Fans are calling out an Australian journalist after a rude AF moment at the Cannes Film Festival press conference for Na Hong-jin’s Hope went viral for all the wrong reasons.
In footage circulating widely online, a journalist greets two of the the Korean drama’s white cast members by name, telling the rest of the mostly-Korean cast and Korean director that “I don’t know the rest of you”.
The panel included director Na Hong-jin, the two white cast members Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, major Korean stars Hwang Jung-min,Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, as well as Canadian actress Taylor Russell, who has Jamaican heritage. Name placards for each guest were also visible on the table in front of them during the press conference.
The journalist then asked why Fassbender and Vikander — who are married — had been cast in the film, suggesting they may have been hired as a “package” and adding, “two actors for the price of one maybe, or”?
Na responded, saying production reached out to the Hollywood actors and cast them separately.
The whole situation appeared to land extremely awkwardly in the room. Clips show Jung Ho-yeon and Russell exchanging glances, while other cast members remain stone-faced as the question is asked.
The reaction online wasn’t any better.
“Even the f*cking director too. Not to discount the effect on the actors but holy shit, this person did not GAF,” said one Redditor.
“This lady can’t even remember the director’s name of the film she’s interviewing for, but acts like she’s best friends with the white people working on the film??” said another.
Others pointed to just how well-known the cast are within the Korean film industry. “I’m more on the drama side of Korean media as opposed to movies, but those are some huge ass names in the K-industry to just be glossing over,” one commenter wrote.
Want To Stay Up-To-Date
With PEDESTRIAN?
Get today’s best stories in your inbox every afternoon.
“Hwang Jung Min is one of the most popular actors there too… This is just unfunny and embarrassing.”
Korean outlets have also weighed in, and they are not mincing words.
“Opinions are pouring in, labelling the incident as racial discrimination or an exposure of ignorance at a Korean film press conference,” wrote Star News Korea.
Meanwhile, The Korea Herald coverage noted that the reporter not knowing the names of the rest of the panel was “a you problem”.
As clips from the press conference continue to spread, some viewers are also calling for a response from the festival itself.
Elsewhere, journalist and PEDESTRIAN.TV alum Soaliha Iqbal weighed in on Instagram, bringing up the fact that this is not the first time that Australian journalists have been called out for alleged perceived racism this year alone. She referenced a moment on Triple M earlier this year, where a host called Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny “that little Mexican dude”.
“If this is the kind of thing that Australian journalists feel comfortable saying on air, in front of live audiences, in front of international audiences at times, just imagine what it’s like in the background,” Iqbal said.
“Just imagine what’s happening behind the scenes. Just imagine what’s happening not on camera.”
At the time of writing, the journalist involved has not been formally confirmed, and Cannes has not issued a public response. P.TV has reached out to Barlow for comment.
Meanwhile, Hope itself has had a strong showing at the festival, premiering to a roughly seven-minute standing ovation — even if much of the conversation online has shifted elsewhere.
Lead image: Getty / Reddit
