BigHit Entertainment Announces Case Updates And Future Stance Against Malicious Posts On BTS
BigHit Entertainment has clapped back with their official statement against malicious comments for their artists, in particular, BTS. On the 29th of June 2020, the company addressed the harassment of BTS through their fan community platform, WeVerse.
It seems that the band has been experiencing a series of malicious posts that target the members, including slander and sexual harassment, leading the company to take serious measures.
The company is taking legal actions against the slander, mockery, sexual harassment, spread of rumors and other malicious posts that have been made against BTS. We will be letting everyone know of the following proceedings concerning the matter.
— BigHit Entertainment
The company also provided an update to the previous lawsuits taken out against earlier perpetrators, declaring that they had been served justice and slapped with the appropriate fines.
For the previous suits we have conducted investigations for, a group of the perpetrators have been charged and have been made to pay fines, while the rest are still being investigated.
— BigHit Entertainment
BigHit Entertainment also made known future plans for stronger actions should these crimes be continued.
If they continue their actions after court rulings, we will be suing them additionally and taking even stronger actions including requesting compensation for damage.
— BigHit Entertainment
Lastly, BigHit Entertainment thanked the fans for their constant love and support towards the artists, as well as urged them to continue to send in reports of such problematic posts if necessary.
If you wish to report any information, please send it to our legal team at (protect@bighitcorp.com). We are always thankful for fans’ love and dedication to BTS. We will work hard to protect the rights of our artists tirelessly. Thank you.”
— BigHit Entertainment
Read on for their full, translated official statement below.
Hello. This is BigHit Entertainment. The company is taking legal actions against the slander, mockery, sexual harassment, spread of rumors and other malicious posts that have been made against BTS. We will be letting everyone know of the following proceedings concerning the matter.
We have submitted the documents and evidence that fans have sent in as grounds for suing. This includes the posts made on various online communities including DC Inside, Tistory and blogs, as well as SNS posts, and comments on portal and music sites as well.
For the previous suits we have conducted investigations for, a group of the perpetrators have been charged and have been made to pay fines, while the rest are still being investigated. Through this investigation, some have requested to settle but we have let them know that we will definitely not be accepting any arrangements.
In particular, we have submitted the information about people who have been continuously targeting BTS for an extended period of time, and a portion of these people have admitted to the crimes and we are waiting for them to be dealt with after prosecution. If they continue their actions after court rulings, we will be suing them additionally and taking even stronger actions including requesting compensation for damage.
The legal action taken against these malicious posts is conducted under the supervision of our legal team with close cooperation from an external professional law firm. Please understand that it is difficult for the company to support a third party complaint (by fans), as is the law for the victim themselves to cooperate with the police investigation themselves. In addition, complaints are filed on a case-by-case basis, and it takes as little as a few months to as long as a year or more before the case is closed. Therefore, even if it takes some time, we seek the understanding of everyone as the company is working hard to address issues that infringe against our artists’ rights.
Our company is still monitoring the malicious posts and is accepting submissions for proof. We are also working to report and remove such posts at the same time. If you wish to report any information, please send it to our legal team at (protect@bighitcorp.com). We are always thankful for fans’ love and dedication to BTS. We will work hard to protect the rights of our artists tirelessly. Thank you.
— BigHit Entertainment
