Jefrë reflects on ‘snub’ at Superman premiere after-party

Despite being an alien from another planet, Superman has always wanted to belong. But for Filipino-American artist Jefrë Figueras Manuel, also known simply as Jefrë, the message of inclusion felt distant when he was denied entry to the Superman movie after-party at the TCL Chinese Theatre last July 7 in Hollywood, California.

Jefrë said he had no initial plans to attend the after-party. But Peter Safran, co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, invited him after they briefly exchanged pleasantries at the end of the premiere.

“I was thanking them for launching the debut of Superman in the Philippines at my The Victor sculpture,” Jefrë recounted, referring to the towering bronze-and-steel statue located at Bridgetowne between Pasig and Quezon City.

Standing next to Safran was Candice McDonough, EVP of Marketing at Warner Bros. According to Jefrë, Safran verbally told McDonough to “take care of” him at the after-party, which was located just across the street in an open parking lot.

“There was the first security checkpoint, and when the guard asked Candice if I was with them, she said ‘yes’ and continued walking toward the venue,” Jefrë said.

But once they reached the entrance, things took a turn. In a video he posted online, Jefrë described how Safran seemed to “brush [him] off” when he approached. “His demeanor totally changed, and I don’t know why.”

McDonough then reportedly instructed everyone else in the group to enter — except for Jefrë. He stood to the side, confused, as she whispered something to a man and walked away.

When he approached her again and asked if he could come in, McDonough allegedly responded, “Who are you?”

He said he came from the premiere but was told that the venue was already at capacity.

Even after showing his ticket, she questioned where he had gotten it. A security staff member allegedly took it from him and said, “Sorry, we can’t give you access.”

“To have someone invite you and then have security ask if you were with them and to have her say 'yes' and wave me in to walk with them to the party, and then what happened in the end was confusion." Jefrë said. 

"Not sure what happened during the walk to the entrance… I didn’t even speak. We walked halfway and she stayed to wait for Peter, who kept signing autographs and taking selfies. I proceeded ahead and when they both got to the entrance I was then left behind.”

Asked how he felt, Jefrë was candid: “Confused. I wasn’t angry. I was sad that I allowed someone to dim my light and power away.”

He also said in the video that people at the party didn’t believe he was the real Jefrë, the artist behind The Victor. “It's embarrassing! To think that I was there to support a movie that is about humanization, being encouraged, the idea of freedom and empowerment, and all things that are part of my sculpture, The Victor."

Several celebrities expressed support for the Filipino-American sculptor online. 

Jefrë didn’t stay long after the incident. Within two hours, he was on a flight out of Hollywood. "I felt like I needed to leave and waited to get to the airport to record and post that video."

While the Hollywood snub was a low point, Jefrë quickly returned to doing what he does best: building some of the world’s most monumental public art installations.

The Victor is just one of his many iconic pieces. His work spans major cities including London, Abu Dhabi, Rome, and Miami.

In the Philippines, his works include Tree of Life at Robinsons Place Naga and the Sculpture Series at SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City.

Currently, Jefrë is collaborating with former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson on what’s poised to be the world’s largest sculpture of Jesus Christ, and with Sir Richard Branson on an ambitious underwater installation.