Singer Eric Nam has opened up about the racism he experienced in the United States, revealing that people spat in his face and made eye-pulling gestures at him.
The revelations came in a video uploaded on October 21 to YouTuber Ha Jiyoung’s channel, titled ‘Eric Nam, from retirement rumors to being spat in the face — what happened??,’ as reported by Mydaily.
Eric Nam recalled that his parents sacrificed greatly to send him to private school, where he was the only Asian student. “The world they lived in and the world I lived in were so different,” he said, adding that different backgrounds and appearances made him a frequent bullying target.
He said the racism was blatant — people spat in his face and pulled at their eyes “many times.” The discrimination followed him into adulthood: as he entered the US entertainment industry, industry figures repeatedly told him, “Asians aren’t cool. Not good-looking. Not sexy.”
At one meeting, an Asian industry veteran spoke negatively about Asians. “It was so sad and infuriating that someone who had worked in the industry so long thought that way,” he said. “There’s nothing I can change alone, but I’ve always wanted to help Asians advance into the US.”
Eric Nam, who played cello and focused on his studies, said a high-school talent show became his turning point. He released his fourth full-length album on October 16 and is continuing his music activities. No official statement was available beyond his remarks in the interview.
