BLACKPINK member Jisoo is facing controversy after the director of the upcoming movie Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint made comments about her role that fans found disrespectful. Director Kim Byung-woo explained that Jisoo’s character, Lee Ji-hye, has limited screen time but was cast because of her fame. Many fans are now calling for a boycott of the film, accusing the production of using Jisoo for publicity while not giving her proper respect.
Director Defends Casting Jisoo Despite Small Role
In a recent interview, director Kim Byung-woo addressed why Jisoo was chosen for the role of Lee Ji-hye, a character who appears late in the film. He admitted that her screen time is short but argued that her star power helped make the character more noticeable.
“Jisoo’s character appears quite late in the film’s storyline. But in the original novel, Lee Ji-hye is a very important character. Based on the film’s timeline, it wasn’t possible to move up her entry. So I thought that if she was played by someone widely recognizable, it would make people aware that she was an important character.”
He also responded to criticism about Jisoo’s acting, saying:
“I’m aware that there was criticism. But that also proved that she was well cast. If the role of Lee Ji-hye was played by someone else, audiences might not realize who she was.”
Fans were upset by these remarks, feeling that the director was downplaying Jisoo’s contribution while admitting he relied on her fame.
Fans React Angrily to Director’s Comments
After the director’s interview went viral, fans expressed their frustration online. Many accused him of using Jisoo’s popularity to promote the movie while not giving her a meaningful role.
“Jisoo must feel so embarrassed, haha;”
“What are we supposed to do if the director’s the one messing up…”
“LOL the wording is hilarious—basically saying, ‘It doesn’t matter because her screen time is short,’ right?”
“Isn’t that kind of disrespectful to Jisoo too..?;;”
Even international fans hit back at the comments when it was shared online.
Some fans pointed out that Jisoo has faced unfair criticism for her acting in the past, and the director’s comments only made things worse.
Controversy Over Character Changes
Another issue that upset fans was the decision to change Jisoo’s character from the original novel. In the book, Lee Ji-hye uses a sword, but in the movie, she was given a gun instead. The director explained:
“It was a decision made to not overload the viewers with information. I felt that it would be more appropriate to dive into the backgrounds of the gods who appear later on in the story in a future installment, if given the opportunity.”
However, fans of the original novel were unhappy with this change, arguing that it altered an important part of the character.
Calls for Boycott After Jisoo Was Excluded From Promotions
Earlier this month, fans were further angered when Lotte World Entertainment, the film’s production company, posted promotional material that excluded Jisoo. They initially shared a photo with the full cast but later deleted it and replaced it with one that did not feature Jisoo, even though she was still tagged in the post.
This led to accusations that the production was sidelining Jisoo despite using her name for publicity. Many fans declared they would boycott the movie.
“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.”
“They needed her to make the movie more popular. But the crew and actors didn’t respect her.”
Jisoo’s Acting Career Under Scrutiny
This is not the first time Jisoo has faced criticism for her acting. Earlier this year, her performance in the zombie drama Newtopia received mixed reactions, with some viewers saying she should focus on music instead. However, others defended her, pointing out that many idols start with smaller roles before improving.
Despite the backlash, Jisoo continues to pursue acting alongside her music career with BLACKPINK. The group is preparing for their upcoming DEADLINE World Tour, starting on July 5 in Seoul.
Film Set for Release Amid Growing Backlash
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is scheduled to premiere on July 23 in theaters across 113 countries. The film stars Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, and Jisoo in supporting roles.
Also read: BLACKPINK Fans Outraged Over Jisoo’s Limited Solo Screen Time in New ‘Jump’ Music Video
With fans divided over the director’s comments and Jisoo’s treatment, the controversy is unlikely to die down before the movie’s release.
Source: Instiz
