“Beef” received rave reviews from critics (98% on Rotty T’s!) and is now a triple Golden Globe winner, as well as a triple Emmy winner (for Editing, Costumes, and Casting). However, it enjoyed only a short time in the sun last year before headlines about the show began to be dominated by controversy over the casting of street artist David Choe. Speaking on his podcast, DVDASA, back in 2014, Choe had described himself forcing a nonconsensual sexual encounter on a masseuse. Following the initial backlash, Choe claimed that the story was fabricated, saying: “If I am guilty of anything, it’s bad storytelling in the style of douche.” Several years later, he posted a much more contrite apology on Instagram.
Jin cast Choe in “Beef” as Danny’s ex-con cousin Isaac, who plays a prominent role in the series, after watching his documentary series “The Choe Show.” After “Beef” landed on Netflix in April 2023, clips from the 2014 podcast resurfaced on social media, and the controversy resurfaced along with them. Jin, Yeun, and Wong acknowledged the backlash in a statement to Vanity Fair.
Netflix binge-watch shows like “Beef” tend to spend a short time in the spotlight at the best of times, as new streaming offerings and ongoing series jostle for attention, but it definitely feels like the casting backlash killed the buzz for this one faster than usual. Now, perhaps a handful of prestigious award wins will bring new eyes to the series.
“Beef” is available to watch in full on Netflix.