10 Most Awkward Instances Of Hollywood Whitewashing

2. Mickey Rooney - I.Y. Yunioshi - Breakfast At Tiffany's

This might just been the most unforgivable moment of Hollywood whitewashing on the whole list, purely because it's contained in one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all-time and consistently spoils what is an otherwise perfect film. Why, oh, why did Hollywood decide that - of all people - Mickey Rooney needed to play Holly Golightly's Japanese neighbour in Breakfast at Tiffany's? Watching Rooney in the role makes for some of the most outrageously uncomfortable moments in cinema history, as the former child actor - playing one I.Y. Yunioshi - enters on multiple occasions to shout at Audrey Hepburn in the guise of a "stereotypical" (?) Japanese man, complete with "yellowface" make-up, buck teeth and racist accent. Breakfast At Tiffany's always felt like a film to take you back to another time, and I.Y. Yunioshi does exactly that - but not at all in a good way.