X1 disbands due to vote-rigging scandal; fans oppose decision
Rookie boy band X1 has disbanded after they became embroiled in the vote-rigging controversy of the results of the survival audition TV show “Produce X 101.”
The painful decision was made on Jan. 6 during a meeting between CJ ENM and Swing Entertainment, the band’s agency, and the CEOs of the respective agencies of the boy band members.
A statement was issued by nine agencies to announce X1’s disbandment, just a little over four months since the idol group’s debut last August.
“This is Play M Entertainment, Yuehua Entertainment, TOP Media, OUI Entertainment, MBK Entertainment, Woollim Entertainment, DSP Entertainment, Starship Entertainment, Brand New Music. We have discussed with X1 members and their management companies in order to come to an agreement,” the agencies said, according to Osen.
It said, “However, we could not meet at the middle, thus, we decided on X1’s disbandment.”
The decision was in contrast to the earlier declaration by CJ ENM CEO Heo Min Hwe that X1 would be resuming their career soon.
After new reports surfaced on the disbandment, the hashtag #WeTrustX1 became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter worldwide with 680,000 tweets as of writing as fans expressed their support to X1 and opposed their disbandment.
X1 was composed of Kim Yo-han, Kim Woo-seok, Lee Han-gyul, Cha Jun-ho, Han Seung-woo, Song Hyeong-jun, Cho Seung-youn, Kang Minhee, Son Dong-pyo, Nam Do-hyon, and Lee Eun-sang, the 11 winners of “Produce X 101” who made their official debut on Aug. 27 last year with the album “Emergency: Quantum Leap.”
After the airing of the TV program’s final episode, fans complained that there was a pattern in the difference in votes of the 20 finalists.
The controversy led to an investigation that resulted in the indictment of director Ahn Joon-young, producer Kim Yongbeom, and six other people last Dec. 3. Through their lawyer, Ahn and Kim admitted most of the charges.
Last week, CEO Heo apologized and admitted “this incident is entirely at our fault, no need to justify anymore.”
“We bow our head apologizing for immensely disappointing you with a series of incidents related to Mnet. In particular, I feel extremely sad when I think about the trauma that so many trainees, who devoted all their hearts to the single dream of making a debut, suffered. I am really sorry,” added Heo, according to Osen.
The case is ongoing with the next hearing set for Jan. 14.