In an episode of The Pioneer Woman, a show on the Food Network starring Ree Drummond, a segment has sparked controversy regarding perceived anti-Asian sentiment. During Season 2, Episode 3, Drummond presented “Asian hot wings” as a game-day snack. However, the reaction from her family members has led to criticism.
Upon seeing the dish, some of Drummond’s family members expressed clear distaste and skepticism. One asked, “Where are the real wings?” while another stated, “I don’t trust ‘em.” Drummond responded with laughter, “I’m just kidding guys, I wouldn’t do that to you,” before revealing a tray of traditional American Buffalo wings. This switch was met with enthusiastic approval, with one family member exclaiming, “Now those are some wings.”
This exchange was highlighted by Thick Dumpling Skin, a website and podcast focused on Asian-American issues. They shared a clip of the segment on Twitter, questioning Food Network directly: “Hey @FoodNetwork – this anti-Asian sentiment being promoted on @thepioneerwoman’s show really isn’t cool.” Their tweet quickly gained traction, igniting a wider discussion about representation and cultural sensitivity on food television.
Thick Dumpling Skin further elaborated on their concerns in a post on their homepage titled “Food Network Needs Better Asian Representation.” They questioned the pattern of non-Asian cooks demonstrating Asian dishes, often mispronouncing ingredients like “Sriracha,” and lacking basic cultural kitchenware like a “chopstick drawer.” The post specifically criticized the Pioneer Woman segment, asking, “And how come, when they do, we have to watch as their entire family mocks it — like in this episode of The Pioneer Woman?”
Following Thick Dumpling Skin’s initial post, numerous individuals took to Twitter to voice their disappointment with Food Network for broadcasting this scene. Tweets expressed frustration over the lack of diversity on the network and directly called out The Pioneer Woman for seemingly endorsing distrust of “Asian” food. One user questioned how such a “shitty joke” made it past Food Network’s programming team. Another tweet sarcastically pointed out the problematic punchline: “the ‘JUST KIDDING GUYS HERE’S THE WHITE PEOPLE CHICKEN WINGS’ at the end is really something.”
The problematic nature of the Pioneer Woman segment extends beyond off-the-cuff remarks. Earlier in the episode, Drummond explicitly states her intention to prank her husband by initially serving the Asian wings, knowing his preference for classic Buffalo wings and anticipating his negative reaction. She explains, “I like to mess with my spouse, I can’t help it.” This reveals that the premise of the joke – the idea that her husband and his friends would inherently dislike Asian wings – was a pre-planned element of the show, suggesting a deeper issue with the segment’s underlying message.
In light of the criticism, a significant step for Food Network would be to remove this five-year-old episode from circulation. Eater has reportedly contacted Food Network for comment on the situation, and updates are expected as they become available.
References:
- Food Network Needs Better Asian Representation [Thick Dumpling Skin]
- All Coverage of Food Network
