“Just cancel this stupid show already.”
After actor Lee Yi Kyung called out the production team of Hangout With Yoo for damaging his reputation and then replacing him without a proper send-off, the episode in which comedian Yoo Jae Suk announces the actor’s departure from the show has resurfaced, triggering intense reactions.
In his bombshell statement shared via his Instagram, Lee Yi Kyung mentioned his “Noodle Scandal,” or how he received a tremendous amount of backlash for “having no table manners” after slurping his noodles on the show.
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Lee Yi Kyung exposed how the production team forced him to create the scene, edited it maliciously to look like he did it voluntarily, and then left him to “bear the entire backlash alone.” As his reputation took a hit scandal after scandal, the actor had to step down from some of his programs.
In the previous “noodle slurping” controversy, I clearly said that I didn’t want to do it, but they asked me anyway, saying they had even rented a noodle shop because of me. My line, “This is just for a variety show!” was edited out. After the controversy broke out, the production team did nothing more than make the absurd excuse that they had been in a rush, and I had to bear the entire backlash alone. My image suffered severe damage as a result.
In another variety show, I was informed that I would only appear through VCR footage, but I later found out from a news article that I had actually been replaced.
— Lee Yi Kyung
That said, Lee Yi Kyung’s departure from Hangout With Yoo is now at the center of attention, with increasingly heated discussion about how he was let go.
The actor didn’t even get to appear in the episode that informed viewers of his exit. Instead, his send-off was replaced by Yoo Jae Suk briefly explaining that Lee Yi Kyung had become too busy with his K-drama and film schedules—and that because an episode was unexpectedly canceled while the actor was trying to coordinate his final appearance, he was ultimately unable to share his goodbye in person.
Viewers, now more aware of what happened behind the scenes, are understandably disappointed in the Hangout With Yoo team for “hiding behind Yoo Jae Suk” and “doing Lee Yi Kyung so dirty until the very end.”
- “Wow, I’m getting mad too. Just cancel this stupid show already.”
- “Ugh, of course there are people blaming the remaining cast…”
- “The production team probably scripted that whole explanation and used Yoo Jae Suk as a shield. Unbelievable.”
- “Why do people keep talking about Yoo Jae Suk like this is his fault?”
- “This is on the production team. Even Yoo Jae Suk hasn’t gotten a proper farewell in some cases.”
- “Are these the same staff from the Shin Bong Sun and Jung Jun Ha issues? If so, that’s awful… Even if they’re not, Hangout With Yoo’s production team keeps acting like total jerks.”
- “If this is true, I feel so bad for Lee Yi Kyung.”
- “What a bunch of jerks.”
- “Total jerks.”
- “To me, it just feels like Yoo Jae Suk is quietly distancing himself from it all.”
Meanwhile, the Hangout With Yoo production team stood firm that things were done right (that Lee Yi Kyung chose to leave due to his scheduling conflict) and asked that viewers refrain from blaming Yoo Jae Suk, Haha, and/or Joo Woo Jae in relation to what happened to Lee Yi Kyung.
Regarding the issues related to Hangout With Yoo mentioned in the post Lee Yi Kyung uploaded on the 21st, we would like to address everything without hiding anything.
With rumors about his personal life spreading through the media, we determined that it would be difficult to continue working together in a variety show that must deliver laughter every week. As Lee Yi Kyung mentioned, the production team did recommend his departure to his agency first, and we also expressed that we would respect their decision if they chose to disclose this to the press. Afterwards, his agency contacted us saying they would opt for a voluntary departure due to scheduling.
Since we were the ones who suggested he step down, we felt it was the least courtesy to Lee Yi Kyung to ask the cast members to mention that he was leaving voluntarily due to scheduling, as agreed upon with his agency—and that is what was conveyed on air. The cast members only followed our request out of consideration for Lee Yi Kyung. We ask that viewers refrain from directing blame or unfounded speculation toward the other cast members.
— “Hangout With Yoo” Production Team
Read Lee Yi Kyung’s full statement here: