A dating reality show cast member is facing growing controversy after allegations surfaced that the person committed adultery in the past.
The production team of the SBS variety show "Child release project - group blind date" (Group Blind Date) issued an official statement on the 21st, saying it would completely delete the broadcast footage of the female cast member accused of adultery.
The production team said, "We recently became aware that one of the cast members has a past record that could cause social controversy," and noted, "We asked the cast member to verify the facts, but we have not yet received a specific answer."
It added, "Regardless of whether it is true, we sincerely apologize for causing discomfort to viewers due to the controversy related to the cast member," and said, "Right after recognizing the controversy, we began emergency re-editing and decided to completely delete the cast member's footage from all remaining episodes."
The production team also explained the cast verification process. It said it confirmed through a pre-production survey and in-depth face-to-face interviews that there were no disqualifying issues in past or present records, and that the appearance consent form included a clause guaranteeing no involvement in crime, drugs, adultery, or school violence, and specified liquidated damages in case of violation.
It added, "Despite these procedures, we are shocked and devastated that controversy has arisen over the cast member's past conduct," and said, "We deeply apologize to viewers who were hurt and to the other cast members who participated in filming in good faith."
Group Blind Date is a dating show in which 10 single men and women who want to marry and their 10 mothers live together for six days and five nights and get to know one another with marriage as the goal.
Earlier, a woman in her 40s claimed on JTBC's "Incident chief" that one of the Group Blind Date cast members had an adulterous relationship with her husband in the past. According to the tipster, she pursued a divorce suit and an alienation-of-affection suit simultaneously in 2022, and the court ordered the husband and the woman to pay a total of 30 million won in damages.
The tipster said, "After watching the broadcast, I was so shocked that I couldn't sleep properly for several days," and noted, "My family fell apart because of that person, and it was hard to accept seeing the person appear on the show as if nothing had happened."