Just what we needed: white Mahjong (!!!!) and a Beckham doing K-beauty, Hudson and Connor's work balance post HR, on ranking movie stars, does the drop in HYBE shares mean anything, and more...
I'm going to start this off because I really enjoyed editing this piece. I love seeing my wife get fired up like this even though the subject matter is maddening. So here's my question/comment: It's pretty shocking to me that in 2026 someone didn't tap these Mahjong women on the shoulder when they were coming up with this and go "maybe reconsider?". Or is this a byproduct of the Orange Buffoon's administration's push against "wokeness" whereby even those who might otherwise be left of centre politically go "well, maybe THAT was an overreaction" and decide that this is OK. For instance, would the push to rename offensive sports franchise names get any traction today like it did in 2021? Or has permission been granted to accept a certain level of racism because anything less is a 'woke' overreaction?
Across multiple social platforms, the word that keeps coming up is “audacity” - the AUDACITY of these women. I am at a loss for words, but this particular word is spot on.
I do think it’s a lot harder for racism and appropriation to get traction on socials. Like it blows up my fyp, but I don’t think it goes into the mainstream. I think they compartmentalize us a lot more than they used to, and don’t see any benefit in something left getting pushed into the middle.
I know a handful of white women playing weekly mahjong right now, and when I asked one of them if they were versed in the history of the game, they told me that they had three lessons from a WHITE WOMAN one of their moms learned from. The game? Obviously not an original. I reminded her about Lainey’s book and that they should really all do some research about the game, but it’s like a big WOWOWWOWW for me.
Ok this was such a good read for a white lady who has listened to several friends over the last week bemoan that the Sam’s Club floating mahjong set with a lemon motif for swimming pools has sold out and what will they do??? This was my first introduction that Mahjong is now the next Bunko and apparently they would like to play it in a hot tub?? I’m sorry, Lainey. That has to feel really crappy. It’s not your job to educate those of us who don’t understand, but I really appreciate that you do.
I did not know that mahjong had gone mainstream like this! I fit the demographic but my motives were curiosity and the desire to challenge myself. (I’m learning at a community center). If I invest in a set I’ll head to Chinatown for something more authentic. I now feel icky but it’s unlikely I’ll be going to any RHOMJ parties so I will persist. It’s a multi layered game that is fascinating.
What I remember about mahjong from my childhood is my grandma and her friends talking even LOUDER than usual because of the CLACKING of the tiles. How dare these white ladies try to make this an uptight prim and staged event, à la Martha. It’s preposterous.
The first time I heard about mahjong was on Lainey Gossip, 10 or 15 years ago. It’s also a major part of the plot in Crazy Rich Asians, which was my second exposure to the game. It looked super fun and also super complicated. I tried playing an online version but I sucked and realized I didn’t have any idea what I was doing. I’ve also watched those insta videos of Chinese artisans making traditional gorgeous sets by hand with bone and wood and hand carving and painting. Truly beautiful craftsmanship.
It seems like a game that would be so fun to play communally. I don’t think I’d be capable of actually learning it at this age!
To an outsider like me, it seems like a beautiful collective experience to play the game and appreciate its nuances. I have no lived experience with my culture being appropriate in this manner. Without people like Lainey speaking up and explaining how hurtful these things are, I wouldn’t know. I don’t think any of us “white” folks would have the faintest clue without hearing from people’s personal stories. It make me think of the saying that truly listening to understand someone is so close to loving them that it can’t be separated. Not romantic love - the practice of loving your neighbour as yourself.
It’s unfair and unjust that people like me need to hear from people like Lainey to start to understand the ways cultural appropriation is hurtful. It’s not a burden anyone should have to bear and no one “has to” or “should”. But I wanted to say thank you to Lainey for choosing to share and that it does make a difference in the world when you do.
If someone like me can learn, and pass that on to my kids, it’s happening with other readers too. The small ripples can and do spread.
In college I spent a semester in a study abroad program (Italy) and one of my friends, who was from Hong Kong, swore up and down that he did not speak Mandarin, not one word, he only knew Cantonese, English, French, and a little Italian. No Mandarin! Then one time we were taking an overnight train and some Chinese men were in our compartment and my friend talked to them briefly to let them know they were in the wrong place, after which he told us "apparently I do know Mandarin".
Thank you, Lainey, for sharing your reconnection to your culture. As a Chinese American, I’ve felt so lost during Orange Man’s second term and have been mourning the American Dream. I’m the reader who finally took your advice and got into BTS. I’ve been on this journey of reconnecting with my interests in Kpop, Kdrama, and my Chinese culture as well. I wonder if the Asian diaspora is going through a reconnection at the moment. I’ve been trying to relearn Chinese through Cdramas so I can plan a trip too.
Ugh this Mahjong story is gross and whyyyyy are we always like this white people. Now I’m curious about Jewish Mahjong players - do we also suck? We certainly would not have the right understanding of luck or mythology. Do we buy our Mahjong sets from Chinese crafts people or not? We’ve been playing for like 100 years, I don’t really know how it started. And my Temple isn’t a good example because our rabbi is a Chinese American woman and her family would not allow shenanigans (💅 shout out rabbi Jackie).
I'm curious too since my only exposure to Mahjong is from the old Jewish ladies playing at the beach club. As I recall their sets all came from Chinatown (though I'm from nyc so that may just be a regional thing). I would bet that Jewish women would know and respect the spiritual/superstitious side of the game as that's also a huge part of Jewish culture but 🤷♀️
Thank you for answering my question about HYBE! The reason I was hyper sensitive about it is it made me think about Variety - Sinners, and how mainstream (western) media are covering non-white artists. It worried me and infuriated me in turns, so thanks for the reassurance!
Also, white women making Mahjong into a "society" thing is infuriating. I still have memories from my childhood in the Philippines when my mom would head over to a neighbor's house in the early evening for mahjong while us kids (me, my siblings, neighbor kids) all played our own games. It was such a social, neighborly tradition and routine and to see it hijacked makes me want to throw something! The nerve! Urgh!
I've been playing Mahjong for about a year, and agree with everything you said. Earlier today, I forwarded that Diet Prada post to my Mahjong group because I thought those women sounded like such a-holes. This is ugly and deeply wrong cultural appropriation. And I really appreciate your willingness to open up about your feelings here.
“Oh my mahjong! “ is what Blake uses , and if u want me to add more salt to the wound, the website is 9 shades of problematic. There are kentucky derby references to some of their “accessories” which is IRONIC af….lmfao.
Are those two white women aware of the previous white woman Mahjong cash grab? The only difference is that five years later these two will 100% get away with it.
Hmm maybe part of Blake Lively’s blowback has to do with her love for Mahjong exploitation. I almost bought that $500 dollar Mahjong set a few months ago she is known to play with, and now that I read this article , I am relieved I didn’t because it sounds nothing like the sets Lainey was accustomed to playing with. Come to think of it, Mahjong erasure/exploitation has been going on since early 2000s. The game was explained to me, like “all you do is match the sets” so I’ve been walking into the world assuming its played like “Go Fish” 💀😳I use to obsessively play the Mahjong apps and let me tell you, it sounds NOTHING like what Lainey explained. I may need to go down this rabbit hole of how to properly play because it sounds alot more intriguing to me than whatever the fuck was shown to me by non-asians both on apps and IRL.
Alrigh alright. I’m just here to say have an amazing time at the game tonight. As a Ga southerner, sigh, and a 1980 baby, I grew up in Atlanta when the Braves team went from first to worst. It was electrifying. My feelings on that team are diff as an adult. But I love this moment for yall, for Toronto. So enjoy. Loved the article this week about Hazel Mae.
I'm going to start this off because I really enjoyed editing this piece. I love seeing my wife get fired up like this even though the subject matter is maddening. So here's my question/comment: It's pretty shocking to me that in 2026 someone didn't tap these Mahjong women on the shoulder when they were coming up with this and go "maybe reconsider?". Or is this a byproduct of the Orange Buffoon's administration's push against "wokeness" whereby even those who might otherwise be left of centre politically go "well, maybe THAT was an overreaction" and decide that this is OK. For instance, would the push to rename offensive sports franchise names get any traction today like it did in 2021? Or has permission been granted to accept a certain level of racism because anything less is a 'woke' overreaction?
Across multiple social platforms, the word that keeps coming up is “audacity” - the AUDACITY of these women. I am at a loss for words, but this particular word is spot on.
I do think it’s a lot harder for racism and appropriation to get traction on socials. Like it blows up my fyp, but I don’t think it goes into the mainstream. I think they compartmentalize us a lot more than they used to, and don’t see any benefit in something left getting pushed into the middle.
I know a handful of white women playing weekly mahjong right now, and when I asked one of them if they were versed in the history of the game, they told me that they had three lessons from a WHITE WOMAN one of their moms learned from. The game? Obviously not an original. I reminded her about Lainey’s book and that they should really all do some research about the game, but it’s like a big WOWOWWOWW for me.
Thank you for sharing all of this with us!
Ok this was such a good read for a white lady who has listened to several friends over the last week bemoan that the Sam’s Club floating mahjong set with a lemon motif for swimming pools has sold out and what will they do??? This was my first introduction that Mahjong is now the next Bunko and apparently they would like to play it in a hot tub?? I’m sorry, Lainey. That has to feel really crappy. It’s not your job to educate those of us who don’t understand, but I really appreciate that you do.
I did not know that mahjong had gone mainstream like this! I fit the demographic but my motives were curiosity and the desire to challenge myself. (I’m learning at a community center). If I invest in a set I’ll head to Chinatown for something more authentic. I now feel icky but it’s unlikely I’ll be going to any RHOMJ parties so I will persist. It’s a multi layered game that is fascinating.
Ew. And ew and ew.
What I remember about mahjong from my childhood is my grandma and her friends talking even LOUDER than usual because of the CLACKING of the tiles. How dare these white ladies try to make this an uptight prim and staged event, à la Martha. It’s preposterous.
The first time I heard about mahjong was on Lainey Gossip, 10 or 15 years ago. It’s also a major part of the plot in Crazy Rich Asians, which was my second exposure to the game. It looked super fun and also super complicated. I tried playing an online version but I sucked and realized I didn’t have any idea what I was doing. I’ve also watched those insta videos of Chinese artisans making traditional gorgeous sets by hand with bone and wood and hand carving and painting. Truly beautiful craftsmanship.
It seems like a game that would be so fun to play communally. I don’t think I’d be capable of actually learning it at this age!
To an outsider like me, it seems like a beautiful collective experience to play the game and appreciate its nuances. I have no lived experience with my culture being appropriate in this manner. Without people like Lainey speaking up and explaining how hurtful these things are, I wouldn’t know. I don’t think any of us “white” folks would have the faintest clue without hearing from people’s personal stories. It make me think of the saying that truly listening to understand someone is so close to loving them that it can’t be separated. Not romantic love - the practice of loving your neighbour as yourself.
It’s unfair and unjust that people like me need to hear from people like Lainey to start to understand the ways cultural appropriation is hurtful. It’s not a burden anyone should have to bear and no one “has to” or “should”. But I wanted to say thank you to Lainey for choosing to share and that it does make a difference in the world when you do.
If someone like me can learn, and pass that on to my kids, it’s happening with other readers too. The small ripples can and do spread.
In college I spent a semester in a study abroad program (Italy) and one of my friends, who was from Hong Kong, swore up and down that he did not speak Mandarin, not one word, he only knew Cantonese, English, French, and a little Italian. No Mandarin! Then one time we were taking an overnight train and some Chinese men were in our compartment and my friend talked to them briefly to let them know they were in the wrong place, after which he told us "apparently I do know Mandarin".
Thank you, Lainey, for sharing your reconnection to your culture. As a Chinese American, I’ve felt so lost during Orange Man’s second term and have been mourning the American Dream. I’m the reader who finally took your advice and got into BTS. I’ve been on this journey of reconnecting with my interests in Kpop, Kdrama, and my Chinese culture as well. I wonder if the Asian diaspora is going through a reconnection at the moment. I’ve been trying to relearn Chinese through Cdramas so I can plan a trip too.
Ugh this Mahjong story is gross and whyyyyy are we always like this white people. Now I’m curious about Jewish Mahjong players - do we also suck? We certainly would not have the right understanding of luck or mythology. Do we buy our Mahjong sets from Chinese crafts people or not? We’ve been playing for like 100 years, I don’t really know how it started. And my Temple isn’t a good example because our rabbi is a Chinese American woman and her family would not allow shenanigans (💅 shout out rabbi Jackie).
I'm curious too since my only exposure to Mahjong is from the old Jewish ladies playing at the beach club. As I recall their sets all came from Chinatown (though I'm from nyc so that may just be a regional thing). I would bet that Jewish women would know and respect the spiritual/superstitious side of the game as that's also a huge part of Jewish culture but 🤷♀️
Thank you for answering my question about HYBE! The reason I was hyper sensitive about it is it made me think about Variety - Sinners, and how mainstream (western) media are covering non-white artists. It worried me and infuriated me in turns, so thanks for the reassurance!
Also, white women making Mahjong into a "society" thing is infuriating. I still have memories from my childhood in the Philippines when my mom would head over to a neighbor's house in the early evening for mahjong while us kids (me, my siblings, neighbor kids) all played our own games. It was such a social, neighborly tradition and routine and to see it hijacked makes me want to throw something! The nerve! Urgh!
I've been playing Mahjong for about a year, and agree with everything you said. Earlier today, I forwarded that Diet Prada post to my Mahjong group because I thought those women sounded like such a-holes. This is ugly and deeply wrong cultural appropriation. And I really appreciate your willingness to open up about your feelings here.
All
Ugh, just wait until these country club Columbuses 'discover' MSG.
“Oh my mahjong! “ is what Blake uses , and if u want me to add more salt to the wound, the website is 9 shades of problematic. There are kentucky derby references to some of their “accessories” which is IRONIC af….lmfao.
Are those two white women aware of the previous white woman Mahjong cash grab? The only difference is that five years later these two will 100% get away with it.
Hmm maybe part of Blake Lively’s blowback has to do with her love for Mahjong exploitation. I almost bought that $500 dollar Mahjong set a few months ago she is known to play with, and now that I read this article , I am relieved I didn’t because it sounds nothing like the sets Lainey was accustomed to playing with. Come to think of it, Mahjong erasure/exploitation has been going on since early 2000s. The game was explained to me, like “all you do is match the sets” so I’ve been walking into the world assuming its played like “Go Fish” 💀😳I use to obsessively play the Mahjong apps and let me tell you, it sounds NOTHING like what Lainey explained. I may need to go down this rabbit hole of how to properly play because it sounds alot more intriguing to me than whatever the fuck was shown to me by non-asians both on apps and IRL.
It’s a mental challenge and frustrating but fun. I keep going back!
Alrigh alright. I’m just here to say have an amazing time at the game tonight. As a Ga southerner, sigh, and a 1980 baby, I grew up in Atlanta when the Braves team went from first to worst. It was electrifying. My feelings on that team are diff as an adult. But I love this moment for yall, for Toronto. So enjoy. Loved the article this week about Hazel Mae.