ABC has weighed in on the controversy surroundingConstance Wu‘s reaction to the news ofFresh Off the Boat‘s renewal.
On Tuesday, ABC’s newly installed entertainment president Karey Burke fielded questions about Wu during the network’s pre-upfront press briefing in New York City.
“No, there’s been thought to recasting Constance,” she told reporters. “We love what she does with the show, we love the show. I did actually know that Constance had another opportunity, that hadFresh Off the Boatnot gone forward, she would have pursued. But we never really considered not bringing backFresh Off the Boat. The show’s just too strong for us.”
“So I’m going to choose to believe Constance’s most recent communication about the show that she is happy to return,” Burke added. “The cast and crew is happy to have her back and we’re thrilled to keep her on the show.”
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Wu, 37, got her first big break in Hollywood in 2015 when she landed the role of protective mom Jessica Huang inFresh Off the Boat— the first network sitcom about an Asian-American family to air in 20 years.
On Friday, the actress shocked fans when she said she was“so upset” that the show had been renewed, writing, among other tweets, “I’m literally crying. Ugh. F—.”
Constance Wu onFresh Off the Boat.Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty
On Saturday, Wureiterated her positionin a lengthy statement on Twitter.
“I loveFOTB,” she began. “I was temporarily upset yesterdaynotbc 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 aboutFOTB.”
“But I understand how that could feel interconnected and could get muddled,” she continued. “So here is me unmuddling it with my truth:FOTBis 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 is 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.”
Wu, who also starred inCrazy Rich Asians, went on to explain that she was looking for “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. Sometimes even my closest friends are baffled at how I could value artistic challenge/difficulties over success/happiness. But I do. I know it’s weird,” she said.
Constance Wu/Twitter
“I do regret that and it wasn’t nice and I am sorry for that. I know it’s a huge privilege that I evenHAVEoptions — options thatFOTBhas afforded me. But if one does have privilege, they ought to use that privilege as best they can. For me — that means pushing myself artistically,” she explained.
“People ‘assumed’ that that meant I don’t love and enjoyFOTB.But Idolove and enjoy it,” she added. “I hope you believe me.”
source: people.com
