Arden Cho Turned Down Teen Wolf Movie After Being Offered Much Less Than White Co-Stars, Actress Confirms
Arden Cho has confirmed a report that she chose not to return for Teen Wolf: The Movie after learning that she was being offered considerably less money than her white co-stars.
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During a recent interview with The Cut, the Korean American actress was asked about Deadline’s report that she was offered “half the per-episode salary proposed to her three counterparts,” to which she replied, “I think I was actually offered even less.”
Cho added that she doesn’t know who leaked that information (“I probably would’ve never shared it”), nor did she say how she found out that she was being offered less. She did, however, mention that she appreciates “artists who are a little bit more transparent because they realize that we’re all important.”
“I could probably, off the top of my head, think of over ten Asian American actors I know who were paid significantly less than their counterparts,” she said in the interview. “Sometimes you don’t have a choice to say ‘no.’ Sometimes you just need it. You’ve got bills to pay. … I wasn’t saying ‘no’ necessarily for me or because I was angry. I was saying ‘no’ because I hope that there will be more equality in the future.”
Cho joined Teen Wolf in its third season as a new student (and sword-wielding kitsune) named Kira Yukimura. The audience fell in love with both the character and her portrayer, and the show promoted her to series regular for Seasons 4 and 5.
During part of the interview, Cho recalled receiving the phone call that Kira was being dropped from the show between Seasons 5 and 6. “I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it.” In the end, she says, “There wasn’t room for Kira. (As the interviewer notes, there was apparently “room” for several new characters, all of whom were white.)
As TVLine previously reported, the following Teen Wolf cast members are all returning for the Paramount+ reunion movie, which has wrapped filming: Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, Colton Haynes, Shelley Hennig, Dylan Sprayberry, JR Bourne, Linden Ashby, Melissa Ponzio, Ian Bohen, Ryan Kelley and Khylin Rhambo. It’s expected to debut sometime later this year.
She appeared in half the shows run and expected to be paid on par or more over others who have been there for every single episode?
OK
Nope, you seem confused. That’s not what she said at all but your racist dog whistle is noted.
It doesn’t need to be said.
SHe appeared in HALF of the show when it aired. Why does she think she deserves to be paid ON PAR with other cast members who have been on the show since day 1 and have BETTER CAREERS?
Not everything is racism, little kid
Are you saying Crystal Reed and Shelley Hennig have been on the show the whole time, or a materially higher number of episodes than Arden?
As always, he’s blatantly ignoring key info that speaks volumes, in order to fit his narrative.
First, since she didn’t name names, so we don’t know if she’s talking about them or Rhoden and Ponzio who were. But in this case, yes, Reed who was on the first season and three years before her should be making more than a reoccurring character. If it’s Hennig that’s more questionable, but she was on 11 more episodes, which is materially higher, FWIW.
Loved Shelley Hennig in Justified. And before that in Secret Circle. And after that in The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window. Yep, love me some Shelley Hennig.
Her three counterparts would be Hennig, Reed, and Rhoden. Stop being obtuse.
Cho, Reed, and Hennig acted in comparable numbers of episodes. The only argument for one making more would be Rhoden, who appeared in 100% of episodes like Posey. This thread is deeply racist.
Context matters.
Reed appeared as lead in the first three seasons
Shelley Hennig last 4 seasons
Arden’s salary should be close to Reed and Hennig, their episode counts are coser so paying her less than 50% of what they are giving Arden is insulting.
Holland is the only one who should be paid the most since she is the only female series regular to be lead in every single season.
As did Allison character!!! I bet she get paid more! Whats the excuse with that! “NoT eVeRythInG iS rAcisM”. The main people who say stuff like that is racist.
Funny how you take this as racism is one of the least things everyone always does,justifying without enough proof and leting emotions decide for it.Now i am not saying that she is not right but we don’t know the full context of everything,looking at her character from the begining it kinda explains it a little bit as how she wasn’t there from the begining or how she isn’t a main character or antagonist but a side character,because there is not enough evidence we don’t know that maybe the reason for her less than half payment may come from her acting skills all of her appritions seem forced with googy jokes and awfull moments.
Holland is the only female lead to appear in all of the episodes so by your logic then Shelley and Crystal should have also been paid less but go off
She didn’t say equal. She did say less unequal. And, she didn’t make a big deal out of it, either. She just privately declined, then answered truthfully when confronted. Should she have not answered truthfully when asked? Seems like she’s damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t.
so by your logic, there is no way a new employee should be getting paid the same amount as anyone else in the same position because they are new? i really hope you never get to be in charge of hiring, or anything. that’s just stupid.
That is how lots of jobs work. There is a starting rate/salary and then you get yearly raises and/or merit based raises/promotions.
Not always true. I know MANY people who experience newer employees making more than them
I second that. Work in a job just like that right now, and have had many other jobs like that before. People often get punished for staying at a job long term because their annual raises (if any) do not even put them at equal pay with the new staff. It’s mind boggling how stupid of a system that is.
Shelley Hennig joined at the same time in a more supporting capacity that she was I think Shelley appeared in 2 /3 episodes in season 3 , Arden was included in that season prominently.
The shown them also basically fired here without prior notice that they were permanently.
So basically thats what it’s probably hinting at
Hennig was also made Scott’s love interest for the final season which was a very odd direction the show took, after writing out Kira Scott’s asian female love interest.
The information was leaked and she is now forced to address it as a result she was being paid far less than half.
It’s not that she necessarily wanted to be paid the exact same but less than 50% of what the other women are getting is downright ridiculous especially considering how the show treated her in the pass.
It sends a message that nothing has changed.
Per episode pay can be misleading. It really depends on star billing, amount of scenes, etc. Lydia seemed like the female lead so her pay would most likely be the highest but there is no reason Arden Cho’s salary should be lower than the other 2 female characters – theyre all about the same level.
That’s my take too. Holland, white or not, earned a higher pay as she was with the show its entire run and emerged as its top female star. The others should have been fairly weighted and offered comparable deals based on their tenure. I really liked Cho and would like to see her character in the revival.
I hate when people immediately pull the race card. Yes, race is an issue but it isn’t always the issue. Fans did not care for her character. That is most likely why she wasn’t brought back for the final season. That and her story had run its course if I remember correctly. Her part in the movie probably would’ve been smaller anyway. Or based on the budget they needed to pay Tyler, and the other main cast more.
RACE ISN’T ALWAYS THE ISSUE. The character can be the issue, finances could be the issue. But the budget isn’t there and she doesn’t accept the pay they offer and her character isn’t an integral part of the story then she can’t say it’s because she’s Asian.
Yes, I am speculating but you know, so is she.
Said by someone who hasn’t had to deal with racism themselves.
So very true. It’s always the ones least likely to experience such discrimination based on race or gender/sexual orientation that proclaim the loudest that someone is playing a “card.”
Chris the little leftie wimp! Grow some balls. Try to get TRT as you sound like little girl crying here.
Doesn’t it strike you as odd that every time there is a concrete example of pay disparities based on gender or race, people like you have some vague hand-wavey reason why the actual reason isn’t actually the reason? How often has it come up that a white male is being paid less than his costars? Ever? Gender and race pay gaps are very well documents and highly verifiable across all industries. You can’t handwave each individual example away when the systemic trend is so obvious and un-ignorable.
The article says the fans fell in love with her and her character but you’re saying fans did not care for her character. I guess we can all agree there are 3 types of fans. The ones who like, the ones who don’t like, and the ones who remain neutral.
If she was as big of a fan favorite as the article claims, they never would have gotten rid of her. They would have given her more air time, not less.
….not true…many characters on TV shows have ‘disappeared’ due to the writers…..it’s all about the writers, that is why many ‘kiss up to the writers on shows….
Teen wolf was known for getting rid of characters fans liked without much explanation e.g… you can list them on a list there are youtube videos.
The fans are mixed with her as with every character on the show except Stiles.
Kira was popular enough and was actually a cool character with her own cool mythology. A tv series about Kitsunes was the clear spin off idea they should have gone with.
The statisticss exist google them asian actors get paid less in hollywood, institutional racism exists.
Why are we still talking about this? She could still appear in another installment as could Dulan O’Brian.
This salary thing on Hollywood still amazes me. In my area, IT, people are getting paid based on years of experience and how you perform on projects not because I’m male and there’s a female who earn the same. This talk in Hollywood is nonsense.
After what happened on Hawaii 50 can’t believe this still happens then again it’s America
This is not about race but about what value and years of experience you bring to the workplace what it’s worth.
That comment is so ill-informed I’m not even sure where to begin. If pay was commensurate with experience and value, gender and racial pay gaps wouldn’t be so highly prevalent. Reed was on 48 episodes and Cho 44. How does half the pay or even worse a third, make sense? Also, these pay disparities happen in wayyyy more places than Hollywood.
That had nothing to do with race and everything to do with O’Loughlin and Caan being the clear leads, the primary relationship/driver of the show, etc.
Just because you’re a starring role doesn’t mean you deserve to be paid the same as your co-stars.
Good on her for being able to do that.
number of appearances is not how pay is determined but status…..series regular, can appear in less episodes but be paid more…..but recurring character can appear in all episodes and still be paid less.
The article clearly states the issue was the per episode amount, not the number of episodes.
Nobody gets that. Hollywood is not about equality but rather billing. Who is the star, who brings in the most viewers and who has the best agent.
She probably should have been paid on par with Shelly Henning and Crystal Reed based on their time with show/ status level.
Its a shame she got payed much less. I liked her character in Teen Wolf. Good for her though not going through with it for much less then the rest. I dont know if its racism //less screen time or just how Hollywood is right now.
There was news released a day or two ago about Colton Haynes leaving “Teen Wolf” because his management didn’t get along with the people on the show and they wanted to not pay him a fair wage. Kira was a great character and she really opened up a lot of new mythology for the series, but Jeff Davis was really pushing Malia. There’s a reason most of the fans quit watching at the same time Arden and Tyler H. left.
Just pay her to come on, I dont get this nonsense
this movie is going to take a big enough hit without stiles due to people not tuning in, in order for a 2nd film we need as many people watching as possible.
Holland Roden earned a higher salary as she was with the show sinceday 1 ans emerged as its top female star. Reed was initially the female lead and I am unsure how she fits in since her character died… ghost, ancestor, flash back? However, I think Cho’s salary should have been in the ballpark with Hennig and others. I really wanted to see how her character evolved in the desert. A shame they could reach terms and offer a reasonable salary compared to others of similar show status.
it’s amazing that at this day an age that this still happens, especially with so much attention is being on equality and representation
To be honest none of them have done anything remotely successful after teen wolf. The only one’s who’s done anything is Dylan and Tyler. Dylan doesn’t need teen wolf anymore and Tyler’s schedule freed up from filming Superman and Lois for him to appear.
If that is the logic behind dylan, if he has this im too good for teen wolf attitude then more fans need to be mad at him and not jeff davis cause some fans actually are blaming jeff davis for dylan not showing up despite it being dylans choice
It’s funny because last season he guested on Curb Your Enthusiasm playing himself as a too good for Larry David actor. Art imitating life?
yeah idk
and I am not mad at dylan, as dissapointed as I am I understand it, he is just done with the character and doesnt want to go down that path again or who knows maybe jeff offered him a new path for stiles and it wasnt what dylan wanted and jeff refused to change it but fact is its not confirmed to be jeffs fault yet alot of fans want to blame it on him as well as the other cast and crew lets not forget that
It speaks volumes that her costars are still going to do the reunion knowing Arden was discriminated against. They must not be friends with her or respect her. I have reported jobs for discrimination, child abuse, and other means. I’ve faced termination from jobs and bad reputations within employers. It’s a hard road speaking up but it’s the right thing to do. I’ve lost respect for the performers on Teen Wolf. I’ve never been able to sit back and do nothing when someone’s rights are being violated.
I think the only one that alluded to anything was Dylan O’brian, he was liking tweets about the salary disparity and how Arden was being screwed over. It’s not much, but it was as subtle way of making known what he thinks without outright saying, which is more than any of their other co-stars did.
Like she said, everyone got bills to pay, and none of them made anything noticeable since the show ended – except Dylan and Tyler H. (which will always make me question his decision to even cameo in what appears to be a total mess in the making.) and maybe now Arden herself, she is the lead in a new Netflix show coming up so it’s not like she really needs any of this.
Discriminated against because of the actress’ and NOT because of her race or gender.
Dang, money is money. I bet the offer was more money than most people make in a year.
Yes, probably. But the comparison shouldn’t be what the average person makes in a year but what her co stars in comparable roles make for the same movie.
I believe Tyler Posey is of Mexican heritage and Khylin Rhambo is black. Maybe her part would have been significantly less than others and so was offered less, but no let’s just hint at racism.
Tyler is white. You are referring to his ethnicity, which is not a race.
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Just because there’s another non-white actor doesn’t mean racism doesn’t exist generally nor specifically in her case. (Note, I am not saying it certainly did here either, but she is the best position to know and mentioning other actors’ races/ethnicities doesn’t address her situation).
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If only determining salaries were so easy. The fact is that if surveyed, probably 90% of people will say that they are being underpaid without any indication of whether or not that is true.
Someone might get paid more because of seniority, but be useless at their job when compared to a newbie who is just better.
I know that early on in my career I was underpaid compared to some of my colleagues because they were better at negotiating their salary when they were hired.
The entertainment industry is even more complicated. “Names” will always be offered more money by a long shot. Producers will always low-ball offers if they think they can get away with it. There were probably a dozen reasons why Arden Cho was offered less money. Race MAY have been one of them. Who knows. But beyond a lot of speculation, it is really hard to tell. Her character was not exactly central to the show. Again she may absolutely be correct and there is some racist nasty person at the core of all of this. Sometimes where there is smoke, there is fire. But sometimes there really is just smoke.
I will say this. Even if none of this is true, it is probable better that we ask the question of why there is a disparity in pay, than just ignore it. Shine some light on these pay inequalities, so that everyone is likely to be treated better.
To me it would come down to how much screen time she gets in the film as her character. However on the face of it, it is disappointing to read. This is not the first time T.V. line has reported such pay differences between cast members on T.V shows. Anyone remember the Hawaii 5.0 one.
Who cares.., this show is nothing more than the white underage public to fantasize about sissyboy possey and his gay lover boys on set. Stop acting like this is some great acting gig.
So sick of the race card being constantly played when entitled brats don’t get their way. She wasn’t in nearly as many episodes, and her character wasn’t as important