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| Song Ji-ah wears a tube top with the Dior oblique pattern on it on Netflix's reality dating show, "Single's Inferno." Courtesy of Netflix |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Song Ji-ah, a cast member of Netflix's Korean reality show, "Single's Inferno," has admitted to the ongoing rumors that she wore counterfeited luxury brand goods in her YouTube videos and on the show.
The social media star, who rose to global fame after starring in the dating show, released a statement through her Instagram account, Monday, apologizing to the public.
"I apologize to everyone who has been disappointed and hurt by my actions. … There has been a controversy over clothes that I wore on social media and 'Single's Inferno.' And it is true that some of the items were knockoffs," Song wrote.
"I am sorry that my behavior damaged designers' creative work and infringed on copyright."
She added that as a person who "dreams of launching her own brand" in the future, she intends to take this issue seriously and deeply reflect on herself.
"I have deleted all the videos that contain fake luxury goods. I also want to extend my apology to all the brands that were affected by my actions."
The issue surfaced online, Sunday, when an online user posted a video on YouTube claiming that Song has been wearing counterfeit goods of high-end brands like Chanel, Dior and Versace.
The video pointed out that the crewneck short-sleeve sweater with Chanel's logo and bikini with Versace's signature design pattern on it which she wore on the show were replicas of the brands' actual designs. It said that her tube top with Dior's oblique pattern on it, worn on the show, is not an authentic product but one with a fake logo of the brand.
The YouTuber went on to question the authenticity of other accessories and clothing Song wore on social media and her YouTube channel, including a necklace from French luxury jewelry brand Van Cleef and Arpels.
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| A scene from "Single's Inferno" / Courtesy of Netflix |
After the video went viral, more people took to online communities, further raising questions about products she shared on her YouTube channel, which has over 1.9 million subscribers.
Some pointed out that she misleadingly shared haul videos ― a type of video on social media in which a person shares and reviews items they recently purchased ― pretending that replicas were authentic luxury brand products she had purchased from official brand stores.
Those haul videos have now been taken down from Song's channel.
Song, who goes by the name, FreeZia, on social media, has become popular as a model and influencer on Instagram. She started her YouTube channel in 2019, sharing vlogs and makeup tutorials.
She created a buzz after being featured on Netflix's latest Korean original reality show, which hit the platform last month, garnering her over 3.4 million followers on Instagram and 1.9 million subscribers on YouTube.
"Single's Inferno" starred 12 singles on a deserted island and followed their search for love, to escape the island as a couple for a date night in a hotel suite, somewhere in paradise. The show ranked fourth on Netflix's official weekly top 10 chart for the first week of January.
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