Netflix's Beef star David Choe is being cancelled for resurfaced descriptions of rape
Actor and artist David Choe is facing immense backlash after a podcast clip resurfaced in which he made concerning comments about an experience with a massage therapist.
(Trigger warning: Mentions of forced sex)
The clip, which was from a 2014 episode of his now-defunct podcast DVDASA titled "Erection Quest", featured Choe telling a story about touching a female massage therapist without her consent before forcing her to perform oral sex on him. Choe later claimed that the anecdote was a fabrication for entertainment purposes only.
The sound on my first TikTok ever was removed due to a community guideline violation. It’s merited given @davidchoe’s description of this brutal sexual assault.
— Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) April 14, 2023
Waiting to hear why @aliwong and @steveyeun made a decision to give Choe this platform. Silence really speaks volumes. pic.twitter.com/qT6f0cb3AA
The resurfaced clip has sparked outrage on Twitter, with many calling for Choe to be cancelled. Some users have vowed to boycott Netflix's hit dark comedy Beef, in which Choe plays the character of Isaak, the criminal cousin of Steven Yeun's Danny. The show has been widely praised since its release last week and is considered by many to be Netflix's best show of the year so far.
Let’s talk facts.
— Keshav Kant (@MxKantEven) April 17, 2023
David Choe admitted on video to raping someone, then claimed he was being satirical.
Steven Yuen and Ali Wong, his friends, hired him for BEEF.
Now Choe is claiming copyright to have the video taken down and has Wong privated her account.
So, if 2+2 is 4… pic.twitter.com/xJlpZg50dH
Choe has previously apologised for the controversial podcast episode, stating that he did not commit the actions described in the story and that the stories he tells on the show are not facts and the show is "not a representation of my reality."
In June 2017, Choe issued a statement on Instagram, again apologising for the controversial podcast episode and wrote:
Despite this, many on social media have criticised Netflix for casting Choe in the show, suggesting that the streaming giant knew about his past but still chose to include him.
“Beef deserves better than…” Are we having parasocial relationships with television now? The production hired David Choe knowing his history. Nobody is innocent in this.
— Raven Brunner (@raventbrunner) April 17, 2023
Beef deserves *exactly* what it’s getting. https://t.co/1yJM09tfs8
The resurfaced clip highlights the ongoing conversation around consent and the importance of understanding the impact of words and actions, even in a seemingly harmless context like a podcast. As the conversation around cancel culture continues to evolve, it raises important questions about accountability and forgiveness in the public eye.
Given Beef is currently the frontrunner for the Limited Series category at the Emmys this year, it’s going to be interesting to see how the news of Choe’s disturbing history affects the series' run at the awards.