SM Entertainment has issued an official update regarding the legal measures being taken to protect aespa member Winter from malicious online activity.
In a newly released statement, the agency explained that it has been closely monitoring harmful posts and comments targeting the artist.
According to the company, numerous reports submitted through its official reporting platform, KWANGYA 119, along with its own monitoring efforts, have revealed a large amount of content containing harassment and defamatory remarks directed at Winter.
SM Entertainment stated that the malicious content includes sexual harassment, defamation, personal attacks, insults, invasion of privacy, and deepfake-related materials. The agency emphasized that it is fully aware of the seriousness of these actions and is continuing to collect evidence in response.
The company also noted that many of the posts have been discovered across various online platforms and communities.
These include DC Inside, Women’s Generation, Nate Pann, Instiz, TheQoo, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. According to SM Entertainment, the identified posts contain defamatory statements about Winter’s character and reputation or are intended to maliciously slander the artist.
After reviewing the gathered materials, the agency revealed that it plans to expand its legal complaints in stages. The company is preparing additional legal filings against individuals responsible for the harmful content.
SM Entertainment further explained that it is pursuing both criminal and civil legal action against those who have created or distributed malicious posts related to aespa.
The agency stated that it is actively securing evidence against individuals who repeatedly spread false information, generate harmful rumors, create sexually harassing content, or produce and distribute distorted or mocking material through personal social media accounts, online communities, and anonymous forums.
The agency emphasized that it will respond firmly and without leniency toward such behavior and warned individuals against engaging in activities that could harm the artist.
The agency’s full statement reads as follows:
Hello, this is SM Entertainment.
We would like to provide an update regarding the ongoing legal action being taken to protect the rights and interests of our artist, aespa’s Winter.
Through valuable reports submitted via KWANGYA 119 as well as our own monitoring, we are fully aware of the severity of the malicious posts and comments (sexual harassment, defamation, personal attacks, insults, invasion of privacy, deepfake content, and more) continuously being made about our artist.
In particular, we have identified numerous posts on platforms such as DC Inside, Women’s Generation, Nate Pann, Instiz, TheQoo, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube that defame Winter’s character and reputation or aim to maliciously slander her. After reviewing these posts, we will be expanding our legal complaints in stages.
Additionally, we are pursuing both criminal and civil actions against individuals who have created malicious posts related to aespa on the aforementioned platforms. We are also securing extensive evidence against those who generate malicious rumors, repeatedly spread false information, create sexually harassing content, or produce and distribute mocking or distorted content via personal social media, online communities, and anonymous forums, so please be advised that we will respond strictly without leniency, and we urge everyone to avoid becoming involved in such misconduct.
We will continue to do our utmost to protect the rights and interests of our artists in every possible way.
Thank you.
