SINGAPORE – Simon Khung may currently be embroiled in online controversy, but his biggest movie role to date is still proceeding – with the film’s director standing by the casting.
The Singaporean content creator, better known by his moniker Simonboy, first faced public backlash regarding the Forever Megan Charity.
He set it up on Nov 6 in remembrance of his late daughter Megan Khung, who made national headlines when she died at the age of four in February 2020, after suffering over a year of horrific abuse by her mother and the woman’s boyfriend.
Some netizens criticised his parental role in the girl’s upbringing and for using her name to gain sympathy or publicity.
On Nov 12, Khung became involved in a feud with local influencer Xiaxue, whose real name is Wendy Cheng. His lawyer threatened to take legal action over her Instagram remarks that questioned his intentions behind the charity and sent her a cease-and-desist letter.
Nonetheless, Khung, 38, is still slated to appear in upcoming local movie Pace, which starts filming on Nov 20 and is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2026.
It stars Mediacorp actor Desmond Tan, 39, as a former drug offender who takes up long-distance running in a bid to find his rhythm in life.
Pace is written and directed by local film-maker Jonathan Choo, 36, the elder son of veteran actor Zhu Houren, 70. Zhu is a cast member alongside his younger son Joel Choo, 31.
Khung plays a supporting character, an ex-drug offender who is described as “fun and optimistic” and a “very good ‘brother’” to Tan’s protagonist.
