Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: TV And Film, Netflix
Jess Hardiman
Netflix has culled two of its major reality series after cancelling Bling Empire and its New York-based spinoff.
Bling Empire focused on a group of Los Angeles' wealthiest Asian and Asian American ‘fun-seekers' as they flaunted their fortune at glamorous parties and events – with plenty of drama thrown into the mix, naturally.
After premiering back in January 2021, Bling Empire became an instant hit with viewers, with many even saying it was better than Netflix’s other LA-based hit show Selling Sunset.
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It was followed by a second and third season on May and October the following year, and also produced a spinoff series Bling Empire: New York, which launched earlier this year.
However, despite the apparent success of the franchise, both series have now been cancelled by Netflix, according to a new report from Deadline.
“The streamer is not moving forward with a fourth season of Bling Empire or a second season of Bling Empire: New York,” the outlet said.
Naturally, many fans are gutted to lose another source of solid reality telly, with one tweeting: “In a state of depression over #BlingEmpire/#BlingEmpireNewYork not coming back. What a bad move by Netflix. They better have something else planned.”
Someone else said: “I'm crushed. I loved the NY one especially.”
A third wrote: “Bling Empire - both LA original and NY not returning back to Netflix. That sucks. It was good decent escape TV. I didn’t like much of last season of Bling Empire but still. Womp Womp.”
A fourth added: “Can’t believe we aren’t going to see the battle of Christine Chiu vs. Anna Shay anymore. Please @peacock save #BlingEmpire. We don’t just wanna see white ladies pretending to sell houses on Netflix.”
Produced by the reality TV trailblazers Jeff Jenkins Productions – known for the likes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Simple Life and Total Divas – Bling Empire offered up a window into the lives of California’s richest friends and frenemies, along with their wild shopping sprees, lavish parties and dramatic fall-outs.
In the third and most recent (well, and also final, it would seem) series, fans were even shocked to see a surprise appearance from none other than actor Mila Kunis.
Christine Chiu was out for dinner with her husband Dr Gabriel in the season premiere, when who should approach them but the Friends With Benefits star?
The pair had a very casual conversation in front of the cameras as if they had been friends for years, and fans couldn't wrap their heads around it.
"Not Mila Kunis showing up on Bling Empire? How has this happened?!" tweeted one viewer.
"I looked away for a min and came back and was like 'oh wow she really looks like Mila Kunis'... I thought she was their very friendly server," joked another.
It turns out Christine and Gabriel actually used to be neighbours with Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, and all have a passion for charity work.
Who’d have thought it?