logo
BLACKPINK's Jennie wins defamation lawsuit against fake father, here's how Korean man made claims in unverified book

BLACKPINK's Jennie wins defamation lawsuit against fake father, here's how Korean man made claims in unverified book

Pink Villa4 days ago

BLACKPINK's Jennie has won a major legal battle to protect her personal identity and reputation. A South Korean court ruled decisively in her favor after a man (referred to as 'A') falsely claimed to be her biological father. He went on to publish an AI-generated novel exploiting that lie.
Court declares claims false
On May 9, 2025, the Uijeongbu District Court's Goyang Branch issued its official verdict. The court stated, 'There is no supporting evidence for the defendant's claim aside from his own statements.' The defendant didn't offer any documentary evidence, DNA tests, or legal or biological link to Jennie.
Meanwhile, Jennie 's family registry, an official government document, clearly listed a different individual as her father. 'It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the defendant's claim is untrue,' the court stated in its ruling. It also acknowledged the harm done to Jennie's reputation.
They cite the spread of misleading content and false rumors as damaging. As a result, the court ordered all existing copies of the book to be removed from circulation and destroyed. Additionally, the defendant was prohibited from making any references to Jennie in future books, on messaging apps like KakaoTalk, in interviews, or on social media.
Though the ruling sided firmly with Jennie, the court did not impose a financial fine or allow provisional enforcement. They noted that the case did not involve a direct property dispute or monetary claim. However, the defendants were ordered to bear the full cost of legal proceedings.
Fabricated paternity sparks legal war
The controversy began quietly but escalated quickly when A self-published a book prominently featuring Jennie's name and even her logo. The prologue went as far as to state that Jennie was the author's biological daughter. The novel, though artificial in both design and storytelling, has been generated using AI.
It circulated among certain online communities. It led to widespread speculation about Jennie's upbringing, her family's supposed wealth, and unfounded stories.
Jennie, known for being private about her personal life, especially when it comes to her family, took the matter seriously. In September 2024, her agency, OA Entertainment, issued a public statement revealing that they would be pursuing legal action.
Agency files lawsuit against author
Three months later, in December 2024, OA Entertainment followed through with its promise. They filed a formal injunction at the Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch. The lawsuit named both the man behind the false claims and his affiliated publishing company as co-defendants.
The aim of the lawsuit was not only to prohibit further distribution of the publication. It was also to impose legal restrictions on the defendant's ability to speak about Jennie in the future.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business
Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

Economic Times

time4 hours ago

  • Economic Times

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

Agencies When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business 'Today, if you have a product that can make people go 'awww', you have won,' says Vaishak, founder of The Seraphim Store in Bengaluru, which deals in sneakers, streetwear and all things hype. His current drop are a few boxes of the viral Pop Mart doll, Labubu, which is making everyone go 'aww' or 'eww', depending on which end of the ugly-cute fence you are on. Vaishak, who scores his merch mostly from Malaysia, says the blind boxes—so called because you will know the version of the doll you get only when you open the package—are spoken for even before they land. The price of the plush toy monsters starts at Rs 5,000, while special editions come for Rs 15,000. Vaishak is certain cute is serious business. It sure is. Since mid-2024, Labubus—created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung and manufactured by the Chinese toy company Pop Mart—have had the world in its chokehold. Everyone from Lisa of K-pop band Blackpink, who started the frenzy, to singer Rihanna to actor Ananya Pandey has been spotted with Labubus hitched to their luxury handbags. It is now the No. 1 collectibles release on the online resale platform StockX, selling for Rs 18,000. Labubu has also propelled Wang Ning, founder of Pop Mart, into the billionaires' club of China, one of the youngest to get there. FUN IS IN Fashion and design are intrinsically linked to nostalgia, childhood memories and elements of fun, says Aneeth Arora, founder and designer of Pero, an Indian brand which, journalist Namrata Zakaria says, brings playfulness and childlike influences into mainstream fashion. Last year, Arora worked with the Japanese company Sanrio's Hello Kitty brand to create a collection that was Indian in its craft but kawaii (Japanese term, loosely translating to cute) in its execution. Arora believes in the lasting power of cute: 'Fun and play have been in our DNA. We have worked with themes like dolls, collaborated with Barbapapa [title character of a French children's book] and now Hello Kitty. Labubu might be a microtrend but the whole idea of nostalgia and fun via fashion is not. Unlike Labubu, Hello Kitty is not a microtrend. It has been around since 1974.'Even so, the current love for cute—as evinced by #charmcore, #plushiecore and #toycore—has baffled fashion watchers. By its very nature, 'cute' suggests immaturity or lack of depth, making it a four-letter word in fashion. But people are clicking on cute. Fashion writer Sujata Assomull says, 'In uncertain times, there's a deep emotional pull toward things that feel light, nostalgic and comforting. Cuteness is a gentle escape—it's not too serious, and in that way, it becomes emotionally relevant.' Since the pandemic, microtrends have become the norm. Besides Labubus, Jellycat is the fastest sell-ing toy brand at the high-end department store chain Selfridges in the UK. Other Pop Mart blind-box toys like Crybaby and Hirono are also gaining Shetty, designer & cofounder of Huemn, says 'cuteness' is here to stay till we see a safer and more balanced political and economic climate. She adds, 'Fashion has always been a response to cultural cues—and we live in very chaotic times. It has made us desensitised. This microtrend is the biggest example of a deeply emotional response.'A Vogue Business article says the reasons toys are having a moment in 2025 are manifold: people are seeking comfort, a connection to a simpler time, they are 'affordable luxury', and these 'kidult' collectibles help adults express their personality. Agrees Shetty: 'Digital culture is accelerating these microtrends. But I believe that if it's everywhere, it's already over. This is why Labubu doesn't appeal to me, even though I'm finding joy in this trend.' Shetty, who was in Tokyo last month, went for other toys like Smiski and professional Amrita Chhabria confesses to leaning onto cute trinkets—usually picked from Miniso—as quick comforters to deal with daily stress caused by family members being in and out of hospital. Sarifluencer Ashwini Narayan pairs charms and toys with her bags as reminders of old trips. Delhi-based visual designer Soumya Marhual, 28, makes her own charms. She says, 'Owning things like this gives you a false sense of control that you are curating your life, that you are actively making choices.'It could also be a way to engage playfully with fashion. Jatin Varma, founder of Comic Con India, says, 'After Lisa was spotted with Labubu, shelves filled up overnight, resellers priced it like limited-edition sneakers and people started dropping words like 'collector' and 'fan' as if they had grown up with it. It was fascinating to see the speed at which something can go from niche to status symbol—not because of story, not because of meaning, but because it entered the right frame, in the right photo, with the right person.' Varma says, 'We have reached a point where people don't want to join culture. They want to skip straight to owning the symbol of it.' DOLL'S PARTY But for brands there's no set playbook to go by. Assomull says if a brand doesn't already have a playful or quirky side, forcing cuteness can backfire. Vivita Relan, cofounder of the whimsical ceramics brand The Wishing Chair, has been riding the cute wave since 2012. She says the line between whimsical and childish is paper-thin. Brands can strike the right balance with intent and execution. She says, 'We use playful silhouettes, but ground them in well-made artistry. Also, cuteness isn't about making an exact design replica of something from your childhood, but about evoking that feeling.' Arora agrees. She says 'cute' without solid workmanship is says this trend is evolving into 'recession luxury' where tactile, playful aesthetics serve as a psychological balm and a business tool. Assomull calls it 'emotional luxury'. 'Perhaps we have reached a saturation point with product-driven luxury: one It-bag after another. People are now craving emotion, tactility and joy,' she Bhavisha Dave, cofounder of streetwear store Capsul, which was selling Labubus last year along with other collectibles like Kaws, Be@rbrick and Hirono, says the Labubu craze signals trends are now more Asia-focused. 'Earlier, people travelled more to Europe or US; now they visit Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan, where collectible culture is a lifestyle.'Labubus are not a work of luck, she says. 'Pop Mart has been in the business of selling collectibles for a while. They understand the hype mindset— scarcity, blind box, collectible. They know how to sustain this frenzy.'Zakaria is enjoying the craze: 'I think it's a fun accessory that gives a little whimsy to an overpriced, snobby handbag.' The blind box means you can buy a Labubu but you take what you get. She says, 'It's like you can't choose a Labubu, it chooses you. Sounds like Hermes, no?'

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business
Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

'Today, if you have a product that can make people go 'awww', you have won,' says Vaishak, founder of The Seraphim Store in Bengaluru, which deals in sneakers, streetwear and all things hype. His current drop are a few boxes of the viral Pop Mart doll, Labubu , which is making everyone go 'aww' or 'eww', depending on which end of the ugly-cute fence you are on. Vaishak, who scores his merch mostly from Malaysia, says the blind boxes—so called because you will know the version of the doll you get only when you open the package—are spoken for even before they land. The price of the plush toy monsters starts at Rs 5,000, while special editions come for Rs 15,000. Vaishak is certain cute is serious business. It sure is. Since mid-2024, Labubus—created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung and manufactured by the Chinese toy company Pop Mart—have had the world in its chokehold. Everyone from Lisa of K-pop band Blackpink, who started the frenzy, to singer Rihanna to actor Ananya Pandey has been spotted with Labubus hitched to their luxury handbags. It is now the No. 1 collectibles release on the online resale platform StockX, selling for Rs 18,000. Labubu has also propelled Wang Ning, founder of Pop Mart, into the billionaires' club of China, one of the youngest to get there. FUN IS IN Fashion and design are intrinsically linked to nostalgia, childhood memories and elements of fun, says Aneeth Arora, founder and designer of Pero, an Indian brand which, journalist Namrata Zakaria says, brings playfulness and childlike influences into mainstream fashion. Last year, Arora worked with the Japanese company Sanrio's Hello Kitty brand to create a collection that was Indian in its craft but kawaii (Japanese term, loosely translating to cute) in its execution. Arora believes in the lasting power of cute: 'Fun and play have been in our DNA. We have worked with themes like dolls, collaborated with Barbapapa [title character of a French children's book] and now Hello Kitty. Labubu might be a microtrend but the whole idea of nostalgia and fun via fashion is not. Unlike Labubu, Hello Kitty is not a microtrend. It has been around since 1974.' Even so, the current love for cute—as evinced by #charmcore, #plushiecore and #toycore—has baffled fashion watchers. By its very nature, 'cute' suggests immaturity or lack of depth, making it a four-letter word in fashion. But people are clicking on cute. Fashion writer Sujata Assomull says, 'In uncertain times, there's a deep emotional pull toward things that feel light, nostalgic and comforting. Cuteness is a gentle escape—it's not too serious, and in that way, it becomes emotionally relevant.' Live Events Since the pandemic, microtrends have become the norm. Besides Labubus, Jellycat is the fastest sell-ing toy brand at the high-end department store chain Selfridges in the UK. Other Pop Mart blind-box toys like Crybaby and Hirono are also gaining popularity. Shyma Shetty, designer & cofounder of Huemn, says 'cuteness' is here to stay till we see a safer and more balanced political and economic climate. She adds, 'Fashion has always been a response to cultural cues—and we live in very chaotic times. It has made us desensitised. This microtrend is the biggest example of a deeply emotional response.' A Vogue Business article says the reasons toys are having a moment in 2025 are manifold: people are seeking comfort, a connection to a simpler time, they are 'affordable luxury', and these 'kidult' collectibles help adults express their personality. Agrees Shetty: 'Digital culture is accelerating these microtrends. But I believe that if it's everywhere, it's already over. This is why Labubu doesn't appeal to me, even though I'm finding joy in this trend.' Shetty, who was in Tokyo last month, went for other toys like Smiski and Fugglers. Marketing professional Amrita Chhabria confesses to leaning onto cute trinkets—usually picked from Miniso—as quick comforters to deal with daily stress caused by family members being in and out of hospital. Sarifluencer Ashwini Narayan pairs charms and toys with her bags as reminders of old trips. Delhi-based visual designer Soumya Marhual, 28, makes her own charms. She says, 'Owning things like this gives you a false sense of control that you are curating your life, that you are actively making choices.' It could also be a way to engage playfully with fashion. Jatin Varma, founder of Comic Con India, says, 'After Lisa was spotted with Labubu, shelves filled up overnight, resellers priced it like limited-edition sneakers and people started dropping words like 'collector' and 'fan' as if they had grown up with it. It was fascinating to see the speed at which something can go from niche to status symbol—not because of story, not because of meaning, but because it entered the right frame, in the right photo, with the right person.' Varma says, 'We have reached a point where people don't want to join culture. They want to skip straight to owning the symbol of it.' DOLL'S PARTY But for brands there's no set playbook to go by. Assomull says if a brand doesn't already have a playful or quirky side, forcing cuteness can backfire. Vivita Relan, cofounder of the whimsical ceramics brand The Wishing Chair, has been riding the cute wave since 2012. She says the line between whimsical and childish is paper-thin. Brands can strike the right balance with intent and execution. She says, 'We use playful silhouettes, but ground them in well-made artistry. Also, cuteness isn't about making an exact design replica of something from your childhood, but about evoking that feeling.' Arora agrees. She says 'cute' without solid workmanship is hollow. Shetty says this trend is evolving into 'recession luxury' where tactile, playful aesthetics serve as a psychological balm and a business tool. Assomull calls it 'emotional luxury'. 'Perhaps we have reached a saturation point with product-driven luxury: one It-bag after another. People are now craving emotion, tactility and joy,' she says. Bengaluru-based Bhavisha Dave, cofounder of streetwear store Capsul, which was selling Labubus last year along with other collectibles like Kaws, Be@rbrick and Hirono, says the Labubu craze signals trends are now more Asia-focused. 'Earlier, people travelled more to Europe or US; now they visit Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan, where collectible culture is a lifestyle.' Labubus are not a work of luck, she says. 'Pop Mart has been in the business of selling collectibles for a while. They understand the hype mindset— scarcity, blind box, collectible. They know how to sustain this frenzy.' Zakaria is enjoying the craze: 'I think it's a fun accessory that gives a little whimsy to an overpriced, snobby handbag.' The blind box means you can buy a Labubu but you take what you get. She says, 'It's like you can't choose a Labubu, it chooses you. Sounds like Hermes, no?'

Song Hye Kyo is serving serious style at Chaumet's event in Spain and we can't get enough
Song Hye Kyo is serving serious style at Chaumet's event in Spain and we can't get enough

Time of India

time10 hours ago

  • Time of India

Song Hye Kyo is serving serious style at Chaumet's event in Spain and we can't get enough

South Korean actress Song Hye Kyo recently captivated attention at a Chaumet event in Spain, donning a dreamy pink gown. The elegant dress featured spaghetti straps, a fitted bodice, and a full skirt, complemented by a gemstone necklace and retro sunglasses. Earlier, she showcased a stylish grey co-ord set on Instagram, proving her consistent fashion sense. K-drama queen Song Hye Kyo is out here proving once again that her fashion game is just as iconic as her acting. The Descendants of the Sun and The Glory star recently stepped out at a Chaumet event in Spain and all eyes were on her. Why? Because she showed up in a dreamy pink gown that was equal parts elegant and jaw-dropping. The dress was sleek and feminine, with spaghetti straps, a fitted pleated bodice, and a waist-cinching design that flared into a full, floor-sweeping skirt. It was the kind of gown that made you stop scrolling and honestly, she wore it like a total goddess. To level up the look, she paired it with a statement gemstone necklace and dangly earrings that added just the right amount of sparkle. And let's not ignore those chic black sunglasses - oval-shaped with a retro vibe that screamed old-school glam in the best way. Her makeup? Effortlessly fresh. Think dewy skin, rosy cheeks, a pop of highlighter, and a perfect pink pout. Her hair was styled in soft, loose waves, with one side tucked behind her ear to show off that flawless face. Simple, polished, and stunning. Just before this event, Song Hye Kyo also turned heads on Instagram in a super-stylish grey co-ord set. The V-neck, blazer-inspired top gave boss energy, while the pleated skirt brought a soft, feminine twist. She finished that look with statement earrings, rings, and a sleek short haircut. From statement gowns to sharp co-ords, Song Hye Kyo is effortlessly blending classic elegance with modern flair. Her looks always feel polished yet personal - never overdone, always just right. Whether she's turning heads on the red carpet or dropping Insta-worthy moments, one thing's clear: her fashion sense is as captivating as her on-screen presence. And honestly, we can't wait to see what she wears next. Bottom line? Whether it's red carpet glam or low-key luxe, Song Hye Kyo's style stays on point and we're officially obsessed with everything in her wardrobe. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store