Is Beef on Netflix based on a true story?

Beef starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong lands on Netflix on April 6, and people are wondering if the comedy-drama series is based on a true story. As always, that’s no problem for us. We answered this burning question below.

After an intense bidding war, Netflix came out the winner and won the rights to make Beef, an A24 series about two strangers who engage in an epic feud after a road rage incident. As the feud continues, it begins to trickle down into their personal lives affecting their careers and relationships, ultimately bringing chaos into their lives.

Lee Sung Jin created the 10-episode series with Steven Yeun and Ali Wong starring in the leading roles of struggling contractor Danny Cho and self-made businesswoman Amy Lau. David Choe, Young Mazino, Joseph Lee, Patti Yasutake, Maria Bello, Ashley Park, Justin H. Min, and many others are also in the cast.

Is Beef based on a true story?

We wouldn’t necessarily say Beef is based on a true story. However, it is inspired by an actual event that happened to the series creator. According to Beef creator Lee Sung Jin, the series is inspired by a real-life road rage incident that he was involved in years prior to making the show.

Lee Sung Jin spoke with The New York Times and shared what happened during the incident.

"I was getting on the 10. The light turned green and I didn’t go right away, and a white BMW X3 starts honking like crazy, pulls up next to me and [the driver] says a bunch of [expletive] at me. I was like, That’s not OK — I’m going to follow him home. In reality, I wasn’t actually going to follow him; I’m not that courageous. But back then I lived in Santa Monica — when we both got off at Fourth Street, I’m just commuting home, but I’m sure he was like, Oh my God, this guy is following me.I thought there was something interesting there, how we’re all locked in our subjective world views, and we go around projecting a lot on the other person and not really seeing things for what they are."

Although the road rage incident had happened years ago, it still stuck with Lee Sung Jin and ultimately gave him an idea for a show that would later be titled Beef and given a series order.

So there you have it, folks! The comedy-drama series is not based on a true story. Lee Sung Jin came up with the idea for the show because of a road rage incident he experienced. He told Netflix, “I’m also grateful to the guy who yelled at me in traffic three years ago. I did not let it go, and now we have a show.”

Beef arrives on Netflix on April 6.