WAVE's 'Your Love' cast member Ri Won has become embroiled in past controversies, prompting the production team to issue an apology.
The domestic first lesbian dating reality show 'Your Love' announced on its official SNS on the 29th, "The casting of participants was conducted based on an open recruitment announcement to gather applicants, and then suggested by a casting director whose sexual orientation is consistent with that of the participants. It was confirmed that there were no illegal or inappropriate approaches during the casting process."
Recently, allegations have surfaced on online communities that Ri Won, currently appearing on 'Your Love,' had previously worked as an adult broadcasting BJ on an internet show. Not only did she conduct broadcasts with high levels of exposure, but it was also claimed that she had inappropriate encounters with viewers, leading to an uproar online with comments suggesting she may be heterosexual.
In response, Ri Won said, "I had conducted private content broadcasts for a total of about 3 years: 2 years from 2016 to 2018, about 4 months from November 2021 to March 2022, and about 7 months from February to September 2024. During my broadcasting activities, I also went on a total of 6 dinner dates, and all meetings were healthy meals without any physical contact."
Regarding her sexual identity, she claimed, "I am a woman who loves women. I first became aware of my sexual orientation in middle school, and my first relationship was a serious one that lasted 2 years and 6 months with a woman. However, later on, wanting to deny myself, I met with both women and men."
In particular, she emphasized, "I continued a long relationship with a woman until June 2024, and afterwards met a man in August out of a denying mindset. Whenever I wanted to break up, I was threatened with exposure of my orientation to acquaintances and family, as well as threats of violence, imprisonment, hacking, and even murder threats. Before appearing on the show, I appointed a lawyer and am currently preparing for a lawsuit."
In this regard, the production team noted, "We conducted three rounds of in-depth meetings during the casting process to carefully review each participant. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the limitations in confirming and understanding every aspect. We deeply apologize for causing unintended distress to our viewers."
'Your Love' is a domestic first lesbian dating reality show, presented by the same production team that created 'Others' Love,' which stirred attention by depicting men's dating reality. The first two episodes were exclusively released on WAVE on the 25th, but have become controversial due to issues surrounding the cast.
The following is the full statement from the 'Your Love' team.
Hello, this is Display Company.
First of all, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who cherishes and watches
The production team feels a heavy responsibility for causing concern due to recent issues related to program participants.
We would like to provide clarification regarding the program's production and the casting process.
The casting of participants for
and was conducted through a casting director whose sexual orientation aligns with that of the participants.
We want to clarify that there were no illegal or inappropriate approaches during the cast selection process.
Additionally, we conducted a total of three in-depth meetings during the casting process to carefully review each participant.
Nevertheless, we acknowledge that there were limitations in verifying and understanding every aspect.
We sincerely apologize for causing unintended distress to our viewers.
Moreover, we regret the excessive deflamatory comments about the participants that have spread in some communities and on SNS.
We also sincerely hope that indiscriminate attacks or expressions of hatred will no longer continue.
<너의 연애>를 시청해 주시는 모든 분들께 다시 한번 감사드리며, 디스플레이컴퍼니는 더욱 신중하고 책임 있는 자세로 프로그램을 제작해 나가겠습니다. 감사합니다.
The following is the full statement from Ri Won.
Hello, this is Kim Ri Won, a cast member of Your Love.
First, I sincerely apologize for causing concern and discomfort to my fellow cast members, production team, those who care for me, and all viewers who have watched.
I would like to directly address the facts and apologize before causing further harm.
I have conducted private content broadcasts for a total of about 3 years: about 2 years from 2016, about 4 months from November 2021 to March 2022, and about 7 months from February to September 2024.
Additionally, during my broadcasting activities, I engaged in a total of 6 dinner dates, and all meetings were conducted as healthy meals without physical contact. To prove this, I ensured that broadcasts were conducted on the corresponding days.
However, despite having this past regardless of my personal circumstances, I sincerely apologize for appearing on the program without informing the production team beforehand, resulting in disappointment and hurt for many.
Furthermore, I would like to share about my sexual orientation. I am a woman who loves women.
I first realized my sexual orientation in middle school and had a serious relationship with a woman for 2 years and 6 months.
However, later on, wanting to deny myself, I also met with both women and men.
Until June 2024, I maintained a long relationship with a woman, and afterwards, I met a man in August out of a denying mindset.
This person helped me by organizing my broadcast videos initially, but I was threatened with exposure of my orientation to acquaintances and family, as well as threats of violence, imprisonment, hacking, and even murder threats whenever I wished to break up. In that difficult situation, rather than being outed by others, I desperately wanted to come out on my own and thus applied for the program. Although we met again for about two weeks after the initial meeting, there has been no relationship since this year.
I appointed a lawyer before my appearance on the show and am currently preparing for a lawsuit.
It is true that I engaged in inappropriate broadcasts in the past and met with men before filming, and this is without excuse. I currently have another job and believe that all records of past broadcasts have been cleared, so I appeared in the program out of my selfish desire to acknowledge my identity as a lesbian.
As a result, I sincerely apologize for causing harm to the program and hurting the valuable cast and production team.
The cast and production team also did not know about my past and are rather the ones who were harmed.
I feel deeply sorry for possibly tarnishing the significance of being the first lesbian dating program in the country due to me. I also sincerely regret that my actions might instill incorrect prejudices against sexual minorities.
All of this stems from my selfishness and inappropriate past. All sexual minorities, those involved in the program, and viewers are all victims. The total responsibility lies solely with me.
Once again, I deeply apologize to everyone who has been hurt because of me. I am truly sorry.
[Photo] SNS, video capture
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