Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Entertainment342 words3 min read

Actor Faces Viewer Reaction After Playing "Bad" Character on TV Show

A man with a beard and a black shirt
Photo by Inglés para Devs on Unsplash
0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

Japanese actor Asuka Kudo recently made a guest appearance on the popular morning television program 'Asa-Ichi,' where he addressed public reaction to his role in the drama 'Blossom.' In the series, Kudo plays Shimamura, a character widely viewed by audiences as selfish and morally flawed.

Following the broadcast, some viewers expressed notable frustration online, apparently directed at Kudo because of his character's behavior in the drama. One comment questioned how he could remain so composed while appearing on the show, suggesting that strong negative feelings toward the fictional character had carried over into real-world reactions toward the actor himself.

During his appearance, Kudo repeatedly apologized, stating, 'It really hurts my heart,' in response to the criticism circulating online. He also expressed a desire to have had more time to speak, remarking, 'If I could have appeared longer, I would have. There is a lot I want to say,' indicating that he felt restricted by the time constraints of his television segment.

The situation drew further attention after the official Instagram account for 'Asa-Ichi' shared a post announcing Kudo's guest appearance. The post generated significant engagement, with fans and viewers of 'Blossom' commenting on both the drama and Kudo's real-life response to the backlash.

This type of reaction is not uncommon in the entertainment industry, particularly when an actor's portrayal of a disliked or controversial character is especially convincing. In such cases, some viewers struggle to separate the performer from the role, leading to public comments that blur the line between fiction and reality.

Kudo's repeated apologies and his comments about wanting to say more suggest that he was aware of the intensity of the public response and sought to address it directly, even within the limited time available during his appearance. However, the summary of events does not provide further detail on what specific additional comments he may have wished to make.

The incident highlights the sometimes complicated relationship between actors and the characters they portray, especially when those characters provoke strong emotional reactions from audiences invested in a drama's storyline.

Vocabulary7 words

guest
a person invited to appear on a program
frustration
a strong feeling of annoyance
apologized
said sorry for something
Instagram
a popular photo and video sharing app
portrayal
the way an actor plays a character
controversial
likely to cause strong disagreement
backlash
a strong negative reaction from many people

📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?

Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.

Quiz

1. What is the main reason viewers reacted strongly after Kudo's appearance?
2. How did Kudo respond to the criticism during his appearance?
3. True or False: Kudo said he wished he could have had more time to speak on the show.

✅ Nice work on the quiz!

Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.

Preply — learn a language with a live tutor

Discussion questions

  1. To what extent should actors be held responsible for the actions of the characters they play?
  2. Why might social media amplify reactions like the one Kudo experienced?
  3. Discuss the psychological effect of 'blurring fiction and reality' when audiences react to actors based on their roles.
  4. How might producers or networks support actors who face this kind of public reaction?

🎓 Enjoyed this story?

Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.

Preply — learn a language with a live tutor

More Entertainment stories