In a 2017 episode of Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond found herself in hot water after a segment featuring “Asian hot wings” sparked accusations of anti-Asian sentiment. During Season 2, Episode 3, Drummond presented a dish of Asian-inspired wings, only to be met with skepticism and nose-wrinkling from her family. One family member questioned, “Where are the real wings?” while another declared, “I don’t trust ‘em.” Drummond then revealed a tray of Buffalo wings, reassuring them, “I’m just kidding guys, I wouldn’t do that to you,” to the delight of her family.
This exchange quickly drew criticism after Thick Dumpling Skin, an online platform addressing Asian-American issues, shared a clip of the segment on Twitter, directly tagging Food Network.
Hey @FoodNetwork – this anti-Asian sentiment being promoted on @thepioneerwoman‘s show really isn’t cool. pic.twitter.com/dM1cbXcHKc
The outcry wasn’t limited to Thick Dumpling Skin. Numerous viewers took to social media to express their disappointment with Food Network for broadcasting the scene. Tweets highlighted the perceived lack of diversity on the network and questioned the acceptability of jokes based on distrust of Asian cuisine. One user tweeted, “I was already bummed by the lack of diversity on @foodnetwork Now @thepioneerwoman & co. are on there saying they don’t trust “asian” food??”
Another tweet pointed out the problematic nature of the punchline, stating that the “JUST KIDDING GUYS HERE’S THE WHITE PEOPLE CHICKEN WINGS” reveal was particularly offensive. Comedian Jenny Yang also weighed in, questioning how the segment made it past Food Network’s programming.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that the skit wasn’t spontaneous. Earlier in the episode, Drummond explained her intention to prank her husband, a Buffalo wings enthusiast, with the Asian-inspired dish. “I like to mess with my spouse, I can’t help it,” she stated, explicitly setting up the premise that her family would be “revolted” by Asian wings. This pre-planned nature of the joke amplified concerns that the anti-Asian sentiment was baked into the show’s concept, not just an off-the-cuff remark.
Critics argued that the segment perpetuated harmful stereotypes about Asian food and further marginalized Asian cuisine within mainstream American food culture. The incident raised broader questions about representation and cultural sensitivity on food media platforms like Food Network. Many called for Food Network to remove the episode from circulation and take steps to improve Asian representation on their network. As of the original report, Eater had reached out to Food Network for comment, but no public statement was available.
