APASA x Speakers: A Conversation With Tim Chantarangsu

APASA’s annual Speaker’s Event, as told by our Co-Recruitment Directors, Sophia Lu and Cade Sugiyama.

“I don’t like roasting anyone, but this dude got on dress shoes with Adidas socks!”

APASA’s annual Speakers Event welcomed Tim Chantarangsu, a beloved internet icon from many of our childhoods, to Bovard Auditorium this year. As young Asian Americans, we were elated at the opportunity to meet and listen to someone who was a familiar face for representation in the media growing up.

Tim with our emcees, Charley Kim and Katie Osako!

During the event, our amazing emcees, Web Development Director Charley Kim and intern Katie Osako, asked Tim a multitude of questions, which encompassed everything from Tim’s upbringing in Long Beach, why he decided to drop his stage name and return to using his birth name of Tim Chantarangsu, and his motivation for continuing his work as an Asian American comedian. The crowd laughed as Tim recounted his experience working at California Pizza Kitchen and subsequently getting fired for roasting their uniform on Twitter, while they also had a small uwu moment as Tim spoke about how proud he is to be a new father. 

When tracing for us the story of his career journey, Tim expressed that his main goal has always been to expand the roles that Asian Americans could play in the media that we consume. Growing up, he told us that he had only seen Asian Americans as the ‘smart kid’ stereotype or in kung fu movies. However, he wanted to pave his own path and show people that Asian Americans are so much more than that.

Following the moderated Q&A, Tim happily took questions from the audience who were all so excited to ask questions ranging over a large number of different topics. The crowd heard some insight on Tim’s dating advice for those who are trying to get into a relationship and those who are doing long-distance with their partners, got a sneak-peak into what new endeavors he will be taking on in the future (he’s currently working on a movie script??), and found out who Tim’s favorite collaborators and friends have been across his career so-far. He even took on a request by an audience member to roast one of our emcees on his birthday (love you Charley) !!

Looking back at the event, we are so grateful to have had a guest who has helped to shape and influence many of our childhoods, and who was also so open to sharing everything about his journey with us. We learned about the highest achievements but also the greatest challenges of his career, and remain undeniably inspired by his continuing pursuit towards increasing representation of Asian Americans in the media. Our Speakers Event was a great success due to us having a speaker who was as dynamic as Tim, and we look forward to seeing who APASA will host next year!