In this week’s major K-pop and K-drama news, EXO’s Baekhyun faces backlash for smoking indoors, BLACKPINK’s Jennie gets caught in a fandom name debate, and Yoo Ah In has been cleared of sexual assault accusations. Let’s see all the updates that have made headlines.
EXO’s Baekhyun Caught in Smoking Controversy
EXO member Baekhyun found himself in the spotlight recently after a video surfaced of him smoking indoors at a restaurant in Macau. This caused an uproar online, as Macau passed a law in 2022 banning e-cigarettes. While traditional smoking in certain designated areas is still allowed, vaping, particularly indoors, is strictly prohibited.
Baekhyun’s agency, INB100, issued an apology stating that Baekhyun was unaware of the law and had been distracted while speaking to his staff, leading to his unintentional use of an e-cigarette. Despite his apology, some fans criticized the restaurant for allegedly filming him illegally and sharing the footage online, accusing them of trying to create a controversy.
Jennie from BLACKPINK caused a stir when she addressed her fans as “Rubies” in an audio message posted on her website. She said, “Hi Rubies, it’s Jennie. Stay tuned and see you soon. Love you, bye.” However, this led to controversy among netizens, as it closely resembled the fandom name of Kwon Eunbi’s fans, known as RUBI.
Jennie’s agency, ODD ATELIER, quickly clarified that Jennie used “Rubies” as an informal way to greet fans and that it wasn’t meant to be her official solo fandom name.
While Rubies is a great fandom name for JENNIE due to her Jennierubyjane name I do feel like its a little bit too similar to KWON EUNBI's "RUBI". I mean Rubies is literally just the plural of it, and its the color red as well 🙁 pic.twitter.com/9Xp20CnggP
BTS’ Jin made his solo fashion debut at Milan Fashion Week, appearing at Gucci’s Spring/Summer Women’s Fashion Show. Wearing an all-Gucci outfit, Jin impressed fans and fashion insiders alike. Thousands of fans gathered outside the venue, hoping to catch a glimpse of the star at his first fashion event without his bandmates.
In other exciting news for Indian fans, EXO’s Chen and Xiumin have been confirmed to perform in India for the first time. The duo will be part of the second edition of K-Town Festival, which will take place on December 14 in Mumbai. Along with them, GOT7’s BamBam and former iKON member B.I are also scheduled to perform, making this a much-anticipated K-pop event in the country.
LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT Take Legal Action Against Defamation
On September 20, HYBE, the agency behind LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT, filed lawsuits against seven YouTubers who allegedly spread defamatory information about the artists. These YouTubers accused ILLIT of plagiarism and claimed LE SSERAFIM had ties to a religious group and pro-Japanese beliefs. HYBE released a statement saying that they are taking these false claims seriously and have taken legal steps to address the defamation.
Squid Game 2 Teaser Revealed
Netflix has released a special teaser for the highly awaited second season of Squid Game. The teaser shows Lee Jung Jae, who plays player 456, waking up and being informed by guards that preparations for the next game are complete. Fans are eager to see what the new season holds when it premieres on December 26, 2024.
Yoo Ah In Cleared of Sexual Assault Allegations
Yoo Ah In, who was accused of sexually assaulting a man in his 30s, has been officially cleared of the charge. The Yongsan Police Station decided not to forward the case to prosecutors due to insufficient evidence, bringing the matter to a close for the actor.
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