Chapter 339 - Crisis

Among those most active in their criticism were Faiza and Cooper. Cooper was somewhat bearable, as his main focus was on film reviews. Besides dissecting her works with acidic critiques and attempting to expose the true nature of her lace tendencies through movie scenes, he didn't have any other areas to attack.

Faiza, on the other hand, was different. She had money, and in this capitalist society of America, having money was akin to having power. She had been eagerly waiting for Laila to slip up, and she wasn't about to let this opportunity pass. She immediately began attacking Laila from all angles, even going so far as to pay religious figures to speak out against her.

Seeing the accusations from these individuals, Laila felt grateful that she had been born in this era. If she had been reborn a few decades or even centuries earlier, she might have already been tied to a stake and burned alive for such accusations.

"Why did you say those things?" Louise called Laila, her head throbbing, after seeing the news. They had agreed to stir up rumors, but this was just inviting trouble.

Laila smiled slightly in response, "Becoming a social topic will attract more attention to us, won't it?"

Louise sighed, "It's not that simple. Getting involved in such topics can increase the danger for you. You don't understand how much hatred some people have towards the LGBTQ+ community."

"Don't worry, I have plenty of bodyguards around me. Even if things get physical, I won't be defenseless," Laila reassured Louise. She didn't seem too concerned. After all, she lived a routine life between work, home, and the company. She didn't venture into chaotic places, and she always had more than four bodyguards accompanying her. What danger could she encounter?

Louise realized that she couldn't change Laila's mind, so she reminded her to ensure her safety.

However, Laila had underestimated the level of animosity and fear people had towards LGBTQ+ individuals during this time. She realized this when she learned that protesters had surrounded both the company and the filming location.

"Did I fan the flames too much?" She furrowed her brow, displeased with the situation's rapid escalation. Since her rebirth, this was the first time something had spiraled out of her control. Everything had gone according to her plans until now.

"Boss, what should we do? Protesters have blocked the entrance to the company, and nobody dares to come in or go out. It's causing significant disruptions to the shoot," Demi reported anxiously, hoping their brilliant boss could come up with a solution.

"Do they pose any physical threats?" Laila asked.

"Not really, they're just holding signs and shouting outside."

Laila nodded, "Then don't bother with them. They'll leave once they get tired. Inform security that if there's any physical confrontation with the crew or cast, they should call the police immediately. Let the police handle it; we shouldn't get involved."

Demi was puzzled, "Why not call the police now?"

Laila explained, "What good would it do to call them now? The protesters are on public property, causing no damage or harm. Even if the police come, they'll just try to disperse the crowd peacefully."

Laila was well aware that even with her status, she couldn't do much against the protesters. As long as they were only protesting verbally, she was willing to let them be.

However, what Laila didn't anticipate was that many people didn't want the topic to die down. This included not only her rivals and enemies but also LGBTQ+ individuals and volunteers who genuinely wanted to do something for the community.

They rarely had the opportunity to see someone willing to speak up for them openly. Laila was the perfect symbol—a wealthy, famous, and influential figure who was willing to stand up for them. She had money, fame, reputation, and charisma. With her taking the lead, some groups that had previously been hidden in the shadows came forward to support her.

In a short time, instead of cooling down as Laila had hoped, the situation seemed to intensify.

This was becoming quite awkward.

Laila realized the gravity of the situation when she learned that protesters were now blocking both the company's entrance and the filming location. 

Why did she create such a situation without understanding the current state of affairs in the United States? If she had known that the United States, a country that prides itself on freedom, would resist these people so strongly, she would never have brought up this sensational topic.

Perhaps it was because she knew that she had been filming the Black Pearl over here recently, and all the protesters had shifted their focus to this side. The only good news was that these people hadn't taken any extreme actions for now; they simply made the crew members and actors nervously enter and exit the set every day.

As a result, those who could stay overnight rested at a hotel inside the adjacent theme park, while Laila, who wanted to go home, asked them to try to go in groups, not to go alone, and not to engage in any interactions with the protesters.

With the outside of the filming location being so chaotic, the reporters were definitely not going to miss this opportunity. When they saw a large number of reporters arriving, the protesters added more individuals who wanted to gain attention to their ranks, resulting in the situation seemingly spiraling out of control.

"Boss, I'll walk with you," Roy caught up with Laila in the parking lot.

"Well, let's go together," Laila didn't refuse him. They were heading in the same direction, and she had bodyguards by her side. It wouldn't be good if the male lead got attacked and injured.

Knowing that the current situation was not favorable, Oswald had also sent four outstanding bodyguards to Laila's side. The old man had previously given her a stern lecture over the phone, reminding her to be cautious about crossing the line when creating publicity.

In truth, it wasn't entirely Laila's fault for miscalculating people's aversion to the same-sex topic. The time and environment she had been in during her previous life left her with no way to understand these things. She was constantly surrounded by fujoshi (Rotten Girls) extolling the mysteries of BL, and there was the film "Brokeback Mountain," which portrayed that kind of relationship in an extremely beautiful way. How could she have imagined that in the earlier years of the new millennium, the United States, known as the land of freedom, would be so sensitive and hostile towards this topic?

The unforeseen circumstances she was facing now had brought her into an unprecedented crisis.