Female Singer Attacked on Social Media for Sharing Sweet Photos with Her Girlfriend
On the morning of February 3, Koreaboo reported that South Korean singer Jiae (a former member of the girl group WA$$UP) became a hot topic online after sharing a sweet moment with her girlfriend on social media. The photo, which showed the two lovingly pressing their cheeks together, immediately sparked controversy, leading to a wave of criticism from netizens. Many accused Jiae of promoting what they deemed an “unconventional lifestyle”. Additionally, some criticized her girlfriend, accusing her of “trying too hard” to take on a masculine role in their relationship.
Hateful comments flooded social media, with netizens writing, “I hope TV programs don’t broadcast such content. These images could negatively influence children“, “Our country is already struggling with a low birth rate. She shouldn’t be promoting this. She’s going to get backlash for sure“, “This is hilarious. Why is her girlfriend dressing like a man? Even in a same-sex relationship, I still see a male and female dynamic“, “Why do lesbian couples always have one person with short hair? Is she playing the ‘man’ in the relationship?“…
Amidst the backlash, Jiae responded directly on her personal account. She shared screenshots of the negative comments with a caption that read, “This is not ‘cross-dressing’ (women wearing men’s clothes). She’s simply a woman with a cool style. In lesbian relationships, it’s always just women with women. The ignorance of these people is unbelievable.”
Following her firm response, many fans rallied behind Jiae, leaving messages of support on her social media and condemning the scrutiny over her sexual orientation.
Jiae first made headlines in 2020 when she publicly came out as bisexual, stating, “I love both men and women. Can people understand that?” She also openly shared details about her love life, revealing, “I have a lovely girlfriend, and I’m very happy.” For the past two years, she has consistently posted sweet and affectionate photos and videos with her partner.
Jiae debuted in 2013 as the main vocalist of WA$$UP. However, the group disbanded on February 10, 2019, much to fans’ disappointment. After the group’s dissolution, Jiae pursued a solo career and continued making music. In October 2022, she released an album titled “Love Is Love”.
