On this day, Jihyo, member, and leader of the Worldwide K-pop group TWICE breaks her silence to straight up the rumors about her absence to their recent activity.
TWICE Jihyo released a letter, revealing her explanation as well as inner feelings regarding the matters about her. In her letter, she also apologizes to ONCEs and the netizens.
It was noted that during her brief absence on MNET Asian Music Awards 2019, netizens and other fans stirred up different reactions causing others to left hate comments about how she "lash out."
The female idol then comes up to posting her side on their fan cafe through an open letter, and Jihyo can't help herself but reveal what's her feelings and the current state of her health for the past years.
Here are the translation and explanation of the idol's letter:
"I am sorry that I have hurt and disappointed ONCE during yesterday's V-app chatting. I'll try to talk step by step from the beginning to the end. Last year in March, rumors spread around my name, and since then, I think that I've grown to become more afraid of facing people."
In March 2019, Jihyo was caught up with a big controversy, involving her to the sex cam scandal with Jung Joon Young. Though it was proved that it was a false accuse, the horrible event caused severe trauma to the idol, which became a factor of her fear of the crowd.
Even the camera and going to the airport scared her for she was afraid of the people who are going to take pictures of her, as well as to those who will shout at her. She would continuously overthink what the crowd thinks about her.
"And August came, my private life was revealed. Unfounded rumors began to spread, and negative feelings such as anxiety, depression, and fear were bottled up until it was full."
This is the time when her dating news with Kang Daniel, a former member of WannaOne was revealed, and during that time, Jihyo experience the terror of performing, and standing up in front of the crowd. She even received professional medication due to her growing mental illness, though, it didn't work that much for her.
However, it is a sad event that last year was not the beginning of her mental illness. It started and eventually escalated since her debut, where she would always receive hate comments about her, even mocking and cursing her. She also suffered from body shaming, discrimination, and was caught up in racism issue due to a Halloween costume.
But amidst everything, she created the mindset wherein she has to become firm, and with the help of her fans, she walked through the path as if there are no thorns.
"There was never a time when ONCEs were not precious to me. There was never a time I stopped worrying about you ONCEs."
Lastly, she concluded her letter by apologizing to the fans, as well as hoping the best for both the group and the fandom's happiness, even if they will have to face several problems in the future.
