Pop Culture
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Old Films Called Out for Racist Scenes
Clips from the Olsen Twins’ films ‘New York Minute’ and ‘To Grandmother’s House We Go’ are under scrutiny
ByAlex Ocho
July 9, 2026
The Olsen twins’ movie catalog is having a reckoning on social media as users point out overtly racist scenes from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s past films
A post from the Thanks, I’ll Take It From Herepodcast on Threads pointed out a scene from the Olsen twins’ 2004 film, New York Minute, where the sisters visit a Black hair salon for a makeover
“Anyone remember when the Olsen twins went to a black hair salon and got a makeover… [crying emojis],” wrote the podcaster before later adding, “everything hits different with an adult brain.”
The conversation then spilled over to X where another user pointed out a scene from 1992’s To Grandmother’s House We Go, where the twins stop to listen to a Black street performer before tipping him with chicken drumsticks
This isn’t the first time these moments have been rediscovered and discussed, as seen in past Reddit threads
According to a 2021 breakdown from YouTuber Nick DiRamio, New York Minute also relies on a series of harmful racial stereotypes that affect how multiple communities are portrayed
DiRamio points to scenes where a white actor uses a fake Asian accent while saying “No. 1 adopted son” and “Ancient Chinese proverb,” accompanied by an offensive “Oriental riff.” He argues that the film reinforces xenophobic ideas by presenting Asian nail technicians as the cover for a criminal operation
He also criticizes the depiction of the Black hair salon House of Bling, saying it’s treated like an “alien planet” and that the stylists exist only to help the white leads, reflecting the racist “mammy” stereotype by acting “sassy” and offering guidance without personal agency
The Olsen twins, who made their acting debut with Full House in 1987 at nine months old, retired from acting following New York Minute. The twins, now 40, founded the luxury brand The Row in 2005, which was valued at $1 billion in 2024, per Bloomberg
Related Stories
pop-culture
‘Full House’ Star Jodie Sweetin Reveals Why She Hasn’t Talked to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in Years
When they were younger, she said, ‘We’d go horseback riding. We’d go to Disneyland.’
Holly Riordan72 days ago
style
Dwayne Johnson Wears Custom Jacob & Co Matai Tourbillon to ‘Moana’ Premiere
The custom watch celebrates the former WWE star’s connection to Polynesian culture
Joe Price6 hours ago
pop-culture
Chet Hanks Gets Candid About Growing Up With Famous Parents, Says He Felt ‘F*cking Worthless’
“Who I am is not even a thought in everybody’s mind,” the ‘Running Point’ actor told Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden in a new interview
Trace William Cowen9 hours ago
Trending
1SportsLandon Donovan on the ‘Reality’ of Christian Pulisic’s World Cup: ‘He’s Not Played Well’
2MusicBlueface Runs Into His Dad Delivering Amazon Packages During Livestream: ‘That’s So Random’
3SportsThe 25 Best UFC Fighters of All Time
4MusicBobbi Althoff Jokes About Being ‘Irrelevant’ Despite Interviewing Drake
5BetsThe 30 Best Dodgers of All Time, Ranked
6SneakersBest Air Jordan 7s of All Time, Ranked
Editor’s Pick
MusicThe Best Albums Of 2026 (So Far)
StyleHow to Style Soccer Jerseys
MusicThe 15 Best Rap Verses Of 2026 (So Far)
MusicHip-Hop Media Power Ranking: The 2026 Edition
SneakersEvery Air Jordan Releasing in 2026
