Shang-Chi star Simu Liu throws shade on stock photo company after it says ‘we always believed in you’

‘Is the door open to share in the hundreds of thousands of $$ you made off those photos cause I was paid a hundred bucks’ actor wrote

Simu Liu threw shade at iStock when they commented on his tweet comprising of a stock image from his early career.

Stock images are royalty-free, affordable photographs frequently licensed for specific uses – normally utilised for advertising and business purposes.

Liu revealed in an interview last month that he was paid “120 bucks” for the stock photos, after which he “signed away the rights” as he was in “credit card debt”.

In images, which have gone viral on social media ever since the release of Liu’s blockbuster film Shang-Chi, he’s seen posing at a workplace setup, where he’s seen pointing out and laughing at something on a laptop with his collegues.

The 32-year-old jokingly posted that stock image on his Twitter account with the caption: “Me laughing at people who thought we’d (Shang-Chi) flop.”

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings broke Labour Day weekend box office records in the US, earning over $71.4 million in theaters, between Friday and Sunday.

iStock was quick to comment on Liu’s post. The company wrote: “We always believe in you #simuliu. And if being a superhero doesn’t work out, our door is always open.”

The Kim’s Convenience actor then responded with shade about the low prices iStock pays its models.

“Is the door open to share in the hundreds of thousands of $$ you made off those photos cause I was paid a hundred bucks,” Liu said.

The photos Liu appears in are tagged “cheerful East Asian coworker”.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead character and takes place following the events of Avengers: Endgame.

As well as Liu, the film also stars Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh and Hong Kong acting legend, Tony Leung. Tim Roth will also reappear in the MCU for the first time since The Incredible Hulk, as the Abomination.