20 years later, William Hung looks back on his American Idol audition without regret

William Hung’s unforgettable appearance on the reality singing competition “American Idol” catapulted him to fame, attracting as many trolls as there were fans. But two decades later, Hung says he still has no regrets.

Hung, who was 21 when his audition aired in January 2004, became one of the first viral sensations in recent history after his enthusiastic but off-key rendition of Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” stunned audiences. both judges and American homes. Hung, a Hong Kong immigrant and one of the few Asian faces on American television, was an unlikely pioneer of mainstream television. However, many made fun of him because of his looks, accent, and self-confidence. And some Asian Americans viewed it as a source of shame.

As this year marks the 20th anniversary of his episode, Hung, now 41, said he reflects on his time in the spotlight with immense pride in his composure while spreading his message.

“I think everyone has the right to try something new without being judged or ridiculed,” Hung said. “It’s good that people are having fun.”

A lot has changed for Hung. He struggled with a gambling addiction for a time, he said, which his friends and family helped him overcome. Today, he is married and works at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a senior statistical analyst. He continues to speak and act, and he makes occasional appearances in film or television, he said.

But twenty years ago, a smiling Hung appeared on the third season of “American Idol,” wearing a patterned shirt and his hair parted to the side. In the episode, he enthusiastically introduces himself in front of judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

“I’m here for the opportunity to sing in America,” Hung, then a student at the University of California, Berkeley, tells the judges as they grill him. “I may not be the best singer in the world, but I know I sing from my heart.”

Hung dives into his a cappella cover, dancing energetically as the panel dissolves into laughter and confusion. Cowell ultimately calls the act “one of the worst auditions we’ve had this year.”

Although the entire segment lasted only a few minutes, it was enough to propel him to stardom. “Saturday Night Live” parodied it. He has made several appearances on talk shows and sporting events. At one point, he even got a recording contract. But much of Hung’s popularity was due to him. The media was littered with impressions of Hung that seemed like offensive caricatures of Asian Americans, portrayed as nerds with heavily accented English and no style or play, experts said.

Although the public and media acted as if Hung was oblivious to the sneers, he said he was aware of all of this but intended to move away from it and focus on the fans for a unique experience. Hung explained that the audition took place at a time when he was struggling academically. After winning a campus talent competition singing his now-famous cover of Ricky Martin, he said he gained the confidence to try his hand at “American Idol.” Hung said he did not have high expectations and was not bothered by the judges’ comments.

“Randy held this white sheet of paper to cover his face as he continued to laugh. I already knew I probably wasn’t going to make it,” Hung recalls. “Paula smiled. Simon frowned. I continued to sing and dance. I said to myself, “It’s okay. I don’t want to be angry and upset like some of the other candidates.

When the episode aired in January the following year, Hung said he isolated himself in his room, hoping to deal with the moment on his own. But life changed almost instantly, he says. While he had hoped to finish college, he went in search of opportunities as they presented themselves. For him, this exhibition was a chance to stand up to criticism.

Hung said he didn’t dwell on the role race played in his reception. Looking back, he says, he understands the way his Asian origins were factored into the surrounding media coverage. He also includes backlash from some Asian Americans.

“There weren’t as many prominent Asian figures overall. I remember back then there was Jackie Chan, maybe Michelle Kwan, Lucy Liu… it’s a small list,” he said. “I have empathy for people who criticize me because it’s like, ‘Wow, here’s William Hung putting Asians on the wrong foot, on the wrong side of this perception.'”

James Zarsadiaz, an associate professor of history at the University of San Francisco, said Hung unintentionally reinforced all the cultural tropes of Asian Americans, while the hearing ultimately revealed how most Americans still perceived the band. Zarsadiaz added that rather than condemning racist mockery, Asian Americans often accused the candidate of racism, likely in part because of their decades-long struggle against already problematic portrayals.

“Some probably felt like he made them look bad,” he said. “They also adopted an assimilationist ideology of how people should behave in mainstream American media. »

Anthony Ocampo, a sociology professor at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, added that for Asian men in particular, the way Hung was emasculated triggered memories of some of their own experiences, being teased for their appearance. But, Ocampo said, few came to Hung’s defense. In fact, many Asian Americans joined in the teasing in an attempt to distance themselves from the same cheesy Hung-related tropes and assert their own sense of belonging. Additionally, others may have internalized the idea of ​​immigrants as two-dimensional characters.

“They don’t realize William Hung was a fool,” Ocampo said. “He’s a complicated person, like anyone who had a story to tell that we never really heard because we were so entrenched in seeing him as a caricature. … Even Asian Americans weren’t willing to scratch beneath the surface.

What Hung did on “American Idol” all those years ago, Ocampo said, was actually quite admirable.

“Ultimately, he was someone who was fearless, uncaring, openly vulnerable, willing to try again and uninterested in pretending,” Ocampo said.