Lana Condor To The People Upset About 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' Not Having an Asian Male Romantic Lead: 'It's Unfair'

Over the weekend, some viewers got upset with To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before for not having an Asian romantic male lead and author Jenny Han responded to it.

Now, star Lana Condor is too.

In her interview with The Cut, the 21-year-old actress opened up about the decision to stay as close to the book as possible and also clapped back at those who were “protesting” the movie because of that.

“If Jenny was telling a different story, we would tell it,” Lana says. “But I will say this: My boyfriend in real life is Cuban but he is very light-skinned. There are times when people online will say, ‘Of course she’s with a white guy.’ Oh, so Asian people can only love Asian people? I can only be with my race?”

“You are being racist unknowingly and continuing to put us in a box that we don’t need to be in. It’s really unfair.”

Lana added, “People should be able to love who they want to love. It’s offensive to me — you’re continuing to promote tribalism. So I can’t be with who I want to be with? These are probably the same people who have an issue with the LGBT community. It’s the same thing — you telling me who I can love is unfair.”

As far as the group who were boycotting the movie, Lana is sticking by Jenny‘s side.

“I don’t really pay any mind to it, but I think it has been affecting Jenny,” she says. “It’s making what should be an exciting time an anxious and fearful one. I’m so angry at people for making her feel that way.”

Lana continues, “In my experience, I’ve loved all races. It’s not like I can only be with my people. I don’t think we should be stuck to only loving people based on what they look like. For the most part, the fans are really excited and happy.”

“Noah is everything they thought Peter Kavinsky would be. That’s who we are trying to please at the end of the day.”

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is streaming now on Netflix.