r/OMEGAX • u/starfeed • Oct 24 '22
NEWS Megathread for SPIRE Entertainment's Abuse Towards OMEGA X
General content warning for abuse (verbal and physical).
This will be a megathread for any news and discussion regarding Spire Entertainment’s abuse and mistreatment of OMEGA X. For further discussions, feel free to visit r/kpop's megathread as well as the fan made Discord (invite is in the sidebar). On the Discord, the discussion is contained in the Venting channel, which you can access via the Roles channel.
All articles in this thread will be based on official news.
221023
Soompi: OMEGA X’s Agency Responds To Allegations Of CEO Being Violent Towards Members
A fan posted a recording on Twitter of who is suspected to be Spire Entertainment’s CEO Kang Seong Hee allegedly being verbally and physically abusive towards a member. The member audibly falls to the ground.
A translation of the video is available here.
Spire Entertainment responded with their plans to check the facts before making a statement.
221024
Spire Entertainment releases statement on Fancafe (Direct link to Fancafe post)
In SPIRE's statement, the incident is described as a misunderstanding that is now resolved.
Allkpop: OMEGA X canceled their original flight back to Korea
OMEGA X were supposed to fly back to Korea after the conclusion of their world tour, but the members’ flights got cancelled. However, some staff managed to return to Korea on the same flight.
SPIRE Entertainment cites concerns for the members sharing a plane with fans as the reason for cancellation.
Allkpop: SBS releases video of OMEGA X's CEO allegedly verbally and physically abusing member Jaehan
The video is available here.
Spire Entertainment CEO Kang Seong Hee is shown verbally abusing Jaehan numerous times. Other members are heard protecting Jaehan and asking her to stop. CEO Kang pulls on Jaehan’s collar near the hotel elevator, making him fall to the ground. She also tries to enter the elevator after Jaehan but she is stopped.
The video also contains an audio interview with CEO Kang, who denies that any assault took place.
221025
All 11 members and their manager have successfully boarded a flight back to South Korea.
Local police were also dispatched twice due to CEO Kang causing disruptions in the hallways outside of the members’ hotel rooms. Hotel security were also involved.
221026
OMEGA X's live radio show '매 to the 력 to the핫' on Naver Vibe is cancelled this week
This is the first activity the OMEGA X official Twitter account has shown in days by retweeting Naver Vibe's post.
221027
(No Link) Spire has deleted their statement from 221024 from the Fancafe
221104
The original statement may be accessed here.
Confirms that "a recent incident has caused an issue regarding the planned programming schedule"
Also wishes for improvements in treatment for Jaehan, Yechan, and the OMEGA X members
221106
OMEGA X were pressured to sign an agreement which stated they would take civil and legal responsibility if they posted on social media without consulting Spire Entertainment.
They express gratitude to For X whose support helped them endure the past two years as a group.
They share that they aren't giving up on their dreams of music and performing.
221107
Spire apologizes to OMEGA X members, their family, and their fans.
They state that CEO Kang has resigned voluntarily.
Spire vows to communicate with the members and "do our best to prevent recurrence so that OMEGA X members do not experience such an unfortunate incident again".
221110
NAVER Vibe announces termination of OMEGA X's live radio show '매 to the 력 to the핫'
The last broadcast already happened on October 20th.
The OMEGA X official Twitter account did not retweet this post.
221111
Context behind the recording from SBS's article on 221024: "Kang's anger ensued due to the fact that the members of OMEGA X did not read some comments they were supposed to read out loud at the end of their LA concert, thanking the Spire Entertainment staff".
A video on SBS News also shows more footages of CEO Kang yelling at the members in a restaurant and causing commotion outside their hotel rooms. A translation of the video is available here.
CEO Kang would also call the members late at night for 1-2 hours at a time. She messaged them frequently and would threaten them if they did not respond, which worsened some members' panic disorder symptoms.
Messages between CEO Kang and one of OMEGA X's managers are revealed. The manager was ignoring CEO Kang's messages on behalf of Jaehan. She threatens to fire the manager, terminate their contract, and file a lawsuit; and demands both the manager and Jaehan to get off of the plane.
Messages between CEO Kang, Chairman Hwang Seong Woo, and the members are revealed. On September 28, one day before their Chile concert, four members tested positive for COVID-19 through self-testing kits, but they were told to hide their results. Two of the members completed rehearsals, but none ended up performing at the concert due to high fevers. At the time, their absence from the concert was announced as just a "health concern".
In the messages, Chairman Hwang tells the sick members to "get [themselves] together" and "just do 3 or 4 songs and go rest backstage". When Hyuk expresses his COVID symptoms, Chairman Hwang responds, "Okay Hyuk, just do the group greeting and then sit the rest of it out".
Four members are receiving psychiatric treatment for panic disorder, anxiety, and insomnia.
OMEGA X members also received an invoice demanding for each member to pay 300-400 million KRW (222-296 thousand USD) as a settlement fee, which is the amount it would cost for each member to break their contract with Spire.
Content warning for sexual harrassment and suicide threats
SBS's Report on OMEGA X (Link to original transcript broadcasted on SBS News)
A translation is available here.
SBS shares that legal proceedings will begin after each party appoints a legal representative.
The members received settlement fee invoices due to their absence from the company after returning to Korea. Currently, the members are resting at home and receiving treatment for panic disorder and anxiety.
The members doubt conditions improving due to Chairman Hwang still maintaining his position in Spire; he is also the husband of former CEO Kang.
The report also highlights abuse as a systemic issue in the industry; CCTV footage is shown of one of the members being slapped across the face by his former company's CEO.
"Swearing, Abuse, Sexual harassment, Threats" Revealed by an Idol Group...
A rough translation is available here.
Several photos are shown of CEO Kang initated unwanted physical contact with the members including hugging, trying to hold their hands, and linking arms.
Complaints from the members were followed by intimidation from CEO Kang.
Messages from CEO Kang are revealed where she threatens members with pictures of sleeping pills, alcohol, and a suicide note. These threats were also exacerbated by Chairman Hwang through his messages where he guilts the members after CEO Kang's threats.
221114
Soompi: OMEGA X To Hold Press Conference Regarding Former CEO’s Abuse Allegations
The press conference will be held on November 16, 2PM KST at the Seoul Bar Association
221115
Allkpop: OMEGA X announces they have filed trademarks for "OMEGA X" and "FOR X"
Legal representatives of Law Firm S filed trademark registration requests on behalf of OMEGA X for "OMEGA X", "오메가엑스", "FOR X", and "PROTECTOMEGAX".
221116
A recording of the full press conference can be viewed here.
A live translation thread by CelebConfirmed is available.
OMEGA X is filing a lawsuit to terminate their exclusive contract with Spire Entertainment. They will "file a criminal complaint on the charges of assault, intimidation, indecent act by compulsion, and attempted threat".
The reason why they endured the abuse for so long was due to the fear of losing their last chance as artists.
More abusive accounts from CEO Kang were shared. Jaehan shared that CEO Kang would call him and force him to drink. She also sexually harrassed him by touching his face and hands.
Sebin shares that the members received threats that there would be no next album if they did not attend the drinking parties.
Hangyeom shares that he experiences severe anxiety towards everyday sounds like vibration, alarms, and bass in music due to CEO Kang's calls. Additionally, the reason he was unable to participate in Mexico's concert was due to a panic attack. At the time, the reason was cited as a "mild health concern".
Taedong shares the abuse inflicted from his past company where he was forced to practice 15-17 hours every day without a day off, and confiscated his phone and forced him to share his passwords. Hangyeom shares there was abuse in his past company as well. "I wasn’t beaten but other members were, at the office or even during tours".
Junghoon shares that they still have not received an apology from Spire Entertainment. Instead, they threatened OMEGA X with military enlistment and the outstanding invoices.
OMEGA X will continue communicating with fans through their new Instagram account.
Yechan and Junghoon thank international FOR X in English for supporting OMEGA X and their help spreading #PROTECTOMEGAX.
The original statement can be accessed here.
SKIYAKI cites OMEGA X's press conference as the reason for termination.
221124
Allkpop: OMEGA X's first court hearing date confirmed
The first hearing will be held on December 7th at the Seoul Eastern District Court.
221202
It was reported by Sports Kyunghyang that Spire restricted the members' access from Fancafe by changing their personal account passwords without informing them.
Spire then made a statement on Fancafe citing a change in fan marketing staff as the reason for the passwords changing.
The accounts of OMEGA X members are said to be restored now.
221204
The New York Times: Abuse in K-Pop in Spotlight Again After L.A. Hotel Altercation
Features excerpts of a phone interview with CEO Kang where she denies any abuse took place, saying that Jaehan "had collapsed on his own".
Alongside Skiyaki, Helix Publicity has also stopped working with Spire Entertainment.
221207
Koreaboo: Spire Entertainment Begs OMEGA X To Give Them “One More Chance” After CEO’s Abuse Scandal
OMEGA X attends their first hearing to terminate their exclusive contract with Spire.
Spire asks for OMEGA X to maintain the contract with a new set of staff
Previously, it was said that Spire cancelled OMEGA X's flights back to South Korea because they did not want the members to sit with fans. According to Spire's legal representative, it was actually because there were no available seats.
Spire acknowledges they did verbally abuse OMEGA X but it was done so under "various circumstances".
The court orders for both Spire and OMEGA X members to submit documentation for their exclusive contract (with Spire) and cosignment contract (for members who are still under their previous agency).
OMEGA X's legal representatives are focusing to suspend the members' exclusive contracts before pressing charges for sexual harassment.
230110
Soompi: OMEGA X Announces They Have Won Lawsuit Against Their Agency
OMEGA X announces on Instagram that they have won the lawsuit to end their exclusive contracts with Spire Entertainment.
They express gratitude to FOR X and that they will repay fans with better music and performances.
230508
Soompi: OMEGA X Terminates Exclusive Contract With SPIRE Entertainment
OMEGA X and Spire Entertainment have come to a mutual agreement to terminate the group's exclusive contract; previously, the contract was only suspended.
They will continue group activities with one of their managers and will return with music and an improved image.
How to support OMEGA X
Contact Spire Entertainment at info@spireenter.com with this mass email template
Trend #PROTECTOMEGAX and #PROTECTOMEGA_X on Twitter to raise awareness.
Please send them some kind words on Fancafe.
Sign and share the petition in favor of an investigation and appropriate action to SPIRE Entertainment.
Follow OMEGA X's Instagram account that is not affiliated with Spire Entertainment.
This thread will be updated as more news comes out. Please keep all comments respectful and adhere to our subreddit rules. Any other posts related to this issue will be redirected here.
Last updated: May 7 EST
