joked.)
But it seems his experience was soured by an in-game celebrity look-alike feature on the jumbotron. The Canadian actor, who was born in China, was shown on the Huntsman Center video board next to an unsuspecting fan who also appeared to be Asian.
“I had a great time but this wasn’t cool,” Liu tweeted.
The multiple “cams” at arenas around the country are meant to be fun and engage the fans during timeouts. But Liu was clearly offended that the moment including him incorporated the race of him and the fan.
Liu later clarified his comment on Twitter: “to be perfectly clear the entire org and ops team surrounding all-star have been nothing but absolutely stellar to myself and all my friends. this was just one person with a camera. and no disrespect to my man in the videotron either! he’s gorgeous we just don’t look alike”.
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A University of Utah spokesperson said the NBA is handling all game operations at the Huntsman Center this weekend.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Miz (40) celebrates his 3-point shot at the buzzer, in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Unfortunately, the basket was ruled no good.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Miz (40) celebrates his 3-point shot at the buzzer with Everette Osbourne, in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Unfortunately, the basket was ruled no good.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Miz (40) celebrates his 3-point shot at the buzzer, in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Unfortunately, the basket was ruled no good.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans cheer for Ranveer Singh during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Unfortunately, the basket was ruled no good.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Carlos Boozer fist buys Hasan Minhaj, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A fan of 21 Savage watches him on the video screen hoping to get an autograph during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Ranveer Singh takes a selfie with fans after the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Cordae chats with coach Ryan Smith, after the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Albert Pujols greets Carlos Boozer, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Simu Lui takes a selfie with fans, after the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Albert Pujols greets Carlos Boozer, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Cordae shoots as Sumi Liu defends, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Simu Liu goes to the hoop, as Guillermo Rodriguez defends, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dwyane Wade walks with Janelle Moae, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Coach Ryan Smith smiles as the coaches his team, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Calvin "Megatron" Johnson is tied up by Nicky Jam, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Cordae shoots as Sumi Liu defends, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans wait for autographs, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Guillermo Rodriguez reacts during team introductions, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Everett Osbourne has his shot blocked by DK Metcalf, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Ranveer Singh shoots as Guillermo Rodriguez bring the ball down court, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Everett Osbourne has his shot blocked by DK Metcalf, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Everett Osbourne has his shot blocked by DK Metcalf, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Everett Osbourne takes the ball to Alex Toussaint, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Everett Osbourne has his shot blocked by DK Metcalf, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) EverettmOsbourne goes up for a shot, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Guillermo Rodriguez goes up for a jump ball, as DK Metcalf gets the tip, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK , during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Everett Osbourne takes the ball to Alex Toussaint, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) DK Metcalf takes the ball to the hoop, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Arike Ogunbowale brings the ball down court, during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.
