ABC is finally responding to this Constance Wu controversy — but is recasting her really on the table??
For those who missed it, all the drama began with the happy news Fresh Off The Boat had been renewed for a sixth season.
Related: Game Of Thrones Star Says Goodbye To Her Character
Happy news to which Constance, who stars as momma Jessica Huang, commented on Instagram:
“Dislike.”
Her Twitter comments on the subject were less brief… and less able to be aired on network television.
She wrote:
“So upset right now that I’m literally crying. Ugh. F**k
F**king hell.”
In case the vague subtweeting wasn’t clear, it quickly became so when a fan wrote to her, perhaps to cheer her up:
“Congrats on you renewal! Great news :)”
And she replied:
“No it’s not”
Oof! Why would she be so upset??
Well, she did just star in a huge hit movie last year, the phenomenon that was Crazy Rich Asians. Many people wondered if — with a sequel already greenlit and all — maybe she decided her little TV series was beneath her?
Folks couldn’t help but think of another TV star who decided she was ready to be a movie star… and soon lost both.
https://giphy.com/gifs/life-live-greys-anatomy-exXgB0PWROomc
Later she tried to rein in the wrath as she saw folks talking about her Twitter tirade. She wrote:
“That was not a rampage, it was just how I normally talk. I say f**k a lot. I love the word. Y’all are making a lot of assumptions about what I was saying. And no, it’s not what it’s about. No it’s not..what this is all about. Stop assuming.”
Um, people didn’t have to assume. There was plenty of context.
And then she tried to make it sound like the news was just a coincidence:
“Todays tweets were on the heels of rough day&were ill timed w/the news of the show. Plz know, Im so grateful for FOTB renewal. I love the cast&crew. Im proud to be a part of it. For all the fans support, thank u & for all who support my casual use of the word fuck-thank u too?”
But on Saturday Constance gave up any pretext of the angry tweets being about anything other than the renewal of her TV show.
She tried to explain exactly why such a thing would upset her, writing:
“I love FOTB. I was temporarily upset yesterday not bc I hate the show but bc its renewal meant I had to give up another project that I was really passionate about. So my dismayed social media replies were more about that other project and not about FOTB.”
But they were about FOTB. Because she has to do that instead of the one she’s passionate about. So… she’s basically saying she isn’t passionate about FOTB…
Oof.
https://giphy.com/gifs/supernatural-dean-winchester-weljqUCY1FWSY
She continued:
“FOTB is a great show that I’m proud of and that I enjoy. I’ve gotten to fully explore my character and I know her like the back of my hand. So playing Jessica fun and easy and pleasant. I get to work with a kind and pleasant cast/crew. Which makes it all quite enjoyable — so obviously I don’t dislike doing a show that is fun and easy and pleasant.”
“Pleasant”?? Is it just us or is she basically saying FOTB is her Greg Kinnear while her new project was gonna be Tom Hanks?
https://giphy.com/gifs/tom-hanks-meg-ryan-BYKGScP8t2sgM
She explained:
“But in general, I’ve always sought artistic challenge over comfort and ease. I was disappointed in not being able to do that other project — because that other project would have challenged me as an artist — that other project would have been really hard and not easy or pleasant at all.”
In other words, Fresh Off The Boat ***doesn’t*** challenge her as an artist.
OK, cut to Tuesday when ABC finally responded to the Const-roversy, first by saying, NO, they absolutely were not planning on Aunt Viv-ing her.
https://giphy.com/gifs/supernatural-personal-dead-aBEh0DBRK7yzS
ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke told reporters:
“No, there has been no thoughts on recasting Constance. We love what she does on the show and we love the show.”
Well, that makes one of ya! Ha!
She continued:
“I did actually know that Constance had another opportunity that, had Fresh Off the Boat not gone forward, she would have pursued. But we never really considered not bringing back Fresh Off the Boat. The show is just too strong and we love it.”
On Ms. Wu’s less than grateful words, Burke said:
“I’m going to choose to believe Constance’s most recent communication about the show — that she is happy to return. The cast and crew is happy to have her back and we’re thrilled to keep her with the show.”
What do YOU choose to believe?
And will this change how you feel about Fresh Off The Boat or Constance in the future??
[Image via ABC/YouTube.]
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