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If 2016 could be described as one thing for Stephanie Hwang — better known as Tiffany of SM Entertainment K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation — it would be a roller-coaster. At the high point of the year when Tiffany was on top, she released her first extended play (EP) of her solo career, a mini-album titled I Just Wanna Dance . It was the end result of months of work in which she peaked at number three for the Gaon Korean Albums chart and Billboard U.S. World Albums chart. Tiffany was also a part of the cast Unnies’ Slam Dunk , a very popular variety show in which all its cast members try to fulfill their biggest dreams on a limited budget.
Sadly Tiffany’s high points were followed by low points right after. It started with a couple of social media posts in which Tiffany used the Japanese flags during a SM Entertainment show in Japan. Coincidentally, said show took place just before Korea’s National Liberation Day , a day celebrating their independence from Japan during World War II. Needless to say, but the situation angered many Koreans so much, they crucified her which includes a forcible removal from Unnies’ Slam Dunk . At this point, many wonder if Tiffany’s career as a K-pop idol is over .
At this point, it would only make sense for Tiffany to stay out of the limelight for the time being until Koreans let the situation pass. The same goes with the Japanese in which some of them found it offensive that Tiffany apologized twice to Koreans for using their flag to celebrate an event in their country. However, Tiffany has now been thrust in the limelight again as she was featured front and center on the latest episode of the American remake of Grandpa Over Flowers on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Better Late Than Never . One must wonder if the Korean netizens came out and criticize her involvement?
To put it bluntly at the moment, the answer is “no.” There are a few reasons why Korean netizens aren’t up in arms with Tiffany being heavily featured in the third episode of Better Late Than Never on NBC, which aired recently on September 6. First off, the entire series is pre-produced. The episodes were originally aired one year before airing. As a matter of fact, the third episode titled “Seoul Brothers” was originally recorded back in August 2015. That means Tiffany, as well as the other Girls’ Generation members, who appeared on the show did so one year earlier.
Also, if Korean netizens were to indeed get up in arms for Tiffany’s appearance on Better Late Than Never , their bickering will most likely fall on deaf ears. Even though Better Late Than Never is a remake of Grandpa Over Flowers , it is an American show in which the American audience takes precedence over any other audiences. Ergo, NBC will listen more to American K-pop fans, especially American Sones (fan club of Girls’ Generation) and Fanytastics (fan club of Tiffany), over the Koreans or any other countries’ fans. Summarized, Tiffany is safe.
Now that has been cleared, the third episode of Better Late Than Never titled “Seoul Brothers” records the cast members’ three-day stay in South Korea, specifically its capital area. As it was revealed last year in a report by AllKpop , Girls’ Generation would be featured as a cameo guest in the episode . In it, William Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman, Terry Bradshaw, and Jeff Dye visit the SM COEX Artium where they are welcomed by Girls’ Generation, specifically Tiffany. She shows them the ropes as they prepare to record a special Better Late Than Never version of Girls’ Generation hit song “Gee.” From the looks of it, the Better Late Than Never cast had a grand time being featured in a K-pop video.
For American K-pop fans, especially Sones and Fanytastics, Tiffany’s appearance is a dream come true because they don’t know how long it will be before Tiffany comes back after her Japanese flag scandal. If Bom’s reflection for her drug scandal is used as an example, we may not see Tiffany for years.
Better Late Than Never , the American remake of Grandpa Over Flowers , airs on Tuesdays, 10/9 pm ETCT on NBC. It can also be watched on the official Better Late Than Never website on NBC too.
[Image via NBC]