Controversy surrounding the casting of actor and artist David Choe in the hit Netflix series “Beef” has sparked a wave of online backlash, according to recent news articles. Choe made comments in a podcast back in 2014 where he joked about being a rapist. The resurfaced comments have caused a stir among fans of the show, prompting the creators of “Beef” and its stars to weigh in.
“The story David Choe fabricated nine years ago is undeniably hurtful and extremely disturbing,” said the show’s creator and stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun in a joint statement, adding that Choe had since “put in the work” to address his past behavior.
Lee Sung Jin, another creator of the show, also responded to the controversy saying that Choe had “put in the work” since the podcast incident, and that he had a “complicated life story.”
Despite this, critics and viewers alike have called for Choe to be removed from the show. Others have criticized Netflix, the show’s producers, and A24 for their silence on the matter.
Choe is known for his work as a graffiti artist and for his involvement with Facebook in its early days. He gained fame and wealth after he was paid in stock options instead of cash for painting murals at Facebook’s headquarters. When the company went public, Choe’s shares were reportedly worth millions.
The controversy surrounding Choe’s casting in “Beef” highlights the ever-increasing scrutiny on celebrities and public figures, and the expectation that they be held accountable for their past behavior. While Choe’s past remarks are undeniably troubling, the question remains whether someone should continue to be punished for something they said years ago, especially if they have since made efforts to change their behavior.
As the controversy continues to generate discussion online, it remains to be seen what action, if any, will be taken in response to the resurfaced comments.
