All around Olympic gymnastics gold medalist winner Gabby Douglas bids farewell to her time in London.
America’s sweetheart had a great 2012 Olympic run with her gold medal-winning Women’s Gymnastics Team. The 16 year-old star tweeted the following message to her followers about the end of the competition:
“WOW!!! What an Olympics don’t ya think!!? I cant believe its already over!! I am soo proud of my girls we ro”
In addition, the Olympic Gymnastics Team tweeted the world’s first look at the girls’ cereal box cover.
“The U.S. women’s gold medal-winning team will grace the cover of @Kelloggs_US Corn Flakes this fall.”
Congratulations to Miss Gabby Douglas and the USA Women’s Gymnastics Team!
The baby member of the former CCM singer/dance/gymnast group Jump5 has annouced her new occupation!
Brittany Hargest, who is now a solo CCM recording artist, shared the following message on Facebook about her life in 2012!
“Hey everyone!
I know some of you are probably wondering where I’ve been lately, so I thought I would catch you all up with what I’ve been up to this past year. Not only have I been pursuing my biggest passion this year, which of course is music…but earlier this year, I got the opportunity to pursue my OTHER greatest passion, which is teaching dance! It’s something that I’ve been doing for a little while, but this past year was the first time I was able to choreograph dances and help them compete in dance competitions. It was an amazing year for me, and I couldn’t have been more proud of my students. I absolutely love getting to teach, and to see all my students with smiles on their faces when they learn something new, or find that all of their hard work actually does pay off! Dancing was such a huge part of my early life (before Jump5), and getting the chance to help spread that joy to others is such an amazing feeling. Anyway, hopefully that explains why I haven’t been around as much!
Hope that you are all doing amazing! And I hope I get to see you at a concert soon!
In the meantime, here’s just a few pictures of some of my amazing students from this past year…
T-ara Loses a Member and Faces Disbandment Request
The Core Contents Media girl group T-ara has one successful career. With a
string of hit singles like “Lies”, Bo Peep Bo Peep”, “Lovey Dovey” and
their latest “Day By Day”, the girls were on a roll. Members like Eun Jung
and Ji Yeon enjoyed profitable acting careers on top of modeling and
commercial deals.
However, the girls’ string of success came to a screeching halt the last
week of July 2012 with the announcement of T-ara member Hwa Young being
fired from the group. The CEO of Core Contents Media, Kim Kwang Su,
informed the press
about her departure from the group following her leg injury and inability
to perform T-ara’s choreography. Tweets rang out from the girls, Boram
unfollowed her on Twitter and Hwa Young shared sad and disheartening
messages. Fans where intitally shocked to hear the news and even more so
with the disclosure of Hwa Young’s reported disrespect of Core Content
Media’s staff. The agency claimed that the staff members filed complaints
against the group’s rapper because of her adverse behavior.
While company workers’ complaints came to light, fans found evidence of Hwa
Young’s fellow T-ara members bullying her. Specifically, a photo of Hyo Min
poking Hwa Young in the eye, videos of Boram trying to break her umbrella,
a hearsay report of Ji Yeon slapping her, Eun Jung stuffing a huge rice cake
in her mouth and countless verbal remarks that were hurtful toward Hwa
Young.
What was the result from the multiple news reports?
Many fans have turned their backs on their favorite idol group. T-ara’s
largest online fan community will shut down this month, the group lost
commercials and advertisements and a petition with over 124,000 signatures
was started online requesting that the group disband. The now anti-fans
have even asked that member Eunjung lose her contracts with the drama “Five
Fingers” and the reality variety show “We Got Married”. She lost ads and
commercials, but to date she has retained her roles on the two television
programs. On the other hand, rumored new member Da Ni will not be joining
the group until December of 2012.
K-Pop fans from Chicago had the following to say about the current
situation:
Jenny states, ” I think that the CEO should just tell the truth to
everybody. He keeps on changing the so called truth he says. We want to
know the truth not the lies. We really want to know if the T-ara members
bullied Hwa Young or if its just fake…Who knows. We want to know the
truth from the CEO himself and the T-ara members.”
“Honestly, I feel like the more he says, the harder he is making it for
people to believe him. Now, he is digging a hole for him and the rest of
the company that they won’t be able to get out of,” stated Patricia
Alexander.
They are not alone. On August 4, 2012, online group T-Jinyo threatened
protest outside the Core Contents Media building to demand the truth from
T-ara. They are standing against bullying and ill treatment toward people
that lead to suicide.
Despite opposition and the growing anti-fan base, the remaining T-ara
members remain strong. They have scheduled a concert in Japan next year and
there are no official reports of the group disbanding. According to Core
Contents Media, Hwa Young is reported to be working on an official apology
to everyone. Recently, she met with the CEO Kim to begin working out their
differences. On August 3, 2012, CEO Kim agreed to meet with the 3 members
of T-Jinyo.
He assured the press that bullying was not a factor.
Follow Kristy M on Twitter @ShellyM86
I wrote the article above for The Seoul Times – *All rights to the image belong to Core Contents Media & T-ara*
BTSCelebsCEO will be attending a session of the Bears Training Camp next month. I’ll be interviewing a Chicago Bear for this blog and bring you a BTS photo album.
Recently, the Thai member of the South Korean boy band 2PM was involved in a DUI car accident. He hit a man on a motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol.
After an official letter of apology from his company JYP Entertainment was released to the press, the singer tweeted the following message on July 26th:
“I would like to write this letter of apology for such an irresponsible act. To the injured person, his family, the people of Korea, my fans, JYPE family and staffs, 2PM members, and all the people this situation has affected. I have betrayed the ones who have given me their love and support, the love and support I don’t deserve with such behavior. I feel the need to take some time off to re-think about my action and myself, to make myself a better person and never again repeat the same mistake. I am truly ashamed that I have disappointed so many, and I am deeply sorry.”
I never condone drinking and driving and I’m torn on this subject. I think hitting and injuring someone was wrong and he should not have gotten behind the wheel drunk. However, what should happen to a person’s career after a DUI accident?
What do you think?
All rights to the photo and apology belong to Nichkhun, 2PM and JYP Entertainment
Recently, I had the opportunity to be apart of the Windy City Live studio audience.
The 9:00AM show requires their audience to dress upscale and be in the ABC-TV/Disney Studios by 7:30 AM. There is about a hour and 15 minute wait until you are seated in the icy (air conditioned) WCL room.
If you plan to visit the show in summer, make sure you bring a sweater or jacket to avoid frequent trips to the restroom!
The show is a hour and its very enjoyable. Three TV monitors airing the live program are located to the right of the audience. (Two are on mounted on the ceiling and one is eye level to the bottom row. The screens are very necessary when the cameras and crew frequently block the audience’s view of the hosts and guests. However, ALL LIVE SHOWS have gigantic moveable camera equipment so it is no biggie.
Host panel Ji suk, Ryan, Val and Roe
Nonetheless, the crew was very friendly and the show was entertaining….plus WCL has frequent giveaways on many of the shows!
I would recommend anyone visiting Chicago to give it a go!
K-pop is infiltrating into American’s music scene!
With the Girls Generation and Snoop Dogg collaboration, JYJ and Kanye West single and Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am promotion, the USA should have seen the Wonder Girls newest single coming. While you are still reeling from the Wonder Girls’ debut single “Like Money” with Akon, check out a statement from one of the networks behind the K-Pop explosion.
Mnet America’s COO Sang Cho
Recently, Mnet America’s COO Sang Cho made the following statement exclusively to BTSCelebs
“K-pop is a global phenomenon that is breaking into the American mainstream pop culture in a big way. The genre’s biggest artists are appearing on U.S. late night television. They are sharing stages with Snoop Dogg and collaborating in the studio with Will.i.am. Mnet’s goal is to help ignite this K-pop explosion by introducing fans to the hottest recording acts, cutting edge K-pop inspired trends, fashion and lifestyle through our TV Everywhere platform.”
Do you think K-Pop will top hits like Carly Rae Jepsen‘s “Call Me Maybe”?
In addition, the Olympic Gymnastics Team tweeted the world’s first look at the girls’ cereal box cover.
BTSCELEBS 