#SHOWBIZ: Jack Neo drops Kiki Darling from new film over past sexual assault conviction
SINGAPORE: Singaporean director Jack Neo is set to remove content creator Kiki Darling from his upcoming film, Ah Boys To Firefighters, after discovering the newcomer’s past conviction for sexual assault.
Kiki Darling, whose real name is Hari Kishen Balakrishnan, has addressed his past sexual assault conviction as he was dropped from Jack Neo's upcoming film, "Ah Boys to Firefighters." The 26-year-old actor was revealed to be one of the film's leading men on August 31. However, after the production team became aware of his previous conviction, they announced that he would no longer be part of the production on September 9.
In a video posted on social media on September 10, Hari admitted to the offense and apologized to the victim and his online community for not disclosing his past earlier. He expressed his intention to take responsibility for his past and remain accountable for his actions moving forward. Hari acknowledged that he took full responsibility for the harm caused to the victim and sought rehabilitation workshops, counseling, and education to move forward as a better person.
He also mentioned that he had pursued opportunities to support lesser-privileged communities and build a career in comedy.
Hari's statement came after news of his casting in "Ah Boys to Firefighters" prompted people close to the project to express their surprise.
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