Another K-pop scandal!
iKON leader B.I announced his departure from the popular Korean group on Wednesday, shortly after news broke that he had looked into purchasing drugs several years ago.
The singer made the revelation on his Instagram, writing that he “will humbly reflect and leave the team.” In the post, B.I (real name Kim Han-bin) denied using the drugs, but seemingly admitted to the alleged attempt to purchase marijuana and LSD in 2016.
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According to translation by the Korea Herald, he wrote:
“It’s true that I had interest in something to rely on which I shouldn’t have at one point when I was having a hard time. But I was too scared and worried to follow through… Once again, I bow my head and sincerely offer my apologies to my fans and the [iKON] members. I’m sorry.”
iKON’s label YG Entertainment, the agency behind popular girl group Blackpink, confirmed B.I.’s exit shortly after, saying in a statement that its exclusive contract with the rapper had been terminated.
The performer’s alleged drug inquiry first came to light earlier Wednesday, when Korean tabloid Dispatch released images of a text conversation that purportedly showed B.I expressing interest in purchasing illegal substances in 2016.
The person B.I was said to be messaging had allegedly been arrested by police later that year, but the K-pop star was not investigated by police at the time.
The 22-year-old served as iKON’s leader, rapper, and producer since the group’s inception in 2015. He won songwriter of the year for the band’s hit song Love Scenario at the 2018 Melon Music Awards.
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Naturally, fans of the group — who proudly call themselves “Ikonics” — are very upset over the member’s departure. In response to the scandal, Ikonics have created a Change.org petition calling for the singer to be reinstated to the band.
The summary of the petition, called “HANBIN SHOULDN’T HAVE TO LEAVE IKON,” reads:
“Hanbin was accused by Dispatch of 2016 drug use on June 11, 2019. There has been an official statement released, informing us that YG Entertainment orders drug tests every month or so from the USA and NONE of the IKON members, INCLUDING HANBIN tested positive… Ikonics and fans don’t want Hanbin to leave ikon when he did nothing wrong. He doesn’t deserve to. We just want him to be in a positive mental state and obviously at the time when he was thinking about doing drugs, he [was] not. Hanbin only mentioned he was thinking about drugs due to his pain, but NEVER took drugs due to being too scared. Please sign this!”
The petition garnered over 350,000 signatures in its first nine hours live.
Do U think the singer should have to bow out of the band over this? Sound off in the comments!
[Image via B.I/Instagram]
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