[Trigger Warning/Content Warning: Sexual Harassment]
Rookie girl group FANATICS is currently in the spotlight after it was revealed a male staff member sexually harassed the girls during a live stream recorded back on September 7. Now, it has been uncovered that the one who made the comment was not just any normal staff - it is the company's CEO.
During the live stream, fans noticed that though the live stream started off innocently enough. Initially, the camera was at a normal angle that did not showcase their legs. The girls were excited as they announced a special raffle to win a painting done by member Doi.
As the live stream carried on, the angle of the camera started becoming more provocative, as it started going down to their legs.
Fans started noticing that other members of the group were also in the room. Doa, a member of the group and a former "Produce 101" contestant was seen in the frame for a moment, but it is assumed she and the other members chose not to appear on broadcast as they were dressed too casually.
As the camera continued to focus on their legs, a girl is seen handing Via and Chaelin a purple jacket. The two girls used the jacket to cover their legs. Soon after, the same girl personally comes over and covers Doi and Rayeon's legs with a jacket. Initial reports speculated that it was either a staff member of Sika who tried to cover the girls up, but it has since been revealed to be member Yoonhye.
As netizens analyzed the live stream, they caught the girls calling the person manning the camera as "CEO", and had even told the fans that their CEO was acting as their cameraman that day. According to fans' analysis, the CEO had angled the camera on purpose to show the girls' legs. When Yoonhye covers the girls up, a slapping sound can be heard off-camera, and the voice of the CEO berating Yoonhye is heard.
The CEO was heard saying, "What are you doing, covering their legs up? We are trying to them off, why are you covering their legs? Are you dumb?" At the time, the members did not address what was happening off-screen, though they appeared visibly bothered by it.
Chaelin stops talking mid-sentence and tries to smile. Rayeon forces a smile. Via, on the other, does not force herself to smile and is instead watching something off-screen, which is assumed to be the altercation. Doi hands back the jacket that was covering her and Rayeon's legs, trying to continue on with the broadcast and reading messages left by fans. Despite trying to carry on, there is a visibly concerned look on her face.
There are numerous speculations about the identity of the CEO. Many theorize that the CEO is a chaebol, the son of the owner of one of the biggest mega marts in South Korea. However, this is unconfirmed.
"First of all, we want to apologize to the FANATICS members and their fans. We have realized how serious the situation that had occurred involving a staff member's inappropriate remark during FANATICS's V Live broadcast back in September 7.
We want to state that regardless of whatever reason, the remark made by the staff member during the live stream was extremely inappropriate, and we will be taking the appropriate measures regarding the staff member in question.
F-ENT will make sure that an issue like this does not happen again in the future.
Once again, we would like to apologize to the fans of FANATICS, and we promise we will our best to protect our artists.
Thank you."
