A Japanese American actress, under fire for what Chinese netizens deemed politically offensive social media activity, released an apology video directed toward mainland China Friday.
Kiko Mizuhara, who stars in the Zhao Wei-directed “No Other Love” – which is already facing controversy for dropping its lead actor, Leon Dai, for his alleged support for Taiwanese independence – posted the video to offer clarification for three Instagram photos under criticism for being anti-Chinese and pro-Japanese imperialist.
Mizuhara has 3.7 million followers on the social media platform.
One photo shows the back of a woman at Japan’s Yasukuni Shrine, a location held in contempt by countries like China and Korea for its honoring of convicted World War II war criminals. Mizuhara has also faced outcry for “liking” an Instagram post of a middle finger being raised to Tiananmen Square, and of taking a photo in front of the symbol of Japanese imperialism, a Rising Sun flag.
Mizuhara denied in the the video that she is the woman in the photos of the shrine or in front of the flag. As for the Tiananmen Square photo, she said “liking” it was a mistake. She was initially trying to support her friend but realized later it was “an extremely inappropriate picture.” “I deleted my ‘like’ within an hour,” she said.
The actress grew up in Japan with a Japanese-born Korean mother and a white father. She said she “supports world peace and am definitely anti-war.”
Mizuhara, who is also well-known to K-pop fans for her rumored past romantic ties with Big Bang leader G-Dragon, has appeared in the live-action “Attack on Titan” movie and in J-dramas like “Kazoku no Katachi.”
“[My] diverse cultural background has given me the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures and to befriend people around the world,” Mizuhara said. “I see myself as a global citizen, and even before coming to work in China in recent years, I have many Chinese friends in Japan who are very close and dear to me.”
A similar apology to mainland China was issued by K-pop girl group Twice member Tzuyu earlier this year after she held up a Taiwanese flag on a Korean television program.
