Actor
Choi Woo-Shik has spoken out on the controversy surrounding an alleged autograph snub of a Black fan at a Paris fashion event. Amid the heavy backlash, he personally took to social media to address the issue head-on. In a message in English, the Parasite and Our Beloved Summer star apologised to fans that he was unable to meet them. This comes days after Choi found himself in the middle of a fire when a fan alleged that he purposefully "ignored" her, calling it racism. She even released a video to back her claim. While the incident left the internet divided, the actor was at the receiving end of it.
Choi Woo-Shik issues apology
On June 28,
Choi Woo-Shik took to his official Instagram handle to share his side of the story, addressing all accusations of racial discrimination. "Sorry if I missed you! I tried to sign as many autographs as I could, but time was just too short. I really hope we can meet again next time!" Choi wrote, in the backdrop f an image from inside a church.
Fans voiced their support for the actor after Choi Woo-Shik apologised and were glad to see him directly addressing the issue rather than brushing off criticism. Many even praised his efforts to reach out to international fans by sharing a statement in English.
About the incident and allegations
A Black fan posted a video on June 26 about her experience at a fashion show in Paris. She said she had come to the event in the hope of meeting the actor and was carrying posters and items for autograph. According to her, Choi appeared to sign for people around her but did not acknowledge her, leaving her wondering if the incident was rooted in racism, classism or something else in her account.
Incident divides internet
Her video from the incident quickly went viral online and netizens were quick to conclude that the actor was
Choi Woo-Shik. While users were incensed by the incident, some fans came to his defence, noting how packed and crazy fashion events can be.Supporters said the footage does not show intentional discrimination and the actor may have just missed the fan given the limited time during the appearance. Online discussions also pointed out that Choi has a history of supporting anti-racism movements, including the #BlackoutTuesday campaign following the death of George Floyd in 2020.