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The Only Teen Wolf Star Who Supported Arden Cho Amidst Salary Scandal

The Only Teen Wolf Star Who Supported Arden Cho Amidst Salary Scandal
Image credit: MTV

Arden Cho, who portrays Kira Yukimura in Teen Wolf, had a recurring role in season three before securing a deal to serve as a permanent cast member (seasons 4-5).

Nevertheless, Cho was unexpectedly axed prior to the final season (season 6), and it doesn't appear the relationship has improved.

After all, it was noteworthy Arden Cho was not among the cast members mentioned when it was announced in September 2021 that Paramount+ would revive Teen Wolf franchise with a full feature movie. Arden, who is of Korean descent, is the only Asian actor on the TV series. Accordingly, when Cho confirmed recently that she was offered "less than half" the salary of her female counterparts for Teen Wolf: The Movie, she hinted at racism.

"I think I was actually offered even less [than half]," Cho revealed. "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."

Cho believes that actors of color are pressured into accepting roles even if they are significantly underpaid. "Sometimes you don't have a choice to say 'no'. Sometimes you just need [the money]. You've got bills to pay," she added.

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For this reason, Cho turned down the opportunity to return to Teen Wolf believing that declining the offer will contribute to "more equality in the future". The decision, it appears, didn't particularly sit well with castmate Holland Roden who passive-aggressively remarked that other actors signed on to the movie "for the love of the show, and not for the money."

Cho has not responded to the comment. However, fellow cast member Dylan O'Brien (who plays Stiles on Teen Wolf) was quick to come to her defense. O'Brien (who also did not sign on for Teen Wolf: The Movie) tweeted he's "always been very, very supportive of [Arden]" and confirmed the actress refused to join the project because of the pay disparity. Arden responded to a fan tweet mentioning the post, echoing "[Dylan's] a good one". It indicates she does not feel the same way about every Teen Wolf cast member.

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Since Teen Wolf, Arden Cho has appeared in Chicago Med and The Honor List. She tackles the lead role in the new Netflix series Partner Track. Meanwhile, Holland Roden (Lydia), Crystal Reed (Allison), and Shelley Hennig (Malia) are all set to return in the movie version of Teen Wolf in 2023. The story will definitely take a different direction without Stiles and Kira.