Fans of BLACKPINK’s Jisoo are demanding a boycott of the upcoming movie Omniscient Reader: The Prophet after the production company Lotte World Entertainment removed her from promotional materials. The controversy started when the company posted and then deleted a cast image featuring Jisoo, replacing it with one that excluded her. Fans accuse the filmmakers of using Jisoo’s fame for publicity while sidelining her in official promotions.
The film, starring Lee Min-ho, Ahn Hyo-seop, and Jisoo, is set to release on July 23, 2025. However, the backlash over Jisoo’s treatment has overshadowed the movie’s hype.
Jisoo Removed from Promotional Posts
On July 4, Lotte World Entertainment shared a promotional image on X (formerly Twitter) featuring the full cast, including Jisoo. However, they quickly deleted it and uploaded a new version without her. Fans noticed that the company continued tagging Jisoo in Instagram posts even though she wasn’t in the pictures.
Many fans believe the production team is trying to benefit from Jisoo’s massive fanbase without giving her proper recognition. Some pointed out that her role as Lee Ji-hye is important to the story, making her exclusion even more confusing.
“Boycott this movie. They deleted the pic with Jisoo in it and replaced it with one she’s not in. Yeah, we need to boycott this movie and just hype Jisoo’s part….” – A fan on X
“Btches, even though Jisoo didn’t appear, you still tagged her. All these people disrespect her. Why should we support this drama???”* – Another fan reaction
Fans Accuse Production of Clout Chasing
Jisoo’s fans, known as BLINKs, argue that the movie’s marketing team is exploiting her popularity. They claim the sudden removal of her image shows a lack of respect for her contributions to the film. Some even speculate that the cast and crew do not value her involvement.
“They needed her to make the movie more popular. But the crew and actors didn’t respect her.” – An X user
“I feel sad for all the hard work Jisoo did for this movie. They are really using Jisoo, and it’s not cool at all.” – A netizen
The backlash has led to widespread calls for a boycott, with fans urging others not to support the film. The controversy has shifted attention away from the movie’s plot, which is based on the popular web novel Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.
Jisoo’s Role in the Movie
Jisoo plays Lee Ji-hye, a character who teams up with the male lead to uncover a mystery in the story. The film follows Kim Dok-ja, an ordinary man who finds himself inside the world of a novel he has been reading. As reality and fiction merge, he must survive alongside key characters.
Despite her significant role, Jisoo has been absent from major promotional events, including a production briefing session. Some fans blame her agency, YG Entertainment, for poor scheduling, while others believe it was her personal choice.
No Official Response from Lotte World Entertainment
As of now, Lotte World Entertainment has not addressed the backlash. Fans are waiting to see if the company will restore Jisoo’s image in future promotions or provide an explanation for her removal.
The controversy has put a dark cloud over the film’s release, which was expected to be one of the biggest Korean movies of the year. With a star-studded cast and a high budget, the project now faces unexpected challenges due to fan outrage.
Additional Controversies Around the Film
Apart from Jisoo’s exclusion, the movie has faced criticism for changing key elements from the original web novel. In the story, Jisoo’s character Lee Ji-hye is linked to the historical Korean hero Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who is traditionally associated with swords. However, the film’s trailers show her using a gun instead, sparking accusations of historical inaccuracy.
“Jihye has a SWORD, not a gun! Her whole thing was about her inheriting the sword. At this point, this is not ORV. The dokkaebi is written off, characters are upside down.” – A fan on Facebook
Some Korean netizens believe the changes were made to appeal to international audiences, particularly Japan, where references to Korean historical figures have been altered in past adaptations.
With just weeks left before its release, the film’s team must decide whether to address the growing fan anger or ignore the backlash. The controversy has already impacted online discussions, with many fans vowing to skip the movie in protest.
Also read: BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Faces Fan Backlash After Public Reunion with Controversial Former Idol Friend
Despite the drama, the film still has strong star power with Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop in leading roles. Whether the boycott will affect its box office performance remains to be seen.
