Harry Shum Jr. Talks Singing On ‘Glee’ & Addressing Asian Stereotypes

Harry Shum Jr. stepped into the singing spotlight this week on “Glee,” something he trained hard for.

“I’m not a singer, I don’t come from a vocal background and after the tour, I said, ‘They might make me sing,’” the actor told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Friday’s Access Hollywood Live. “So, I had to do it. I went into vocal training and that voice came out.”

Harry, who is best known for his fancy footwork on the hit FOX series, was taken aback by the final results.

“I was like, ‘Hey, that’s pretty good.’ I was surprised,” he continued.

The 29-year-old actor was also happy about the issues raised during this week’s episode, titled “Asian F,” referring to the stereotypical high education expectations that some Asian parents place on their children.

“That’s what is great about the show. It’s bringing light to that. I think there are parents that are like that,” he explained. “I think it can play to a lot of different people and not just the Asian community. A lot of parents are a little too hard on their kids with school and also not [letting them] do the arts.”

The “Glee” star – who also appeared in the original iPod ads – chatted with Billy and Kit about meeting the late Apple co-creator Steve Jobs at the Academy Awards.

“I don’t get star struck, but this guy, oh my gosh — I lost it,” he recalled. “I was just talking a hundred miles per hour, I didn’t know what to say, and he just told me, ‘Thank you so much for all your hard work and those ads were great.’ I shook his hand and it was amazing.”

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