“As we’re doing the scene, Bill starts to sort of hurl insults,” Lucy revealed on the Los Angeles Times’ Asian Enough podcast, referring to his behavior as “inexcusable and unacceptable.”
“Some of the language was inexcusable and unacceptable, and I was not going to just sit there and take it,” she said. “So, yes, I stood up for myself, and I don’t regret it. Because no matter how low on the totem pole you may be or wherever you came from, there’s no need to condescend or to put other people down.”
At the time, Lucy also noted that she had since been on good terms with Bill — and in a new interview with the Guardian, the legendary actor went into greater detail about why she stood up for herself.
“I really didn’t think about it,” she said. “I would’ve done that in any situation.”
“I think when I sense something is not right, I am going to protect myself. It’s an innate thing to do if you feel there’s injustice, and I always feel that way.”
Lucy went on to surmise that, if she were the type to not respond to such treatment, she would’ve faced “a much easier road” in the entertainment industry at large.
“But because I’ve never been that person, we had to find a way. There has never been an easy road, for me and for [other Asian American actors] — I really think it’s a group effort. I would never take credit.”
You can read the entire interview with Lucy right here.
