Complete Timeline of Irene Red Velvet Controversy, Starting from Instagram Rant - Netizens: Goodbye

Kapanlagi.com - The name Irene Red Velvet is currently being talked about by many K-Pop fans. After a stylist and a photo editor uploaded a long rant on Instagram about a celebrity who scolded them in front of many people during a photoshoot, netizens suspected that the person being talked about was the leader of Red Velvet, Irene. Irene herself finally apologized on her Instagram account and directly admitted that she was indeed the person mentioned by the stylist.

Here is the timeline of the incident!

 

1. Curhat Kang Kook Hwa

ditor named Kang Kook Hwa, who is known as a visual director for a series of major photoshoots, uploaded a long post on his personal Instagram account on Tuesday (20/10). In the post, Kang Kook Hwa discusses an incident where a celebrity verbally attacked him. Here is part of Kang Kook Hwa's caption, claiming to have a recording of Irene's anger towards him.

"Seeing an article about Heather Cho, who reflects a 'sociopath' in a major incident involving peanuts, where she made a plane with 250 passengers return to the airport because of peanuts, also an article about the psychopathic daughter Bang Jung Ho, who is still in elementary school, former president of TV Chosun, who abuses his power and verbally abuses his 50-year-old driver. I wonder how someone is raised to be like that. I have thought deeply about it, but today, I was truly trampled on by this one person, and I am in a position of being harassed. Proven to be disqualified as a human + a living doll behind a smiling mask + known as a warm person by friends + an 'adult child' without character + feeling entitled + having the stupidity to openly express all their shortcomings to the first person they meet," he wrote, as quoted from Allkpop.

2. Netizens Speculate Irene and Seulgi

Since the post went viral in the online community, many Korean netizens have been guessing who the person in the post is. Some Korean netizens speculate that the person referred to is Irene or Seulgi Red Velvet because of the hashtags #psycho and #monster in the closing part of this post. Psycho is a song by Red Velvet. Meanwhile, Monster is the title of a song by the duo Irene and Seulgi.

However, other netizens quickly pointed out that the person is definitely not Seulgi or Irene because Kang Kook Hwa has worked with both idols before. Kang Kook Hwa even praised Seulgi and Irene for their good personalities.

3. Irene Becoming More Suspicious

(credit: Pann)

However, the name Irene Red Velvet is increasingly mentioned as the arrogant person referred to by the stylist. This is because Kang Kook Hwa deleted his post that was said to praise Irene.

Not only that, netizens were even more shocked to find out that Kang Kook Hwa's post was also liked by a stylist who has worked for SM artists including Red Velvet, a famous photographer, a background dancer who has worked for Red Velvet, and other magazine editors.

4. Irene Apologizes

credit: instagram.com/renebaebae

Following this controversy, Irene uploaded a sincere apology post on her personal Instagram account last Thursday (22/10). The 1991-born idol admitted that her actions cannot be justified.

"This is Irene.
I sincerely apologize for hurting the stylist with my foolish attitude, words, and careless actions.
To reach this point, it took the help of many people who worked with me, but my childish behavior caused deep wounds. I regret and reflect on my actions.
Because of this, I look back at the past and feel very ashamed of my inappropriate words and actions, and once again realize the value of the staff.
I will be more careful with my actions in the future to prevent this from happening again.
I sincerely apologize to the fans who have supported me and to everyone who was concerned about this (issue)," Irene wrote.

5. SM Also Speaks Out

In addition to Irene's personal apology, SM Entertainment has also released an official statement regarding this issue. It is mentioned that Irene will meet with the parties involved and apologize in person.

"This is SM Entertainment.

We are making a statement regarding the stylist's online post related to Irene.

Irene personally met with the stylist this afternoon and sincerely apologized for hurting her with her thoughtless behavior, words, and emotional actions, and she regrets causing concern with her immaturity.

Our agency takes responsibility for this incident, and we do not forget the hard work of all the representatives and staff who work together with our company and artists. We will work hard to ensure that this does not happen again to the people who work with us.

We apologize once again for causing concern to many people," wrote SM Entertainment.

6. Kang Kook Hwa Deletes Post

After Irene apologized on Instagram and SM issued a statement, Kang Kook Hwa deleted her post. There are rumors that SM and Irene have met the stylist directly before issuing their statement.

7. Korean Netizens' Reactions

Some comments from Korean netizens after Irene and SM issued their apology statement, as reported by TheQoo:

"Okay. Goodbye."

"Wasn't her image all this time as a gentle woman and an ideal wife and mother? They always promoted her as a caretaker for other members due to the age difference."

"Is this what you call an apology?"

"I used to really like her. This is very disappointing. I'm disgusted."

"Feels like a robot wrote this apology."

"I feel like throwing up."

"This is the first time SM is doing something like this (apologizing directly). Makes me curious how bad the recording is."

"She has truly destroyed her image. It will be difficult to recover from this."

"An arrogant idol is a failed idol."

8. Fans' Reaction to Irene

Meanwhile, Irene and Red Velvet fans on Twitter are also discussing this issue. They acknowledge that what Irene did was wrong, but they still support her. Here are some statements given by the 29-year-old female fans.

I BELIEVE IN YOU????#IRENE #??? pic.twitter.com/hIW3cjsq8J

— BBN0329 (@BAEBUNNY0329) October 22, 2020

Several Irene fanbases and fansites say they will still love and believe in the woman named Bae Jooyun. Various hashtags were given for Irene on Twitter, such as WE GOT YOUR BACK and #WeLoveYouIrene.

9. A Series of Irene's Past Behaviors Discussed Again

Because of this incident, Irene's past actions are brought up and discussed again by netizens. Like when Irene protested to the manager because her voice was heard during a Red Velvet fansign.

Commentary from Doyoung NCT about Irene on a television program is being discussed again in the online community in Korea. In one of the old episodes of On Style's Laundry Day, Doyoung appeared as a guest. To the panelists of the show, he revealed that Irene is a scary senior among the trainees.

A YouTuber also revealed that a stylist was forced to tie Irene's shoelaces. And many other stories.

10. Support from People around Irene

Many people close to Irene have spoken up by telling the truth about the real personality of their idol. Like Choi Sunhee (choreographer), Lee Boram (stylist), Hyuni (backdancer), Soonsoo (MUA).

Sunny (dancer, choreographer)

Hello. I am Choi Sunhee who's taken care of Red Velvet's choreography directing for 5 years. I am posting this because it seems like too many big misunderstandings about Joohyun (Irene) are piling up.

- pic.twitter.com/Z57Bw4wJNP

— TODAY IS WENDY (@flowerene329) October 23, 2020

They uploaded photos of Irene or gifts from their idol and talked about her true personality.

11. Film Screening of Irene Postponed?

There is news circulating that the movie DOUBLE PATTY starring Irene has been canceled for release at the end of this year and is currently discussing a new release date for 2021. This is said to be one of the consequences of the recent controversy.

As reported by Allkpop, the producers denied that Irene's controversy is the reason for the delay in release. From the beginning, they have been discussing the possibility of postponement due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

(kpl/pit)