T-ara's Jiyeon Solo Album News: MBK Entertainment Announces Delay in Release Following Bullying Issue
The rumor mill has been abuzz lately concerning T-ara and its members, both former and current. And due to a recent controversy surrounding the group, MBK Entertainment is postponing the release of Jiyeon's upcoming solo album.
According to Korea Herald, MBK Entertainment announced the news on Monday after scandal erupted from a post made on the internet by a person claiming to be a former employee of the agency. The post dug up an old controversy concerning an ex-member of T-ara, Ryu Hwa-young, allegedly being bullied.
"(The delay) is not 100 percent due to the controversy, but we do not want to raise suspicion that we're using it to promote our album," the agency explained.
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It can be recalled that Hwa-young left the group in 2012 following rumors of her getting bullied by other members of T-ara. According to these claims, Hwa-young was not treated well and was, at one time, even compelled to perform at a concert despite sustaining an injury on her leg. Nowadays, Hwa-young has been pouring all her efforts on acting alongside her twin sister, Hyo-young.
After the sisters made an appearance on a TV show last Wednesday to talk about the bullying issue, the aforementioned self-described former staff member of MBK Entertainment took to the internet to lay blame on Hwa-young. According to the alleged former employee, Hwa-young played the victim card even though she was completely fine. In fact, she had apparently only worn the cast in an attempt to lend credence to her fake injury. A doctor even clarified that she was okay, says the former employee.
Due to this recent turn of events, MBK Entertainment is delaying the arrival of Jiyeon's second solo album "to avoid a misunderstanding about a certain member (of T-ara) leaving the band."
Jiyeon's second album was originally slated for a March or April release.
