Director's Tears Spark Controversy Over Actress's Neglect in New Drama
Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Director Yan Yiwen's new drama "The Wedding I Owe You" is facing controversy over the perceived neglect of lead actress Alice Ko.
- Reports suggest Alice Ko's team is unhappy that the spotlight has been stolen by the absent male lead, Archie Kao, especially after Yan Yiwen cried during a press conference mentioning him.
- The drama's production team has responded, stating that Alice Ko and her team were cooperative during promotions.
Director Yan Yiwen's new drama, "The Wedding I Owe You," is generating buzz, but recent reports suggest internal friction. The controversy centers on allegations that lead actress Alice Ko has been sidelined during promotional activities, with the focus shifting to the absent male lead, Archie Kao. Sources indicate that Ko's management team is highly dissatisfied, feeling that the publicity has become unfocused and that the director's emotional display at a press conference has exacerbated the situation.
The issue reportedly ignited when director Yan Yiwen became visibly emotional and cried while discussing Archie Kao during a media interview. This moment, intended perhaps to highlight Kao's absence due to personal issues, inadvertently shifted attention away from the efforts of Alice Ko and the rest of the cast. Ko herself has reportedly invested significant effort into the drama, even enlisting artists like Chang Chen-yue and Ge Da-wei for its soundtrack, and has been highly cooperative during promotional events.
Adding to the perceived imbalance, behind-the-scenes staff have allegedly noted Yan Yiwen's preferential treatment of Archie Kao during filming. Claims suggest that Kao received considerable support in terms of emotional guidance and on-set communication, with his character reportedly tailored specifically for him. This alleged favoritism, according to some staff, had already sparked private discussions during production.
In response to the growing discontent, the production team for "The Wedding I Owe You" issued a statement. They asserted that Alice Ko and her team were fully cooperative and supportive during the promotional period and expressed gratitude for the media's efforts in generating exposure for the drama. The team emphasized their appreciation for the cast and crew's hard work.
Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.