The K-pop industry is no stranger to intense scrutiny, and false rumors can spread like wildfire, deeply affecting idols’ lives and reputations. Recently, two prominent female singers, Lee Chae-young of fromis_9 and Kim Yoo-yeon of tripleS, have taken a stand to publicly refute persistent smoking allegations that have unfairly shadowed their careers.
Lee Chae-young of fromis_9 , left, and Kim Yoo-yeon of tripleS
Both artists spoke out on comedian Lee Yong-jin’s popular YouTube talk show, “The Trueman Show,” where they vehemently denied the baseless claims, emphasizing the distress caused by online speculation treated as fact.
fromis_9’s Chae-young Addresses E-Cigarette Speculation
On a recent episode of “The Trueman Show” featuring fromis_9 members Lee Na-gyung and Lee Chae-young, Chae-young didn’t hesitate when given the chance to “clear the air” during the lie-detector segment. She directly addressed the rumors that have plagued her for years.
“When you search my name, ‘cigarette’ comes up,” she revealed. “I am a nonsmoker and have never smoked.”
Chae-young explained the origin of the false claims: a social media photo she posted showing an electronic cigarette in the distant background. Unaware of the object’s nature because she doesn’t smoke, she was shocked when it sparked widespread speculation.
“Many people accepted without question that I was a smoker,” she lamented, adding that she even received sponsorship offers from e-cigarette companies, despite her true nonsmoking status.
Lee Chae-young of K-pop girl group fromis_9 clarifies a false electronic cigarette rumor during an appearance on a YouTube talk show. Captured from Ipmanyulmyeon YouTube channel
After the lie detector confirmed her honesty, the fromis_9 idol reiterated her request for the removal of associated search terms, stressing that she has “never smoked a cigarette in my life.” Fellow member Na-gyung confirmed Chae-young’s long-standing distress over the “unfair” stereotype. The rumor, which started in 2023, persisted for nearly three years, fueled by the absence of an official statement from her or her agency at the time.
Lee Chae-young of K-pop girl group fromis_9 clarifies a false electronic cigarette rumor during an appearance on a YouTube talk show. Captured from Ipmanyulmyeon YouTube channel
tripleS’s Yoo-yeon Also Denies Smoking Claims
Chae-young is not alone in facing such public scrutiny. Earlier in May, tripleS member Kim Yoo-yeon also appeared on “The Trueman Show” to address similar false accusations.
“What feels unfair is that I have never used an e-cigarette or smoked, but it still appears in searches associated with my name,” Kim stated, expressing how these persistent search results deeply upset her parents. She clarified that while smoking itself isn’t wrong for adults, the claims about *her* are simply untrue.
Kim Yoo-yeon of K-pop girl group tripleS addresses a smoking rumor during an appearance on a YouTube talk show. Captured from Ipmanyulmyeon YouTube channel
Kim’s controversy began in 2024 during an appearance on the YouTube channel “Noback Tak.” When she mentioned she couldn’t drink alcohol, host Tak Jae-hoon playfully quipped about her relieving stress by smoking. Kim’s laughter was then misconstrued by some online commenters as an admission, transforming a joke into a widespread, damaging rumor that she felt compelled to address two years later.
The Bigger Picture: Falsehoods Become “Facts”
Both Chae-young and Yoo-yeon highlighted a critical concern: their primary objection wasn’t about the morality of adult smoking, but how online repetition can elevate false rumors to perceived facts, subjecting them to intense public scrutiny over baseless claims.
Kim Yoo-yeon of K-pop girl group tripleS, right, reacts to a host’s remark during an earlier YouTube talk show appearance that sparked false smoking rumors against her. Captured from Nocback Tak YouTube channel
Fans responding to the broadcasts largely offered sympathy, questioning why nonsmoking adults in the K-pop sphere face such intense pressure and emphasizing that such rumors should never have escalated into public controversies.
*This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.*
