Crazy Rich Asians Director Shares Letter Sent to Coldplay for Yellow Permission

Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu has shared the note he sent Coldplay requesting the licensing rights for their 2000 hit Yellow.

Coldplay initially rejected Chus request, and the films studio Warner Bros. remained concerned that the songs title and placement in the romantic comedy would be problematic (yellow is a derogatory term against Asians), but Chu wanted to use the song to reclaim the word. Were going to own that term, he told The Hollywood Reporter.If were going to be called yellow, were going to make it beautiful.

But Chu didnt give up. Instead he wrote a personal letter to Coldplay members Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion explaining why he needed Yellow inCrazy Rich Asians. [The word yellow] has always had a negative connotation in my life until I heard your song, he wrote.

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I remember seeingthe music videoin college for the first time onTRL, Chus note continued. That one shot with the sun rising was breathtaking for both my filmmaker and music-loving side. It immediately became an anthem for me and my friends and gave us a new sense of pride we never felt before.

Chu follows Greta Gerwigs lead in sending a snail mail request for licensing songs. The Lady Bird director had penned personal letters to Justin Timberlake, Dave Matthews Band and Alanis Morissette requesting the rights to Cry Me a River, Crash Into Me and Hand In My Pocket, respectively.

While Chu cant say that his letter changed the bands minds, within 24 hours of sending it, Coldplay approved the directors request to use Yellow in the film.

In Crazy Rich Asians, a Mandarin cover of the track by University of Southern California freshman and The VoiceSeason 10 contestant Katherine Ho is used.

The film had a successful North American three-day debut, earning $25.2 million and a five-day opening raking in $34 million to top the weekends box office. Read the full letter from Chu here.