Sandara Park’s Controversial Remarks Face Stronger Backlash in English-Speaking Countries

2NE1 member Sandara Park has come under scrutiny after an old anecdote about dating a minor resurfaced online. The controversy escalated to the point where the video containing her remarks was removed by her YouTube production team.

In May 2024, Sandara shared a personal story on her YouTube channel ‘Dara TV’, as part of the Dara Tour series, in which she and fellow 2NE1 member Gong Minzy traveled to the Philippines. During the video, Sandara recalled an incident from when she was 19 years old, where she dated a 14-year-old boy.

According to her own account, she said, "A guy approached me and asked for my number. He was really cute, so I gave it to him. Later, I found out he was only 14." She then admitted, "At the time, I was 19 and about to debut. I lied and told him I was 16, and we went on a few dates."

She went on to describe their time together, saying, "We played whack-a-mole, basketball games, and watched movies." However, she revealed that the situation changed drastically once she debuted with 2NE1, and her real age was publicly disclosed.

Why the Backlash?

The biggest issue fueling the controversy was the fact that Sandara, a legal adult at the time, misrepresented her age to a minor and proceeded to date him. The reaction was particularly intense in English-speaking countries, where issues related to minors and consent are highly sensitive.

As criticism mounted, the video was removed and re-edited, with the production team replacing the original version with a revised one.

Production Team Responds, but the Debate Continues

On February 11, the production team of Dara TV issued a statement explaining their decision:

"We have re-edited the video to remove any content that could be misinterpreted based on cultural differences." However, the controversy has not fully subsided, with ongoing debates across social media.

In a follow-up statement, the production team added, "We ask that people refrain from spreading baseless speculation, malicious slander, or exaggerated claims regarding this episode. We will take strong legal action against any defamatory behavior that damages the artist’s reputation."

Despite the video’s removal, discussions surrounding Sandara Park’s past comments continue to circulate online, with divided opinions.

Meanwhile, 2NE1's encore concert is set for April at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Seoul.