Jun Ji-hyun’s agency is pushing back on chatter that a Chinese brand pulled her ad over the controversy surrounding the Disney+ drama “Tempest.”
“The cancellation was decided before ‘Tempest’ began airing. It has nothing to do with the series,” a representative for Jun’s agency, Peach Company, said.
The agency added that it checked with its local partner in China, who also denied the claim. “The shoot was postponed due to local circumstances and ultimately canceled,” the rep explained.
Earlier today, a local report claimed Jun was set to film a campaign for a Chinese apparel brand in Seoul on the 25th, but that the shoot was scrapped amid backlash tied to “Tempest.”
The flap stems from a line delivered by Jun’s character, Seo Mun-ju ― a former U.N. ambassador and presidential hopeful. In a scene released online, she asks, “Why does China prefer war? A nuclear bomb could fall near the border,” prompting some Chinese people to call the dialogue an insult to China.
Disney+ does not operate officially in mainland China, leading some to note that the outrage appears to be coming from viewers accessing the show through unofficial means.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)