--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or…" description: "\"Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or 'X-Factor,' or 'The Voice' or anything, it was always difficult to see an Asian or an Asian-American make it to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/eric-nam-7940_always_even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-f_498142.jpg" --- # Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or 'X-Factor,' or… ![“Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or 'X-Factor,' or 'The Voice' or anything, it was always difficult to see an Asian or an Asian-American make it to a certain point.” quote by Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/eric-nam-7940_always_even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-f_498142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/eric-nam-7940_always_even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-f_498142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/eric-nam-7940_always_even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-f_498142.jpg) > “Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or 'X-Factor,' or 'The Voice' or anything, it was always difficult to see an Asian or an Asian-American make it to a certain point.” [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Asian representation in mainstream talent shows is rare, making it hard for Asian or Asian‑American contestants to advance far. **In simple terms:** Asian contestants rarely succeed on popular talent shows. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader inclusion in media. Themes media diversity representation Mood critical hopeful Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - talent shows - casting decisions - audience voting - media analysis Key Concepts cultural bias industry gatekeeping Questions to Reflect On - What barriers do Asian artists face in mainstream media? - How can audiences support diverse talent? A Different Perspective Success also depends on talent and audience taste, not just representation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Asian american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian-american/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I always felt that just being an actor is difficult. Being an Asian-American actor doesn't make it more difficult. I see it as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiko-agena/i-always-felt-that-just-being-an-actor-is-difficult-being-an-asian/) [Keiko Agena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiko-agena/) > [When you're the only Asian in the room, the last thing you want to do is to point out you're Asian. And be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/when-you-re-the-only-asian-in-the-room-the-last-thing-you-want-to-do/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [It's difficult for an Asian to play in the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/son-heung-min/it-s-difficult-for-an-asian-to-play-in-the-premier-league/) [Son Heung-min](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/son-heung-min/) > [I have been called racist slurs and been treated differently because I am Asian American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/i-have-been-called-racist-slurs-and-been-treated-differently-because/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [Asian American success is often presented as something of a horror - robotic, unfeeling machines psychotically hellbent on excelling, products of abusive tiger parenting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/asian-american-success-is-often-presented-as-something-of-a-horror/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [Usually when you're Asian and you're on set, you're the only Asian there. Either you're the token Asian or you're the Asian sidekick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/usually-when-you-re-asian-and-you-re-on-set-you-re-the-only-asian/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [There was always a struggle with being Asian and not being Asian enough. It's going to be down to me to own my race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/there-was-always-a-struggle-with-being-asian-and-not-being-asian/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [Every time we had a hot war going on in Asia, it was difficult for Asian Americans here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-takei/every-time-we-had-a-hot-war-going-on-in-asia-it-was-difficult-for/) [George Takei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-takei/) > [It's always going to be difficult for Asian countries to create big leagues because Europe is so settled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/it-s-always-going-to-be-difficult-for-asian-countries-to-create-big/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [Nationally, more than one million Asian American entrepreneurs create jobs in their communities, helping fuel local commerce. In New York, we have seen firsthand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nydia-velazquez/nationally-more-than-one-million-asian-american-entrepreneurs-create/) [Nydia Velazquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nydia-velazquez/) > [My heritage is something that I have always been aware of, however, some would say that there is a disproportionately low number of Asians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-adrian/my-heritage-is-something-that-i-have-always-been-aware-of-however/) Nathan Adrian > [I wish people wouldn't just see me as the Asian girl who beats everyone up, or the Asian girl with no emotion. People see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-liu/i-wish-people-wouldn-t-just-see-me-as-the-asian-girl-who-beats/) [Lucy Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-liu/) > [I think we have to get beyond the idea that we have to categorize people. We can now have action movies with two stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-think-we-have-to-get-beyond-the-idea-that-we-have-to-categorize/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I feel like there's this need that the Asian-American community has to feel like people. It's something that Asians in Asia do not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-feel-like-there-s-this-need-that-the-asian-american-community-has/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) ## More by Eric Nam > [I learned Spanish as my second language from middle school through high school. I grew up volunteering at homeless shelters and tutoring kids of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-learned-spanish-as-my-second-language-from-middle-school-through/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [On any collaboration, you want to respect your music and the other's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/on-any-collaboration-you-want-to-respect-your-music-and-the-other-s/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [When you first make money, you're just excited that you have it and just buy things on a whim. You don't really think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/when-you-first-make-money-you-re-just-excited-that-you-have-it-and/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I actually received a lot of messages from Central and South American artists who complimented my songs and showed interest in collaborating with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-actually-received-a-lot-of-messages-from-central-and-south-american/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I know people love Supreme. I never got on the wagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-know-people-love-supreme-i-never-got-on-the-wagon/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [It's become hard for me to trust people and though I'm the type to go, 'everybody is born good,' you come to question that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/it-s-become-hard-for-me-to-trust-people-and-though-i-m-the-type-to-go/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I think K-pop bands rock, and their success raises my spirit to perform better on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-think-k-pop-bands-rock-and-their-success-raises-my-spirit-to/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [It was a dream to be a singer/performer, but I never thought I had a chance or had a real shot; I never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/it-was-a-dream-to-be-a-singer-performer-but-i-never-thought-i-had-a/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [It's easy to talk about how great love is or how you feel heartbroken after a breakup, but it's not as easy to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/it-s-easy-to-talk-about-how-great-love-is-or-how-you-feel-heartbroken/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [Asian-Americans are fighting for space and fighting for visibility and for acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/asian-americans-are-fighting-for-space-and-fighting-for-visibility/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I was part of the Atlanta Boy Choir probably like fourth and fifth grade. I personally didn't enjoy the type of music that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-was-part-of-the-atlanta-boy-choir-probably-like-fourth-and-fifth/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I've always been very passionate about trying to have Asian-Americans or Asian faces be more prominent in mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-ve-always-been-very-passionate-about-trying-to-have-asian-americans/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [Sunbae-hoobae seniority is a very tricky, weird kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/sunbae-hoobae-seniority-is-a-very-tricky-weird-kind-of-thing/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [Typically in Korea when I perform I have a full band, a ten-piece band, and that's a completely different monster in itself to prepare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/typically-in-korea-when-i-perform-i-have-a-full-band-a-ten-piece-band/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I want to position myself as a great singer/songwriter in Korea, then jump off that into different markets. South-east Asia, China, Japan - I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-want-to-position-myself-as-a-great-singer-songwriter-in-korea-then/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) [Explore all 86 Eric Nam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or 'X-Factor,' or 'The Voice' or anything, it was always difficult to see an Asian or an Asian-American make it to a certain point.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Nam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-factor-or-the-voice-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-factor-or-the-voice-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/eric-nam-7940_always_even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-f_498142.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/eric-nam-7940_always_even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-f_498142.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/eric-nam-7940_always_even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-f_498142.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or 'X-Factor,' or 'The Voice' or anything, it was always difficult to…” — Eric Nam", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eric Nam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even if you look at 'American...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-factor-or-the-voice-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-factor-or-the-voice-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```