Abe Kim downloaded TikTok one ago, but his content has already racked up over 2 million likes and his account has accrued nearly 115,000 followers month. The model and university junior recently attained viral popularity for a video clip he posted handling a problem he faces in the dating life in Ca.

«When ur asian and setting up having a white individual at their house and u understand you. Which they may be fetishizing» Kim captioned the clip, that has gotten over 607,000 loves.

Whenever ur asian and setting up having a white individual at their house and u understand that they may be fetishizing you #foryou #fyp

The college student lies on a bed, spotting Totoro-themed objects around an unfamiliar room («My Neighbor Totoro» is a Japanese animated fantasy movie with an enthusiastic and dedicated fandom) in the tongue-in-cheek video.

The TikTok video clip instantly received tens of thousands of comments — from those who could relate with the knowledge of fetishization, understood to be making somebody the topic of a intimate obsession, to those defending their passion for «Totoro. «

«When u see K-pop all over their space that is whenever u gotta run, » one commenter had written.

«It is if they have actually firstmet app BTS posters every where you actually gotta get worried, » another stated.

«Or possibly they will have an interest that is harmless. Let people live, » one critic commented.

«I do not realise why individuals can not love different things without them being linked such as this, » another published, sparking a lengthier discussion among outraged audiences.

» since this notion is a real thing that Asians have to give some thought to. » one commenter replied.

Kim told Insider that reading the remarks on the movie sparked was in fact an experience that is»interesting» and despite a number of the critical commentary, he appears because of the idea he had been making within the video.

«I became telling my region of the tale and exactly how this might be a real thing, » he told Insider. «When i actually do carry on a date or on a hookup that is casual something such as that, certainly one of my very very first thoughts is ‘wait does this individual have actually the best intentions? ‘ It’s form of instinctive, it is not also aware, it happens immediately. «

A post provided by abe (@abeyoon) on Mar 18, 2018 at 11:55am PDT Mar 18, 2018 at 11:55am PDT

Kim claims he’d tried to have conversations along with his buddies about their experiences with racism in dating — from experiencing objectified to being outright refused due to their competition. As he mentioned their frustrations, their white and friends that are white-passing frequently minmise their issues.

«It had been simply actually embarrassing for them, » he stated. «they’d respond with ‘oh, i’m very sorry, ‘ and shift the discussion. «

He posted the clip with the intention of advancing the conversation in a more effective way while he describes the TikTok video as «all in good fun, » Kim says. » With this sorts of discussion, it does not get anywhere, » he explained. «we simply felt like we necessary to alter one thing and I also necessary to do something positive about it. «

The viral movie isn’t the initial TikTok Kim has harnessed the effectiveness of TikTok — and humor — to phone away racism. In a video clip uploaded several weeks earlier in the day, he parodied his conversations with white individuals whom asked him «what kind of Asian» he could be.

«It seems nearly objectifying, » he told Insider of their experiences that motivated the movie. «they are doing this guessing game, ‘Oh will you be Korean, Japanese, whatever. ‘ I was thinking by using TikTok, it simply makes the discussion a tad bit more palatable because we are utilizing humor. «

Going ahead, Kim hopes they can upload content that appeals to him, without the need to become a spokesperson that is designated.

«I for ages been referred to as individual who talks up about race and gender politics, and I also continues to upload I wanna post what I wanna post, even if that means posting goofy stuff, » he explained about it, but. «I do not wish my platform to be talking about always being Asian plus the crosses we bear. «

Kim hopes to emphasize all the various the different parts of their life, from his profession as a star and model to their time as an university student studying company.

«Sometimes TikTokers will place on their own in a field. I do not want to accomplish that, » he stated. «to be able to have wider market i must touch and available hearts in other ways. «