The agency SM Entertainment has taken a strong response to indiscriminate malicious comments, sexual harassment, and false rumors against the girl group aespa. Some perpetrators have already received guilty verdicts, including prison sentences.
On the 5th, SM Entertainment stated through its official social media that it has collected evidence of malicious posts, comments, deepfakes, sexual harassment, and defamation related to aespa, based on fan reports and its own monitoring, and has submitted a complaint. It also noted that many defendants have been identified, and investigations are underway; some have received sentences of 3 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and monetary penalties.
In particular, SM stated, "We have secured a significant amount of evidence and are preparing additional legal responses," warning, "We urge that you not be involved, directly or indirectly, in the dissemination of false information, sexual harassment, or insults."
Recently, aespa member Karina became embroiled in political controversy, leading to a surge in malicious comments. Karina posted a photo wearing a jumper with the red number '2' printed on it last month, and some supporters of the People Power Party reacted strongly, claiming it was "a political expression." Although the agency warned against over-interpretation and attempted to mitigate the situation, the controversy grew larger than expected.
SM Entertainment has maintained a 'zero tolerance policy' regarding malicious comments directed at its artists and expressed a strong determination to hold accountable in the aespa case as well.
Below is the full position of aespa.
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We would like to inform you about the progress of legal actions regarding malicious posts, comments, deepfakes, and defamatory content related to our artist aespa.
We have been collecting evidence against malicious posts and comments concerning aespa through reports from fans and our own monitoring, and based on this, we have submitted a complaint concerning insults, defamation, and the distribution of edited false videos.
We would like to inform you that many of the defendants have been identified, and investigations are ongoing, with some cases resulting in guilty verdicts of 3 years in prison/probation of 5 years and monetary penalties.
In this case involving aespa, we have collected a significant amount of evidence regarding acts of posting malicious content and comments on personal social media accounts and various online communities, as well as distributing false news and rumors in videos and images. We are preparing legal actions.
We urge you not to be involved in such illegal activities, directly or indirectly. Thank you.
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