Girl Crush to add minor to ‘sexy’ group as she turns 18, fans say ‘that’s grooming’
With K-pop being an experimental genre, it has always welcomed all kinds of concepts and groups. Blackswan is turning heads for being inclusive and adding members of African, Brazilian and Indian descent while aespa introduced AI counterparts for its members. Girl Crush, on the other hand, shocked many with its adult and mature concept. We also had member Bomi becoming the first K-pop idol to open an OnlyFans account. And while fans initially supported their risque moves, they are now slamming Girl Crush for adding a minor to their lineup.
Girl Crush was a dance group in 2016 that later debuted as a K-pop group in 2019. Following their single ‘Memories’, they have been putting out dance covers of iconic songs like Brave Girls,’ ‘Rollin’ and Iggy Azalea’s ‘Kream’. While they are pretty underrated, they have developed a cult following for their seductive performances and revealing outfits. With their contracts expiring in 2021, Girl Crush signed with a new label and is adding a new member - Hayun aka Yujin, formerly of the K-pop groups BABA and Blaze. However, it has been revealed that Hayun was born in 2005 and is still a minor, which has caused a furor online.
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Girl Crush share they will add member after she turns 18
While all Girl Crush members are in their late 20s, Hayun is only 17. This caused quite the backlash as fanbases shared that they would not be supporting Girl Crush anymore. While we have had minor-aged members in K-pop groups like SHINee, Enhypen and NMIXX, Girl Crush’s sexy concept where they wear revealing lingerie and have seductive choreography makes it inappropriate to add a minor. Hence, their label released a statement clarifying that Hayun will not officially be part of the group until she turns 18.
The agency shared that Hayun was simply a trainee and would be joining Girl Crush the next year or the year after that when she crosses 18. At the moment, Girl Crush has three members – Bomi, Zia and Taeri - who are of legal age. But the label’s explanation has not gone well with fans who claim that training Hayun to join Girl Crush while she is a minor is just another form of grooming. Furthermore, Hayun is reportedly born in November 2005, which means she is only 16 years old. The label has since deleted its social media accounts.
UPDATE: Girl Crush have shared that Hayun isn’t officially joining the group yet and is just a “practice member” who will join next year or in 2 years when she becomes an adult
— nugu promoter (@nugupromoter) May 28, 2022
However, we are still concerned about the other things she has done as a minor outside of Girl Crush https://t.co/Wa4klPA42u pic.twitter.com/Y1VhRnvK1t
‘100% wrong’
One fan tweeted, “Girl crush are one of the few current girl groups with a straight up sexy concept in the least subtle way possible how sick do you have to be to let a 16 year old join this group.” Another posted, “That’s grooming, yikes!” One wondered, “I kinda feel like they were second away from introducing her, but suddenly they got a lot of criticism and backtracked. Also them waiting for her to hit 18, is kinda creepy, gives of ‘Coming of age ceremony’.”
girl crush are one of the few current girl groups with a straight up sexy concept in the least subtle way possible how sick do you have to be to let a 16 year old join this group
— 🧜🏻♀️ (@IovefooIed) May 28, 2022
I kinda feel like they were second away from introducing her, but suddenly they got a lot of criticism and backtracked. Also them waiting for her to hit 18, is kinda creepy, gives of "Coming of age ceremony".
— Kyumin (@SzymoNii444) May 29, 2022
Another added, “Its like they are going for damage control they still posted her and used her for their content... it is still 100% wrong.” One was angry, “They’re not “training” Hayun to join Girl Crush, they’re grooming her. There’s no reason a child should be training along adult performers with everyone intending for her to join them as soon as she reaches the legal age to do so, it’s extremely exploitative and f**ked up.” A popular fanbase was upset, “Im gonna change the theme of my account soon. i don't want to support group which is okay with grooming.”
its like they are going for damage control they still posted her and used her for their content... it is still 100% wrong
— ً (@BAEKlSM) May 28, 2022
They’re not “training” Hayun to join Girl Crush, they’re grooming her. There’s no reason a child should be training along adult performers with everyone intending for her to join them as soon as she reaches the legal age to do so, it’s extremely exploitative and fucked up
— Ezra | looking for kpop moots (@_Ezroar_) May 28, 2022
im gonna change the theme of my account soon. i don't want to support group which is okay with grooming.
— GIRL CRUSH – BOMI (@girlcrush_bomi) May 29, 2022
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