From 2011 to 2017, thousands of people tuned in each week to watch the hit TV drama Teen Wolf. Fans were sad to have to say goodbye to the series, but luckily in 2021, it was revealed that a movie was in the works! While many of the original characters like Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Colton Haynes, and Holland Roden will be back to reprise their roles, there is one actress who declined the offer. Arden Cho, who played Kira Yukimura, admits that she was offered less money for the part, which ultimately led to her decision not to join the rest of the cast for the film. Here's what she revealed.
Earlier in 2022, Deadline reported, "According to sources, Cho, the only actress of color among the four female series regular cast members who played the group of teen friends at the center of the show, was offered half the per-episode salary proposed to her three counterparts, leading to her decision to pass." This won't be the first time her character didn't make an appearance. Before season 6 was filmed, Cho said in a Youtube video, "Unfortunately, it looks like we are wrapped up with Kira's storyline and she won't be coming back for Season 6." Recently she opened up about her feelings toward her character's exit, "I was in shock. I couldn't believe it," Cho added. "There wasn't room for Kira."
And now, the actress herself has spoken about the financial differences. "I think I was actually offered even less," she told the Cut during a recent interview. "I probably would've never shared it." Sadly, this type of thing happens often to Asian American actors in the industry. "I could probably, off the top of my head, think of over 10 Asian American actors I know who were paid significantly less than their counterparts," Cho admitted.
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"Sometimes you don't have a choice to say 'no.' Sometimes you just need it. You've got bills to pay... I wasn't saying 'no' necessarily for me or because I was angry. I was saying 'no' because I hope that there will be more equality in the future," the 36-year-old actress added. Hopefully, she and the rest of the community will see a change soon. Check out the rest of Cho's interview here.