Korean influencer Song Ji-a, much better regarded by her on the internet moniker Freezia, was a person of her country’s largest stars a few short weeks back.
Following her look on Netflix’s South Korean courting present Single’s Inferno, the 25-yr-old’s popularity exploded, earning her millions of followers who have been blown away by her designer wardrobe and coolly self-confident demeanour.
On the other hand, her star fell virtually as quickly as it rose soon after admirers found out the luxurious goods she’d been flaunting on social media were all bogus.
Increase and drop: Korean Netflix star Tune Ji-a has been ‘cancelled’ in Korea right after enthusiasts found her lavish lifestyle as a vogue influencer was created utilizing designer knock-offs
Not only did she dress in counterfeit designer outfits on Single’s Inferno, Ji-a experienced long gone even further more by that includes dodgy knock-offs in sponsored Instagram posts and YouTube fashion haul video clips.
In 1 occasion, she brandished a counterfeit handbag from Dior in a sponsored advert for the brand’s Skip Dior fragrance.
Though it is not unusual for influencers to exaggerate their life on social media for clout, Ji-a’s fakery has hit enthusiasts significantly tough since her whole graphic was centered on wealth and privilege.
She racked up a lot more than a few million Instagram followers off the back again of her visual appearance on Single’s Inferno, starting to be the breakout star of the sequence thanks to her seemingly enviable lifestyle.
Popular: Following her physical appearance on Netflix’s Single’s Inferno, the 25-calendar year-old’s recognition exploded, earning her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and YouTube
Not only did her good appears and sense of design and style generate her hoards of followers, she was also praised for remaining a ‘golden spoon’ – a Korean phrase for anyone born into a wealthy loved ones.
She boasted about dwelling at the Seoul Forest Trimage, which is a person of the country’s most fascinating condominium complexes and a favourite among the K-pop idols and celebrities.
She also attended a single of Korea’s leading colleges, Hanyang College, which only added to her acceptance in the education and learning-obsessed region.
But after her designer scandal broke, enthusiasts did some digging and learned she was just a dance major at Hanyang, though other individuals claimed her condominium may have been rented by her Chinese management agency.
Bogus: Not only did she use counterfeit designer dresses on Single’s Inferno (pictured), Ji-a had gone even further by that includes dodgy knock-offs in sponsored Instagram posts and YouTube manner haul films
‘At this fee, she demands to just delete her Instagram account,’ wrote 1 Korean admirer.
‘Why did she lie about being a golden spoon celeb… all that arrogant sass about beating any individual on Single’s Inferno. With what? With your luxury manufacturers?’
Yet another wrote: ‘These influencers get compensated hundreds for these brand advertisements, she fundamentally fully commited fraud by showcasing a faux Dior bag on a Dior advert.’
‘It’s a difficulty that she lied to increase her sights and get paid fiscal attain from said lies. That’s a fraud, isn’t really it? It’d make no perception for viewers to remain quiet when they ended up played by her lies,’ a third included.
‘It’s uncomfortable, because why not be genuine? It appears like she is embarrassed about her upbringing. She could’ve built videos about economical very good dupes, but she did not, which says some thing about her as well,’ complained a different.
Misleading: In 1 occasion, she brandished a counterfeit handbag from Dior in a sponsored advert for the brand’s Pass up Dior fragrance (pictured)
‘I assume people today are hating much more due to the fact she experimented with to make herself up to be a golden spoon. People would not have cared if she was just sincere about becoming a normal higher education scholar residing by itself in a studio,’ included just one fan.
Ji-a issued a grovelling handwritten apology on Instagram past 7 days, saying sorry to the two her lovers and the designer brand names she had ‘infringed’ on.
‘As a particular person with a dream of launching a brand, I will severely recognise the controversy and mirror deeply. All written content with uncovered fakes has been deleted. I also apologise to the brand names who were being harmed for the reason that of me,’ she mentioned.
It was all a lie? While it truly is not unheard of for influencers to exaggerate their lives on social media for clout, Ji-a’s fakery has hit followers specifically challenging mainly because her whole image was primarily based on wealth and privilege
On the other hand, given that the apology the controversy has only developed more powerful, as more and a lot more designer fakes carry on to resurface.
She is also less than fireplace for her perceived pro-Chinese sentiment, after a movie on one of her Chinese social media channels saw her refer to South Korea’s national dish kimchi as ‘pao cai’, a Chinese time period for pickled greens.
‘Kimchi have to be identified as kimchi no make any difference wherever you are in the environment,’ raged one Korean.
‘Kimchi is pao cai? Are you kidding me? Just go to China currently,’ snapped another.
Golden lady? Not only did her good looks and sense of model receive her hoards of admirers, she was also praised for staying a ‘golden spoon’ – a Korean expression for any individual born into a rich loved ones
‘Sure… I understand the desire to make additional cash… and get famous… certainly… but you would sell your personal place for it??? I wouldn’t get in touch with myself a patriot but I fail to realize how she could do this…’ wrote a person critic.
‘I failed to care for the other stuff about her scandal but messing with kimchi is crossing the line.’
Considering that the kimchi fallout, Ji-a has taken off all posts from her social media accounts with the exception of her handwritten apology on Instagram and a next apology, in video clip kind, on her YouTube channel.
In her next apology, a sombre Ji-a is dressed in all black with no make-up on.
Backlash: She is also underneath fire for her perceived professional-Chinese sentiment, right after a video clip (pictured higher than) on one of her Chinese social media channels saw her refer to South Korea’s countrywide dish kimchi as ‘pao cai’, a Chinese expression for pickled veggies
‘I really should have been a lot more careful as someone who runs a YouTube channel. I have broken the brand’s value by employing counterfeit goods,’ she stated, according to Koreaboo.
‘Furthermore, I have dissatisfied anyone who as soon as thought in me and I am sorry for that.’
‘In the commencing, I purchased the items strictly because they had been very and then I began to receive a lot of love from the public. I wasn’t in a position to arrive to my senses and I located myself falling further into them [fakes],’ she ongoing.
‘I have let down all people who after thought in me’: The 25-12 months-outdated hung her head in shame in a sombre apology online video shared to YouTube on Tuesday
‘I retained slipping for them [fakes] even additional and focused my strength on the Song Ji-a I preferred to present to the general public.
‘I have been reflecting on my actions every working day. I recognise my shortcomings and I regret my actions. I have been living while reflecting on my actions. I am sorry.’
She concluded: ‘Everything is my fault, so I check with that you would stop criticising my household. I’m sorry.’
The young star also stated she was getting time away to ‘reflect’ on her steps.
Smash hit! Single’s Inferno premiered on Netflix in December and has been a big hit, earning comparisons to Enjoy Island
She experienced previously pre-filmed interviews and appearances on a range of Korean variety displays, but her screentime has now been edited down, and in some cases, she’s been eliminated completely from the displays entirely.
Although Ji-a has now proficiently been cancelled in Korea for the time currently being, quite a few of her Single’s Inferno co-stars are savoring their newfound fame.
Solid member Kang Soyeon just lately landed the include of Korea’s Maxim magazine, while Shin Ji-yeon has scored sponsorship deals with Alexander Wang and Chanel.
New queen bee? While Ji-a has now properly been cancelled in Korea, her co-star Shin Ji-yeon (pictured) has landed sponsorships with Chanel and Alexander Wang
Single’s Inferno premiered on Netflix in December and has rated in the international prime 10 most-watched exhibits for the last two months.
The sluggish-paced collection follows a team of captivating singletons stranded on a deserted island and compelled to stay together.
With limited provides and the searing summer warmth, they have to get the job done jointly to survive the outside when competing in challenges each individual working day.
She’s suit! Cast member Kang Soyeon lately landed the cover of Korea’s Maxim journal (pictured) and has racked up 1.2 million Instagram followers
In a astonishing twist, the singles aren’t authorized to share their ages or occupations with each and every other, and ought to as a substitute depend on their ‘natural charms’ to variety a relationship.
If they do manage to pair up, they are in a position to escape the ‘inferno’ for the night and head to ‘paradise’ – a luxurious lodge close by where by they can say and do nearly anything.
In a similar model to Gogglebox, a team of Korean celebs and comedians observe and react to the action in authentic time all through the study course of the episodes.
Although it can be quite tame as opposed to Western courting demonstrates like Adore Island, Single’s Inferno has turn into a blockbuster hit all across Asia and produced intercontinental headlines also.
Premise: The sluggish-paced sequence follows a team of captivating singletons stranded on a deserted island and compelled to reside together