I'm sure you're all aware, but there's a current issue going on in the entertainment industry where idols are being plagued with bullying allegations. I've been seeing a lot of people bring up Irene scandals in relation to this saying.
"she got off easy"
"What she did was worse because her scandal happened when she was an adult while my idol was in middle school".
"She has SM and visual privilege to protect her career while my favorite artist faces expulsions from their group. It's not fair!"
First off, who's to say Irene got off easy? Irene's scandal was national headlining news in Korea. Many articles regarding her scandal overtook these news platforms for days on end. She also went on a social media blackout, and her activities and public appearances were halted until recently. For someone who is known for their CF's and brand deals, this is a big deal. Irene's brand reputation also took a hit. Before the scandal, she was firmly in the top 5 at all times, but during periods of her scandal/hiatus, she was even below nugu idols and rookies in brand reputation.
Finally, we still don't know if Irene or Red Velvet as a whole has been affected by the scandal since they haven't had a comeback yet. Once we see Red Velvet promoting, we'll see the full effects of the scandal on their careers, so stop saying she got off easy.
Irene's scandal and what's going on with the industry with the bullying allegations are two different circumstances and events, they're unrelated.
