Actor-singer Lee Seung Gi’s agency HUMANMADE defended him against recent allegations about offending his Korean-American fans in a statement released Monday, September 4.
The Korean celebrity was embroiled in a controversy during his US tour when he allegedly canceled his scheduled visit to a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, owned by Korean-Americans.
According to reports, the restaurant owners and other sponsors purchased numerous tickets for his shows in the US and agreed to provide food for his staff in exchange for his visit to the dining establishment.
The agency clarified that there was a misunderstanding between the restaurant and the local promoters, and that Lee Seung Gi never agreed to a fan meet at the venue.
Read the agency’s full statement below:
“Hello. This is HUMANMADE.
This is our position regarding our artist Lee Seung Gi’s concert in the United States.
First, we would like to inform you about the fan service controversy.
HUMANMADE and Lee Seung Gi never agreed to any form of fan meeting being held at the restaurant. The relationship of the restaurant [being a] sponsor was carried out by a local performance agency. Moreover, we are completely unaware of the details of the contract between them, and we would like to inform you that the artist and our agency have absolutely nothing to do with it, especially in the financial aspect.
We express our regret that [reports] maliciously tried to damage the artist by labeling some of the staff and their acquaintances who were at the restaurant on that day as those who represent all Koreans living in the United States.
Lee Seung Gi is always deeply grateful to fans who come to his concerts and fans who always show interest and support him. Our agency and Lee Seung Gi will continue to do our best to prevent any misunderstandings with fans. Thank you.”
The restaurant owner later on admitted that they have no contract with Lee Seung Gi to appear on the fan meet at their establishment.
