Ailee Breaks Down as Fiancé Choi Si-hoon Finally Responds to Hurtful Rumors

On the April 15 episode of The Kim Chang-ok Show 3 on tvN STORY, guests included comedians Kim Ji-min and Hwang Je-seong alongside host Kim Chang-ok. Among them was singer Ailee, who appeared with her fiancé Choi Si-hoon ahead of their upcoming wedding.

Hwang Je-seong expressed surprise at the couple’s engagement news, saying, “I didn’t see the connection between the two of you.” Ailee explained, “I was supposed to meet a close friend, and they brought him along. The more we talked, the more I realized how thoughtful and kind he was. We went to a g.o.d concert together, and our hands kept brushing when we clapped. I didn’t mind. Eventually, he held my hand first.”

Despite their happy appearance, Ailee revealed she’s been carrying emotional weight.

“This might be something I have to live with forever,” she said. “After our relationship became public, my husband was often in the media, and people started comparing us or spreading false rumors. He’s been deeply hurt by it.”

Ailee clarified, “He’s not unemployed. He works hard—he’s not just an influencer, he also has a regular job. But people assume I’m the only one working and funding everything, which is really upsetting to see as his partner.”

Choi Si-hoon, who previously gained attention on Netflix’s Single’s Inferno, shared his pain as well:

“After appearing on the show, people started spreading rumors. It felt like my entire life up to that point had been denied. I didn’t even want to work anymore—I just wanted to disappear,” he admitted. “Now that I’m marrying Ailee, attention is back on me, and it’s tough. I work really hard, but it hurts.”

Ailee added, “He’s so worried about what people might say, he even stops me from spending money—he insists on covering everything.”

Hwang Je-seong jokingly replied, “So... were you the one writing the hate comments, Ailee?”—lightening the mood in the studio.

Choi continued, “She tells me not to look at comments, but she’s reading them right next to me.”

Ailee responded, “I know he’ll end up seeing them, so I read them first. That way, I can be prepared to comfort him.”

When asked how he deals with emotional pain, Choi shared, “At some point, you stop hearing what people say. You become expressionless, like a robot. I go sit alone in an empty room and let my emotions settle.”

Moved by his words, Ailee teared up and said, “If he hadn’t met me, he wouldn’t be living under such scrutiny or stress. I’m so sorry. But I’m grateful he still chose me.”

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