April’s Naeun Drops Out of Upcoming Drama ‘Taxi Driver’; Bullying Controversy

APRIL’s  Naeun, following her bullying controversy, will official leave the cast of the upcoming Webtoon based drama with the same name “Taxi Drive.” She was cast to play the role of Go Eun, a hacker at Rainbow Taxi.

Exclusive reports from Ilgan Sports disclosed about the actresses drop out and the search for her replacement. It also said that  the scenes will also be reshot. 

“It was decided that Lee Naeun will drop out of SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama Taxi Driver. They plan on searching for an actress to replace her role.” — Insider

The drama’s production company released an official statement – 

Hello. This is StudioS, the production company of SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama “Taxi Driver.”

The “Taxi Driver” production team has decided after discussion with her agency that actress Lee Naeun, who had an important starring role in the drama, will be replaced.

We ask for the understanding of viewers regarding this statement being released belatedly as it took time to thoroughly assess public sentiment regarding this situation and cast a replacement actress.

Filming for the drama “Taxi Driver” is about 60 percent complete. All of the footage feature this actress will be re-filmed with a new actress taking over.

StudioS and the “Taxi Driver” production team will do our best until the end in order to present a great drama. Thank you.

          ( NOT OFFICIAL TRANSLATION) 

Many advertisers of Naeun have dropped her as their model and she wasn’t included in the promotional videos of Taxi Driver. Claiming to be Former APRIL’s member Hyunjoo’s (@hyun.joo_lee) brother,  a post was made on an online community that his sister was forced out of APRIL due to bullying and harassment. The claims were denied by DSP media and said they would take serious action against malicious posts with no evidence.