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On Friday, July 4, Lotte World Entertainment found itself at the centre of a growing controversy after posting, and then quickly deleting, a promotional image for the upcoming film Omniscient Reader: The Prophet on its official X account. The original image featured the full cast, including BLACKPINK’s Jisoo. But the replacement image that followed excluded her entirely, sparking immediate backlash from fans.
The removal did not go unnoticed. Fans quickly began questioning the decision, especially since Jisoo is considered one of the film’s most high-profile stars. Adding to the confusion, followers pointed out that the agency had previously tagged Jisoo in promotional posts on Instagram, even though she wasn’t featured in the content. This fueled speculation that the agency was leveraging her popularity to attract attention without giving her proper promotional focus.
The incident triggered a wave of accusations against Lotte World Entertainment. Many fans accused the agency of clout chasing—using Jisoo’s global influence to build hype around the film while minimizing her visibility in the campaign. Given that she plays a central role in the story as Lee Ji Hye, a character who works closely with the male lead in unraveling the movie’s mystery, her absence from key visuals struck many as deliberate and disrespectful.
As frustration grew, some fan communities began calling for a boycott of the movie. They argued that a film which sidelines a prominent cast member—especially one as influential as Jisoo—should not be supported. What began as an anticipated release with a star-studded lineup has now become overshadowed by the agency’s promotional choices.
Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, which is scheduled for release on July 23, 2025, is based on the hit web novel Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. It follows the story of Kim Dok Ja, a man who finds himself trapped inside the world of a novel he’s been reading. As fiction collides with reality, he teams up with key characters, including Jisoo’s Lee Ji Hye, to navigate the chaos.
Despite the growing uproar, Lotte World Entertainment has yet to release a public statement explaining the altered promotional image or addressing the accusations of mistreatment. With the film’s premiere just weeks away, fans are now watching closely to see whether Jisoo will be properly represented in future promotional content—or if this controversy will continue to eclipse the film itself.