Lee Ga Eun's agency responds following her wrongful elimination from Produce 48

[rockerista03.livejournal.com]

Lee Ga Eun’s agency has clarified their stance following the news of her wrongful elimination from “Produce 48.”

During a trial of appeals for the “Produce 101” series rigging case on November 18, the court revealed the list of contestants who were eliminated due to manipulation. Lee Ga Eun’s name was on the list, which showed that her actual final ranking on “Produce 48” was No. 5.

That day, a source from High Entertainment stated to Star News, “After seeing the information, we’ve had sufficient conversations with actress Lee Ga Eun and internal discussions. Through those talks, we’ve decided that we currently do not plan to take separate action.”

They continued, “Lee Ga Eun is working as an actress now, but she’s currently also studying music on her own. If there’s an opportunity [for her to do music] or she personally wants to, then we will help her.”

Lee Ga Eun joined the Pledis Entertainment group After School as a new member in 2012. She made the decision to compete on the Mnet show “Produce 48” in 2018 after the group’s five-year hiatus, describing it as a potential second chance.

She was a popular contestant on the show, even reaching No. 1 in realtime rankings. She took No. 8 in the second round and No. 5 in the third, safely remaining within the limits of the Top 12 that would make their debut as a new girl group. However, she was eliminated in the finale when her ranking was announced as No. 14.

Lee Ga Eun went on to part ways with Pledis Entertainment in July 2019, following the release of the solo track “Remember You.” She joined the agency High Entertainment, and she has been pursuing acting and also took part in a project album while working on songwriting.

On November 18, Mnet said in an official statement that they will compensate the contestants who were negatively affected by the manipulation.

Source: Naver via Soompi

Comments

[aeries-amethyst.livejournal.com]

Yes, whilst the members may not have been the ones in control of the situations, they are far from being victims since they benefitted from the outcome. The only victims here are the contestants who should have rightfully debuted in the groups but did not.

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

while I agree the victims are the ones who were robbed of their rightful opportunities and should be compensated, I don't think we should overlook the psychological damage from the backlash and hate the group members are facing (especially the minors),  while the higher-ups get away scot free from the scam they orchestrated. I'm in no way arguing that they have it worse but their feelings shouldn't be invalidated either. I don't think it's right to dismiss the psychological hurt just because they are successful (and undeserving of it). I mean, selling albums doesn't mean you're immune to hate comments (especially about something you didn't do).

[aeries-amethyst.livejournal.com]

I won't dispute the members facing difficulties as well due to all the backlash they've faced and the psychological impact as a result of that. They are an easy target for those with grievances about the whole situation even though people should redirect their hate at the higher ups and not the members. I won't invalidate their feelings because aside from the hate they get, some of them may feel inadequate or undeserving knowing that they didn't get their position due to their own talent and hard work but because the competition was rigged. It's a bit of a double edged sword.

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

Yes. I can understand the fans getting defensive since they were (hopefully) unkowingly rigged in, but calling them victims is a far stretch. I also agree that the real victims should be compensated at least the amount they would have made plus damages, but I have very little hopes of them handing anything other than petty hush cash knowing how seedy they are.

Since their contracts are gonna be over next year, just letting them run their course is sensible, however I'm really against any talks of extending their contracts, that really would be spititng on the victims faces.

[kicking-tenshi.livejournal.com]

Honestly I didn't follow produce 48 or any of the ensuing drama but I don't really see how izone members aren't victims? They're not the main victims but it still sucks to be collateral damage.

Am I missing something big here? I mean, I guess they win in terms of exposure but their exposure is pretty tainted and it's got to mess with them psychologically too.

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

I gotta agree you. From an economical point of view, they certainly are the winners. But from what I've seen, not only is their reputation seriously damaged (and people make no distinction between those that were rigged and those who made it thanks to their popularity) but they also got a lot of backlash, harassment and attacks, when the public should swear at Ahn Joon Young and the executives that orchestrated this scam but these guys basically got away with a little slap on the hand and people already forgot their names. Criticism and calling for justice is fair. But it's not okay to harass the girls or call them names, the way they have been. I don't think we should underestimate the psychological damage they are enduring. They are the face of this scandal, but they are people too. And people seem to forget that half of the members were (and still are) minors, which makes the attacks even more shocking. And if X1's example is anything to go by, this rigged-dol reputation will follow them way after they disband.

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

i agree with you; the members are not victims of the manipulation, they're just victims of netizens' toxicity. which is something that i condemn, but it's also something that hundreds of other people ALSO face without the added benefit of being in a super-popular group.

looking at it long-term, i doubt that this scandal will change many people's opinions about iz*one. they were already surrounded by rigging rumors from the beginning; those who were turned off by that already left, and the group's fans never cared about it. and even if iz*one's name is tarnished by this, i don't think any of the members would have been better off not being in the group. they have fans, their names and faces are known, and any real or imagined backlash they face now can be used to gain sympathy later. hell, the fans have already been invoking that as hard as they can.