[Trigger Warning/Content Warning: Bullying and Depression]
On the 22nd of July, APRIL member Lee Naeun trended online for an alleged bullying scandal. A K-netizen, who claimed to have gone in the same elementary school with the idol singer, said that Naeun bullied her for a long time.
"Up to this day, my mom still gets angry whenever she sees Naeun on television. She was a mean girl. Throughout my elementary years, she bullied me in so many ways. I used to go home crying because of it."
Then, another user who seemed to experience the same ill fate from the singer posted another comment. It looks like all three of them went to the same school together. "I was also bullied by Naeun. I was shy back then, so I didn't speak a lot. Then, she started bullying me, and I became depressed. The most embarrassing moment was when Naeun pointed her fingers at me and said, 'she looks like a handicap.' Then, she rated how I look from head to toe."
The two netizens who commented also explained that they kept their mouth shut the whole time because they weren't sure if speaking up is the right thing to do. "But each time I see her face on the television or hear her voice, I get reminded of everything she had done to me. She's like a nightmare I can't forget. It may have been fun for her, but I was severely hurt and wounded by her actions. I hope that Naeun doesn't forget how terrible she had made all the people she bullied feel."
K-netizens felt for the commenter and expressed their frustrations over the singer. "The least she could do is apologize," one commented.
However, DSP media released an official statement, saying that the allegations weren't true. "The rumors circulating in social media about the people who were allegedly bullied by Lee Naeun are false. We will be taking legal actions against anyone who spread it."
Meanwhile, the singer's representative said that Naeun was completely shocked by the news. She didn't get out of the house and was scared to check social media. Naeun's agency also said that the rumors weren't true and they would take legal actions against anyone who spread them.
APRIL, the idol group Naeun belongs to, is scheduled to release their special summer single "Hello Summer" on the 29th. Currently, the group is promoting the single and has scheduled promotional activities. They had also released concept photos and an MV teaser for the song.
However, due the shock caused by the rumors to Naeun, she decided not to participate in the upcoming activities.
Meanwhile, after the agency has released its reaction to the post, the thread was instantly deleted.
