Producers say they did not intend ‘to satirize or distort’ any culture ‘and will pay more attention to production’ In addition to concerns about the stereotypical portrayal of an Arab, the decision to hire an Indian actor for the role was criticized DUBAI: “King the Land,” a South Korean romantic comedy-drama that is streaming internationally on Netflix, has sparked outrage among Arab audiences over an Arab character played by Indian actor Anupam Tripathi. The character, Prince Samir, is seen wearing traditional Arab attire and sitting at a bar in what appears to be a nightclub, drinking alcohol while surrounded by women. He is depicted as being arrogant, flirtatious and extremely wealthy, prompting audiences to accuse producers of promoting offensive, unfair stereotypes. In one scene, the prince arrives at a hotel and is presented with a gift of a traditional Korean knot bracelet which is green because, as another character puts it, “green is associated with abundance, sanctity and paradise in the Arab world.” The decision to hire an Indian actor to play an Arab character was also criticized. In response to the criticisms, the makers of the show said there was “no intention to satirize or distort a specific culture” and the production team “respects various cultures and will pay more attention to production.” According to Netflix charts, “King the Land” is currently the second-most-watched show on the platform in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.