Kelsey Asbille is an American actress who has played several Native American roles in her career. However, her ethnicity and heritage have been a source of controversy and debate among the public and the indigenous community. What is Kelsey Asbille’s ethnicity and how does it affect her work as an actress? In this article, we will explore her background, nationality, and the controversies surrounding her casting choices.
Kelsey Asbille’s Ethnicity and Heritage
Kelsey Asbille was born as Kelsey Chow in Columbia, South Carolina, to a Chinese father and an American mother. She has two younger siblings, a brother and a sister. She has said that her father is Chinese and that she wanted to learn Mandarin and traditional Chinese characters. She has also claimed to have Cherokee ancestry from her mother’s side, and identified herself as part European, part Chinese, and part Cherokee.
However, her claims of Cherokee heritage have been disputed and challenged by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who stated that they have no record of her as an enrolled member or a descendant. Some Native American actors and activists have criticized her for taking roles that belong to indigenous people and for misrepresenting their culture and identity.
Kelsey Asbille’s Nationality and Family Background
Kelsey Asbille holds an American nationality, as she was born and raised in the United States. She is of mixed race and ethnicity, as she has Chinese, European, and possibly Cherokee roots.
Her father, James Chow, is a retired brigadier general of the United States Air National Guard and a doctor. He was born in Taiwan and raised in Africa. Her mother, Jean Chow, is an American woman who has been described as having Eastern Band Cherokee Native American ancestry, but this has not been verified or documented.
Kelsey Asbille attended Hammond School for high school and Columbia University for college, where she majored in Human Rights. She is based in Los Angeles, but also lives part-time in New York City.
Kelsey Asbille’s Career and Controversies
Kelsey Asbille started her acting career in 2005, when she landed a recurring role as Gigi Silveri on the drama One Tree Hill. She later starred in the Disney Channel original film Den Brother and the Disney XD sitcom Pair of Kings. She also had a small part in The Amazing Spider-Man and the feature film Run.
In 2014, she changed her professional name from Kelsey Chow to Kelsey Asbille, which is her mother’s maiden name. She said that she wanted to honor her grandfather, who passed away. She also said that she felt more connected to her Asian heritage and wanted to embrace it.
However, since then, she has mostly played Native American characters, which has sparked controversy and backlash. She portrayed Tracy Stewart, a werecoyote, in MTV’s Teen Wolf. She played Natalie, a Native American woman who was raped and murdered, in the film Wind River. She currently plays Monica Long, a member of the Crow Nation and the wife of a rancher, in the Paramount Network western drama series Yellowstone.
For these roles, she has faced criticism from some Native American actors and activists, who accused her of appropriating their culture and identity, and of taking opportunities away from genuine indigenous performers. They also questioned her claims of Cherokee ancestry and challenged her to provide proof.
Kelsey Asbille has defended her casting choices, saying that she respects and honors the Native American culture and history, and that she tries to portray it accurately and authentically. She has also said that she has Native heritage and that it is “in [her] blood”. She has worked with Native American consultants, advisors, and actors on the set of Yellowstone, and has learned some of their language and traditions.
Wrapping Up and Conclusion
Kelsey Asbille is an American actress of mixed ethnicity and heritage. She has Chinese, European, and possibly Cherokee roots, but her claims of Cherokee ancestry have been disputed and challenged by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and some Native American actors and activists. She has played several Native American roles in her career, which has caused controversy and debate among the public and the indigenous community. She has said that she respects and honors the Native American culture and history, and that she tries to portray it accurately and authentically.
Kelsey Asbille’s ethnicity and heritage are complex and controversial topics, and there is no definitive or simple answer to the question of what is Kelsey Asbille’s ethnicity. She is a multifaceted and talented actress who has a diverse and rich background, but she also faces criticism and scrutiny for her casting choices and her identity claims. She is a person who is still exploring and discovering her own ethnicity and heritage, and who is trying to balance her personal and professional life in the public eye.
