Comedian Lee Se-young (the lady in a dark checkered shirt) reaches for the groin of B1A4 members in the backstage of a TV studio in Seoul. [Courtesy of Hitmaker YouTube Channel]
A South Korean comedian apologized Monday for reaching her hands out to the private parts of popular boy group B1A4 members as a gag in the backstage of a cable TV studio after they filmed a comedy show.
"I don't know how to say this. I am so sorry for my actions," Lee Se-young, 27, wrote in a post updated onto her Instagram. "I am sorry for disturbing many people."
Lee, one of the main comedians appearing in Saturday's popular comedy show, has been at the center of controversy after a behind-the-scene video was uploaded onto YouTube showing her groping at what appeared to be the crotches of B1A4 members.
The incident took place when the Saturday Night Live show's casts, staff and guests gathered to share applause after the curtain fell. Lee and her female colleagues were seen raiding the guests ludicrously with Lee's hands being stretched to their private parts, although the video fell short of showing any actual physical contact.
Comedian Lee Se-young's handwritten letter of apology uploaded on her Instagram. [Lee Se-young's Instagram]
Fans opened a broadside at Lee for humiliating B1A4 members even though they smiled. They said Lee's action was tantamount to sexual harassment. Clips from the past popped up on YouTube, proving Lee was an ex-convict, taking similar actions against other boy groups like Block B and Infinite and shouting "I've touched them all!" Some angry fans urged Lee to step down but show creators said in a statement that she would not.
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com