(Video) Podcast Sparks Outrage For Claiming BLACKPINK's Jennie & IU Have Provided Escort Services
It's no secret that the K-pop industry isn't all rainbows and butterflies, with many scandals emerging that involve some of the country's biggest stars. However, one claim about K-pop's female singers sparked outrage amongst fans.
Recently, a clip of the US-based podcast, 'Above The Influence' has been making rounds on social media. The episode, originally published two months ago, featured an influencer named Kira. On the show, she made several claims about the K-pop industry, including that she had dated former BIGBANG (빅뱅) member T.O.P (탑). However, in the same episode, Kira also alleged that many female idols in the K-pop industry are currently engaging in high-value prostitution and escort services.
According to the influencer, wealthy individuals can reach out to entertainment companies and request to spend the night with any female idol. Kira then claimed that it would cost US$500,000 to sleep with singer IU (아이유). However, it's unknown whether she was just citing an example, or if she was speaking based on insider knowledge. The conversation continued with one of the podcast hosts, Woohak, backing the claim with an allegation against BLACKPINK's (블랙핑크) Jennie (제니).
The host claimed that his friend, allegedly the son of the heir of BMW, had paid to have sex with the 'Like Jennie' singer. He even claimed to have seen proof of the encounter – a sex tape featuring the idol. Understandably, the podcast sparked harsh criticism from K-pop fans. Many also urged Jennie and IU's agencies to take legal action against the podcast for defamation. It's worth noting that the podcast has gotten into controversies in the past for other unrelated claims.
It also appears that fans are more angry at the mention of Jennie and IU in the situation than the claims of prostitution amongst K-pop idols. Some said the allegations may be true, as some idols have revealed their experience with 'sponsors' who exchange financial support for sex. There have also been cases where entertainment companies force their stars to provide companionship for wealthy figures. One prominent case is that of the late actress Jang Ja-yeon, who committed suicide following years of physical and sexual abuse from her agency.
The podcast hosts and guests have defended themselves, saying the video was meant to expose the dark side of K-pop. However, their comments only sparked more outrage from fans. With such serious allegations, we hope Jennie and IU's agencies will monitor the situation and take necessary action. What are your thoughts on this?
Watch the viral clip below:
Sources: Twitter, Koreaboo (1)(2)
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