little did you know, lots of people were with you since the very beginning? but what makes it worse is when people…
you think one of us is controlling all 400 million of Arabs? Im not responsible for all those people acting immorally but I can try reason with people over here. Also, I don't speak arabic so I can't even try to do it.
I think some would still find it offensive but probably not to this degree?
It's okay to be annoyed about seeing this, especially since it does not affect you, you might be thinking it is very annoying, but it affects 2 millions of us. Can I politely ask you to read my most recent comment just to understand the situation a bit more?
I want to preface this by saying I completely agree with you and your right to be upset over this and your desire…
Thank you for taking your time to read this. It's truly difficult, but even if there is no apology released, I hope script writers can take their time to research more, or even gain the opinion of someone beforehand to avoid offending people, this is my actual intention. I feel like an apology would be great to relieve some tension and anger towards the situation, but a change in the approach would be so much better.
I also made this post for the people here who are complaining, and want them to understand how deeply frustrated we are about this situation. Some are even creating more internally racist derived remarks on top of that clearly not understanding it will only make people more angry.
If everyone just took the time to understand everyone, the world would be a better place. Also, if TV network companies took this into consideration, maybe it would also be known better even for KPOP. Lots of Kpop stars do things which they think are harmless but in the short term end up hurting their fans feelings. Some people think the world is becoming too soft, but maybe we are just solving years of ignorance.
This is about the Arab Muslim stuff. Respectfully skip if you do not want to read it.
I have only realised now it's impossible to actually understand why the Arab muslims are complaining, unless you are a muslim. So I will lay it down.
First of all, why bother even complaining to JTBC when misrepresentation is so common? Personally I think it's not cool to even include a character from a specific culture/ whatever representation you are trying to achieve, unless you do research. This is something dramas for a long time have been failing to do. In Backstreet Rookie, Penthouse, Shooting Stars, they had some really racist scenes. Generalising Africa to have no water? Making fun of how a black American person looks like, making fun of africans and carribeans? I will also speak about this because I am half African. This is all WRONG, and South Koreans need to start researching better. Arab misrepresentation was also seen in The K2 and Man who lives to die (Which was apologised for).
Something common I've seen is people saying, oh yeah well, Ive seen lots of Arabs drink, be womanisers etc - well 90% of Arabs (which is a total population of like 400 million) are muslims. And muslims are followers of the religion of Islam. And those things are totally forbidden in our religion, but it is not to say that muslims will not do it, but the 90% who take our religion seriously, do not want these to be our representation in foreign shows. People who have no idea about our culture or religion will think this is the norm for us. Muslims aren't supposed to judge others, and believe that only God can do that, so we accept that some of us will not be perfect - but this Is not the image we want to show.
How do we know the prince is a muslim? First of all, they didn't mention which country he is from, but the only country which signed a deal with SK for warplanes is Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the most important country for muslims cause thats where most of the religion was established, and the prince is an important figure as he is very respected there, and helps out at the religious sites (imagine how much of a big deal this is, when 1/5 of the goals of a muslim is to go there as a pilgrim). Second of all, all Arab princes are muslim.
If they just said a random Arab man this would have not been the reaction at all.
I think it's very ignorant of people to make assumptions of our religion without actually researching it, and based on what you might have seen on the internet. The islamophobia with some people is actually peaking through - this actually does not make you any better, and wouldn't like if you were in a similar position.
I do not agree with any of the hate the actors are getting, and think that the insults being thrown back to them is not any more right. I purposefully put this on spoiler cause I understand not everyone would want to see this. And it is flooding the chat. I hope you can understand why this is causing an uproar.
I think some would still find it offensive but probably not to this degree?
The prince of Saudi is a person who can even enter the black box building (The Kaaba) and clean it, which is something inaccessible to other Muslims. Meaning we have great respect for him and don’t want negative portrayal
You lot who are excusing how they defamed Arab and Muslim representation are downright disrespectful, if we are telling you there’s something wrong, then there’s something generally wrong.
Muslims aren’t perfect people but we don’t like to display sins (things not allowed in our religion) as the norm, and going to the pub and hanging out with multiple women is considered a taboo in our culture. You have to be married in order for it to be considered fine to hang around that many women. And drinking is a no no. That’s not the image Arabs want.
“Wives” meaning married already. Just because there is a small population that doesn’t follow the religion, doesn’t mean we want to misrepresent it. Arabs and Muslims take image very seriously. Take time to research and understand it.
Wow, some people here need to chill about that Arab prince and get off twitter while they're at it. I can feel…
If anything drinking culture belongs to Koreans and cannot be placed on other cultures. The only Arab culture with that reputation is Dubai, and Dubai is not even Arabs anymore, it’s foreigner filled. Stop being disrespectful, if it doesn’t affect you and you don’t want to stop negative false misrepresentation, stop getting involved. The Saudi prince is such a respected man, ofc Arabs are gonna be mad
Hello, Im an Arab so I can explain it to you. First of all, they casted a non-arab actor to play an Arab character,…
It probs won’t affect any Muslim countries which aren’t Arab, but I can see more anger coming from the Arab countries, idk about ratings cause what if they rise cause more people want to see what was going on :/
I would like to add, it doesn’t make it right though. It’s wrong. How can Koreans complain about XO kitty and do the same thing here multiple times
First of all, they casted a non-arab actor to play an Arab character, which does not make any sense, they could have changed the ethnicity of the prince.
Second of all, although the Arab man was a good character, there was no reason at all, to introduce him while playing a non-arab tune, It did not make sense.
Third of all, in Arab culture, especially muslim culture (which is what I am assuming the prince would be), it is a taboo to drink and hang around girls and go to places such as pubs. Most Arab princes are muslim, this is where this association comes from. 10% of Arabs do drink, but it is not good representation. This is where most people are angry about.
Fourth of all, this is not the first time this is happening, so people are even more frustrated. In the K2, the female character (played by a white woman), takes off her head covering (which is only allowed in front of your own family or husband) when the male lead tells her she loves him.
Fifth of all, In the drama, Man who lives to die, they also portray muslim women naked.
We don't like these to be our image, especially when it is not true for the majority. I hope you can understand now how they failed us.
Some people, who live in Arab countries or are westernised will not care about this, but Arabs like most ethnicities care about their image and portrayal.
Kinda disappointed, as an Arab muslim, with all the stereotyping we get from Korean dramas, no wonder no Arab actors will agree to play that kind of script, because in Arab culture actually drinking and being at clubs is frowned upon.
Also The K2, Man who lives to die etc... all disappointing. The drama was getting so good as well, the fish game was so cute
K-Drama 
I also made this post for the people here who are complaining, and want them to understand how deeply frustrated we are about this situation. Some are even creating more internally racist derived remarks on top of that clearly not understanding it will only make people more angry.
If everyone just took the time to understand everyone, the world would be a better place. Also, if TV network companies took this into consideration, maybe it would also be known better even for KPOP. Lots of Kpop stars do things which they think are harmless but in the short term end up hurting their fans feelings. Some people think the world is becoming too soft, but maybe we are just solving years of ignorance.
I have only realised now it's impossible to actually understand why the Arab muslims are complaining, unless you are a muslim. So I will lay it down.
First of all, why bother even complaining to JTBC when misrepresentation is so common? Personally I think it's not cool to even include a character from a specific culture/ whatever representation you are trying to achieve, unless you do research. This is something dramas for a long time have been failing to do. In Backstreet Rookie, Penthouse, Shooting Stars, they had some really racist scenes. Generalising Africa to have no water? Making fun of how a black American person looks like, making fun of africans and carribeans? I will also speak about this because I am half African. This is all WRONG, and South Koreans need to start researching better. Arab misrepresentation was also seen in The K2 and Man who lives to die (Which was apologised for).
Something common I've seen is people saying, oh yeah well, Ive seen lots of Arabs drink, be womanisers etc - well 90% of Arabs (which is a total population of like 400 million) are muslims. And muslims are followers of the religion of Islam. And those things are totally forbidden in our religion, but it is not to say that muslims will not do it, but the 90% who take our religion seriously, do not want these to be our representation in foreign shows. People who have no idea about our culture or religion will think this is the norm for us. Muslims aren't supposed to judge others, and believe that only God can do that, so we accept that some of us will not be perfect - but this Is not the image we want to show.
How do we know the prince is a muslim? First of all, they didn't mention which country he is from, but the only country which signed a deal with SK for warplanes is Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the most important country for muslims cause thats where most of the religion was established, and the prince is an important figure as he is very respected there, and helps out at the religious sites (imagine how much of a big deal this is, when 1/5 of the goals of a muslim is to go there as a pilgrim). Second of all, all Arab princes are muslim.
If they just said a random Arab man this would have not been the reaction at all.
I think it's very ignorant of people to make assumptions of our religion without actually researching it, and based on what you might have seen on the internet. The islamophobia with some people is actually peaking through - this actually does not make you any better, and wouldn't like if you were in a similar position.
I do not agree with any of the hate the actors are getting, and think that the insults being thrown back to them is not any more right. I purposefully put this on spoiler cause I understand not everyone would want to see this. And it is flooding the chat. I hope you can understand why this is causing an uproar.
Muslims aren’t perfect people but we don’t like to display sins (things not allowed in our religion) as the norm, and going to the pub and hanging out with multiple women is considered a taboo in our culture. You have to be married in order for it to be considered fine to hang around that many women. And drinking is a no no. That’s not the image Arabs want.
I would like to add, it doesn’t make it right though. It’s wrong. How can Koreans complain about XO kitty and do the same thing here multiple times
First of all, they casted a non-arab actor to play an Arab character, which does not make any sense, they could have changed the ethnicity of the prince.
Second of all, although the Arab man was a good character, there was no reason at all, to introduce him while playing a non-arab tune, It did not make sense.
Third of all, in Arab culture, especially muslim culture (which is what I am assuming the prince would be), it is a taboo to drink and hang around girls and go to places such as pubs. Most Arab princes are muslim, this is where this association comes from. 10% of Arabs do drink, but it is not good representation. This is where most people are angry about.
Fourth of all, this is not the first time this is happening, so people are even more frustrated. In the K2, the female character (played by a white woman), takes off her head covering (which is only allowed in front of your own family or husband) when the male lead tells her she loves him.
Fifth of all, In the drama, Man who lives to die, they also portray muslim women naked.
We don't like these to be our image, especially when it is not true for the majority. I hope you can understand now how they failed us.
Some people, who live in Arab countries or are westernised will not care about this, but Arabs like most ethnicities care about their image and portrayal.
Also The K2, Man who lives to die etc... all disappointing. The drama was getting so good as well, the fish game was so cute