Singer ØHENRY has come forward to defend Jessi regarding the recent fan assault incident that has stirred significant controversy.
ØHENRY’s Account of the Incident
On October 28, ØHENRY revealed that he was a witness to the events that unfolded and provided a detailed account on his social media. He explained that he was at Courte Cafe in Gangnam with some industry friends when he met Jessi. After the cafe closed, their group of twelve decided to grab a bite to eat. During this time, Jessi was approached by fans seeking pictures, which she graciously accommodated.
ØHENRY recounted:
“We sat across from a 7-Eleven until one of our friends found the rest of the group.”
As they waited, ØHENRY noted that while many in their group were intoxicated, both he and Jessi remained sober. While they were chatting, a male fan approached Jessi, accompanied by two friends. Jessi politely declined their request for a picture as she was tending to one of her intoxicated friends. However, the fan persisted and continued to harass her.
The situation escalated when a man from their group, who Jessi and ØHENRY had just met that night, suddenly punched the fan, leaving everyone shocked. ØHENRY described Jessi as being visibly shaken by the man’s actions.
ØHENRY’s Defense of Jessi
In his statement, ØHENRY insisted on Jessi’s innocence in the situation, asserting:
“I put this on everything I love; she did nothing wrong! I was there and saw everything firsthand.”
He emphasized that it was unfair to hold Jessi accountable for the actions of a man she did not know, stating:
“How can she control a crazy ass grown man she doesn’t even know. Yall have to stop with this narrative like she’s a bad person. It’s really manipulation.”
He concluded his message by encouraging Jessi to keep her “head up.”
Impact on Jessi’s Career
The incident has had a considerable impact on Jessi’s career. Following the assault, she was interrogated by the police, despite it being clarified that the assailant was not associated with her. Nevertheless, Jessi faced intense backlash and issued two apologies for the incident. As a result of the controversy, her agency has decided to part ways with her.
The ongoing fallout from this situation raises questions about the treatment of idols in the public eye, especially regarding their interactions with fans and how they are held accountable for incidents beyond their control.