Recently, two members of a podcast show have come under scrutiny for allegedly disseminating false information about the Korean entertainment industry, specifically making statements that high-profile artists, such as IU and BLACKPINK's Jennie, participate in "paid sponsorship meetings."
On May 28, a short clip from a past episode of the podcast 'ABOVE the Influence Show,' originally behind a "Bonus Clip" paywall from three months ago, went viral on social media, sparking intense online debate. In the resurfaced footage, hosts Michelle Kira Lee and Wootak Kim make statements alluding to some Korean celebrities participating in paid meetups with individuals willing to spend large sums of money.
In the short clip that went viral, Michelle claims, "All the K-pop stars in Korea are wh*res, all the Korean actresses are wh*res. Apparently, every Korean celebrity/actress there's a price tag on their head. And if you're rich enough, like a Chinese businessman, you can go to these entertainment companies and request to spend a night even with the top K-Pop stars. Even IU, 500 thousand dollars a night."
In response to Michelle's statement, Wootak Kim added, "My friend, whom I went to some summer camp with, is the son of a BMW heir. And he f***d Jennie from BLACKPINK." Michelle asks to clarify, "Like, he paid for her?" to which Wootak confirms, "Yeah. Paid for her and has a s** video. He showed me this s** video. That's how I know it was real."
Apparently, Wootak is quoting a girl who allegedly told him this story and revealed he never viewed the video himself.
Following the clip spreading on social media, angered BLACKPINK fans and IU fans called for action against the podcasters for spreading groundless claims. With growing discontent among these fans, both hosts have stated the clip is taken out of context and have posted apologies through their respective social media accounts.
Michelle Kira Lee shared, "I want to take a moment to directly address the viral clip circulating online and the rumors that have followed." She clarified that she had only reshared an opinion she had previously shared and that the video had been taken out of context. She explained, "The circulating video is edited out of context and does not reflect my beliefs, intentions, or values."
Wootak also posted his statement on Instagram and said, "All you kpop stans freaking out right now, get your facts straight. I am not hating or attacking Jennie, simply telling a story I HEARD. It was not bashing but simply repeating it because the topic was how dark the kpop industry can be and why idols have high suicide rates and how crazy these 'slave' contracts can be."
Despite their public apologies, both hosts continue to face widespread backlash, with many questioning the sincerity of their responses. Fans on social media argue that rather than taking full accountability, the hosts attempted to distance themselves from the comments by claiming the clips were taken out of context or merely repeating what they had heard. This has only fueled further outrage, as netizens emphasize that repeating such serious and damaging allegations based on hearsay, especially involving high-profile celebrities like IU and Jennie, without verifying the facts, is highly irresponsible.
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