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Pop Base: Seunghan leaves RIIZE, Kanye faces Charges and More!
Seunghan officially leaves RIIZE
Following a 10-month hiatus and just days after SM declared his plans to rejoin the group, Seunghan has officially announced his departure from RIIZE.
In the statement released by Wizard Production, they revealed it was ultimately the 21-year-old idol’s decision that prompted him to leave the group for good.
“Seunghan expressed his intention to leave the team for the sake of his fellow members and the fans. Respecting his decision, we inform you that Seunghan will not be rejoining RIIZE but will instead be departing from the group,” they explained.
In a handwritten letter posted on Weverse, the former idol also acknowledged that it was his own decision to leave, and then explained his choice.
“As I reflected on whether I was only thinking of myself and if I caused significant harm to the company and the members, whether it is befitting for me to be in a group that is deserving of so much love, the only emotions that I experienced were feeling worried and sorry,” said Seunghan.
“I believe the best decision for everyone is for me to leave the group. I no longer want the fans to experience confusion or pain, nor do I want any more harm to come to the members and the company because of me,” he remarked.
Seunghan had been on an indefinite hiatus, stepping away from group activities since November of last year, after private photos surfaced showing him with a cigarette and an unidentified woman rumored to be his ex-girlfriend–conducts that are deemed scandalous in the conservative K-pop industry.
“We initially made the decision with the hope that if Seunghan reflected on his past mistakes, returned to the group, and contributed to RIIZE's growth as a team once again, it could bring even greater happiness to both the artist and the fans,” said Wizard Production.
“However, upon carefully reviewing each of the opinions and reactions sent by the fans after the announcement, we realized that our decision only led to further confusion and hurt for all of you,” they added.
The company ended its statement with an assurance that it “will continue to support the members of RIIZE” so that each of them can grow further.
Such sentiment was also mirrored in Seunghan’s letter: “From the bottom of my heart, I will continue to support the group I love and wish for RIIZE to receive even more love in the future.”
Kanye West faces sexual charges from ex-assistant over alleged assault at Diddy’s studio session
Source: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Kanye West is being sued by Lauren Pisciotta, his former personal assistant, for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious during a studio session that the rapper co-hosted with Sean "Diddy" Combs.
In the 86-page complaint submitted to the court, Pisciotta detailed how she was invited by the 47-year-old rapper to the studio in Santa Monica, California. When she arrived, drinks were served to her and the other guests. This was followed by an announcement compelling everybody to drink or they would have to leave the party.
Little did she know, the drink was laced with an unknown drug. She recalled how Kanye kept giving her a glass and urging her to drink until she felt disoriented and “less in control of her body and speech.”
Pisciotta woke up the next morning with no recollection of what happened the night before. It was not until “much later” that she learned of what transpired from the rapper himself. Kanye admitted to her that they “did kind of hook up a little one time,” referring to the night that she had been drugged. He then dismissed her shocked response as a joke and quipped that “women love to say they don’t remember.”
Eventually, the rapper terminated the employment of Pisciotta without giving her the $3 million severance pay that she was owed.
Hence, the former assistant filed a complaint in June, charging the rapper of sexual harassment, breach of contract, and wrongful termination.
Kanye’s lawyers disregarded the allegations as “baseless.” They responded by labeling Pisciotta as a promiscuous woman who made advances on her boss to “coerce employment and other material benefits.”
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Kate Tomas has confirmed her breakup with Andrew Garfield. When a fan asked in the comments of her Instagram if they were still together and requested she let him know they were a fan, Tomas responded, "We broke up months ago, but I’m sure he will be happy to know he is loved 🥰❤️."