VCHA's KG sues JYP USA, UnitedHealthcare CEO killer lookalike competition, and more!

VCHA’s KG terminates contract, sues JYP USA

17-year-old KG Crown–represented by her guardian Tracey Madder–filed a case against JYP USA Inc. at the Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking to terminate her contract and hold the company accountable for child abuse, labor exploitation, and unfair business practices.

“Yesterday, I filed a lawsuit because I have decided to terminate my contract with JYP Entertainment and exit VCHA after experiencing incidents of abuse and mistreatment by certain staff members,” said KG in her Instagram story.

She explained that the decision had been final since May when she realized that the harsh training and working environment that she and her fellow members endured was bordering on abuse.

“I am not in support of the working and living conditions that led a member to attempt suicide. Nor do I support an environment that encourages eating disorders and has caused members to self-harm,” asserted the artist.

These allegations were further substantiated when court documents surfaced to the public, showing that one of the members engaged in an act of self-harm by consuming 42 NyQuil pills after developing an eating disorder. However, management dismissed the incident and instead espoused the narrative that eating disorders were normal.

KG also revealed that the exploitative nature of her contract left her financially destitute despite working non-stop.

“I have accumulated a massive amount of company debt, while being paid very little for the intense work and extreme limitations on our personal lives,” she noted.

The artist believes that her experience is just a manifestation of an “issue that lies deeply embedded in the K-Pop industry.” Still, she remains hopeful that speaking out against the abuses will inspire positive changes within the industry.

“I hope that my leave can encourage the K-Pop system to make changes for the better, in hopes of protecting the idols and trainees who remain in these companies’ hands,” the 17-year-old remarked.

UnitedHealthcare CEO killer lookalike competition goes viral

While the police remain on the hunt for the eal UnitedHealthcare CEO killer, New Yorkers organized their own hunt for his lookalike by hosting a lookalike competition in Washington Square Park.

Eight people participated in the event, all wearing identical hooded jackets and face masks—the same attire the killer was seen wearing in leaked security footage when he shot Brian Thompson.

While some dressed intentionally to mimic the look, others were simply trying to stay warm. For instance, the winner of the contest claimed that he was just wearing his everyday fit.

When a reporter jokingly asked if he had received a call from the FBI, he replied, “I hope not… I’m a law-abiding citizen.”

Meanwhile, other participants remarked that they merely joined the contest because they “heard that there was going to be a cash prize.”

The seeming apathy over the CEO’s death earned mixed reactions online. Some labeled the event as "weird" and "immoral," while others found it amusing and "very New York."

“People do not feel great about the current state of things in our world,” said the winner of the killer’s lookalike contest, explaining the public's reaction to Thompson's murder.

The More You Know

• BTS’ Jungkook opened a personal YouTube channel under the name “Bam’s dad.”

• LOONA’s Hyeju joined the protest calling for the impeachment of South Korea’s President Yoon: “Some people might feel uncomfortable that I'm voicing my opinion about this, but I am a citizen of this country before I am an idol, so I think this is the right thing to do. Let's be strong!!!!”

• Another member of LOONA, Yves, also expressed her support for the protest. “I'm thinking every day about ways I can help, even from afar,” said the singer.

• Following news of breakup with Sabrina Carpenter, Barry Keoghan issued a statement explaining why he deactivated his Instagram account: “I can only sit and take so much […] I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract from my family and my work. The messages I have received no person should ever have to read them.”

• TikTok star Breckie Hill addressed rumors of being involved in a cheating scandal with Barry Keoghan: “No, I did not get with Barry. I have never even encountered this man in my life. The only time I’ve seen him is on my TV screen from watching Saltburn.”  She added that she merely reposted a video claiming she was homewrecking Sabrina Carpenter’s relationship because she “thought it was so ridiculous.”

— Bea Bertuldo

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