Reporter who was called 'very Asian' writes kids book on Korean food to instill pride
Michelle Li book "A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food."
Michelle Li, a St. Louis-based news anchor who went viral after a viewer left a racist voice message in response to Li saying she ate dumplings to celebrate New Year's Eve, has written a new children’s book about Korean food.
The book, "A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food," comes out Friday and aims to introduce commonly eaten Korean and Korean-fusion dishes to kids using colorful illustrations and brief trivia, such as their origins and how they’re prepared.
Earlier this year, the hashtag #VeryAsian went viral after Li posted a tweet reacting to a caller complaining about a segment where Li, who is Korean American and an anchor at NBC affiliate KSDK, recalled eating dumplings on New Year’s Day.
“I kind of take offense to that,” the caller said, according to the tweeted video. “What if one of your white anchors said well, white people eat this on New Year’s Day? I don’t think it was appropriate that she said that. She’s being very Asian. ... She can keep her Korean to herself.”
After her viral tweet, Li appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," receiving a $15,000 check, which she used to start the Very Asian Foundation.
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