FWM: Share your background.
My mom is second-generation Korean-American and my dad was an immigrant.
I was born here in the US and raised an early part of my childhood in Korea and the second half of my childhood in Los Angeles. My parents had a rocky marriage so I was raised by my Grandma. My Grandma came to America with me when I was 8-years old in hopes that she could leave me with my parents but hence that wasn’t meant to be. My mom did not want to be with my dad. That is how you end up with an illegal immigrant.
FWM: When did you discover your love for comedy.
I always had a love for comedy. I got my dad’s sense of humor. Laughter gave me in my times of trial. It’s more of a need than anything.
FWM: You are best known for your alter-ego “Yo-Mama Rice.” What is unique about her?
I’m Yo-MamaRice because I’m a mom and I like rice. It’s more my branding name. It’s easier to remember Yo-MamaRice than Judy Jean Kwon, so I use Yo-MamaRice for standup comedy.
FWM: What challenges have you faced as a woman comedian?
As a woman and a mom, it has been challenging just to get someone to watch my kid to go out to comedy clubs. Standup does not offer a mom-friendly schedule or childcare.
FWM: What is unique about your comedy? What makes fans keep coming back?
I like to share my POV as a Korean woman. My life experience is significantly different from many comedians so my view is unique. I feel like I’ve lived many lives.
My mom was in the US army and my dad ran a Korean-American video store where I had my first non-paying job. My dad suffered from PTSD and narcissism, just a few of his problems. He passed away homeless in Mexico. My Grandma was never recognized as a living human in the US. The laws did not allow my Grandma to be recognized as an immediate family member or legal resident. After my dad passed, she wanted to “go back” to Korea but she couldn’t. She had no papers or family in Korea. Not to mention, the Korea she wanted to go back to doesn’t exist. Not all funny. Probably not standup material but more like a one-woman show.
“With the success of “CRAZY RICH ASIANS” and “Fresh Off The Boat” … Hollywood is more open to including more Asian-American projects. Finally, our stories are being told and heard.”
FWM: Let’s explore your new comedy series: MILFriend. Where did you get the inspiration for this character? What would people be surprised to know about this character?
Living in the westside of LA, I noticed a lot of women having babies later in life and a woman is traditionally expected to have babies. So I thought what if a woman that doesn’t like women and babies got pregnant? Hollywood has trained us to see white actors as leads and ethnic folks as background or secondary characters so when I started writing MILFriend, the role of Pepper was supposed to be a Caucasian female. But you are supposed to write what you know so I thought why not make Pepper a Korean-American? That gave the project many more dynamics and colors.
Pepper is an anti-hero just like Walter White in Breaking Bad. Pepper is supposed to be rough, clumsy with no filter but she is soft on the inside opposite of what a stereotypical Asian female is ‘supposed’ to be.
FWM: What advice would you give upcoming women comedians?
Grow a thick skin and just do it. Standup comedy is heavily dominated by men and it is slowly changing to include more women and diversity.
FWM: What’s next for you?
I am working on a human-based documentary series called “Heal X Create” where I interview creative folks. It celebrates creatives and explores how others deal with PTSD, stress, and anxiety.
FWM: You were in “The Item.” Share your experience. What do you like most about acting?
Wow. The Item was one of my first jobs. I learned a lot and it was great fun. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival and that was my first visit to Utah.
FWM: What is your mission?
To give voice to the voiceless. To promote diversity and tell stories from an ethnic POV. I have so many stories to tell that haven’t been told in Hollywood. This is an exciting time where people that didn’t have a voice are now getting validated.
With the success of “CRAZY RICH ASIANS” and “Fresh Off The Boat” … Hollywood is more open to including more Asian-American projects. Finally, our stories are being told and heard. Let’s just increase the number of projects to more than a few a year and tell AMERICAN stories from a diverse perspective. Not Chinese stories that take place in China with a Chinese (non-American) cast where they are not lacking diversity. Chinese people are not lacking Chinese films.
It’s the story of the diaspora ie (Asian-Americans) that is not being told. The Asians living in America, the liquor store owner, prostitute or nail salon lady are the most typical Asian roles told in the US it seems like forever. But, do you know their real stories? Is that being told? What Asian-American stories would you rather see in film?
FWM: Can you share a line from your comedy routine?
“My name is Judy Jean… Judy Jean from the south. South, Korea. Psyke. It’s Southern Cali. Bitches. I AM AN AMERICAN. ” and from MILFriend…
“Go back to where you came from?” But .. “I was born here so you want me to go back to here? Duh.”
@yomamarice @milfriendcomedy
