‘Bridgerton’ Season 4 Promotions Spark Concerns of Racial Bias Against Korean Australian Star Yerin Ha

Promotions for the upcoming fourth season of Netflix’s popular period drama, Bridgerton, have ignited a debate over the visibility of Korean Australian actress Yerin Ha, with fans alleging racial bias in marketing materials. The controversy centers on concerns that Ha, who plays Sophie Baek, is being sidelined in promotional content compared to her co-stars, Luke Thompson and Hannah Dodd.

Concerns Emerge from Madrid Event and Social Media

The criticism gained momentum following a promotional event in Madrid on February 18, 2026, and subsequent social media posts by Netflix Spain. Viewers pointed to photographs where Dodd appeared more prominently framed than Ha, despite the season focusing on the romantic storyline between Thompson and Ha’s characters .

Further fueling the discussion, a promotional video featured Ha seated at the edge of the frame, resulting in her being cut out in vertically cropped versions commonly used on social media platforms, leaving only Thompson and Dodd visible .

Name Misspelling Adds to Concerns

Adding to the concerns, Spanish newspaper ABC misspelled Ha’s name as “Yern Ha,” a mistake some fans interpreted as a sign of disrespect and a lack of attention to detail .

Yerin Ha’s Background and Pride in Her Heritage

Yerin Ha is a Korean Australian actress who has previously appeared in the series Halo . She is similarly the granddaughter of Sohn Sook, a veteran Korean actress. Ha has spoken about the influence of her grandmother on her acting career, stating her grandmother wished to be known as “Yerin Ha’s grandmother” rather than the other way around, expressing her pride in her Korean heritage .

Netflix and Cast Members Attend Madrid Event

Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), Yerin Ha (Sophie Baek), and Hannah Dodd (Francesca Bridgerton) attended a promotional event in Madrid on February 16, 2026, as part of the Bridgerton world tour . The event included a masquerade ball featuring couture looks created by Spanish designers .

Upcoming Release of ‘Bridgerton’ Season 4

The first four episodes of Bridgerton Season 4 are currently available on Netflix, with the remaining episodes set to premiere on February 26, 2026 .

Growing Concerns Over Representation

The situation has sparked a wider conversation about representation in global television franchises and the potential for racial bias in promotional strategies . Netizens have expressed frustration, stating this is not an isolated incident involving Asian leads .