On September 26, 2023, Sports Kyeonghyang released a bombshell interview featuring five former staff members closely associated with the girl group April, in which they vehemently denied claims that member Lee Naeun led a bullying campaign against her former group mate, Lee Hyunjoo.

The former staff included a representative from DSP Media and several managers, hair designers, and other key personnel who witnessed the group's dynamics firsthand. They collectively asserted that there was no targeted bullying of any member and specifically refuted the rumors surrounding Lee Naeun’s involvement.

This controversy reignited public interest after Lee Naeun's appearance on popular YouTuber KwakTube's channel, where her involvement in past bullying incidents was scrutinized. Critics quickly lambasted Lee Naeun for seeming to downplay the seriousness of the accusations and heavily criticized KwakTube for appearing to defend her, despite his own history as a bullying victim.

As the conversation around this scandal returns to the forefront, the testimonies from the five staff members have added another layer of complexity to the discourse. One former manager, referred to as ‘B’, described the alleged bullying incidents—citing the “shoe,” “tumbler,” and “kimbap” events—as trivial matters that were not worth addressing at the time. “None of the members were involved in any bullying,” he stated emphatically.

Another staff member, ‘D’, shed light on the complications of group dynamics, saying, “Hyunjoo was a rookie who often skipped schedules or arrived late. The other members chose to tread lightly in order to maintain peace within the group.”

‘E’ further assured the media, “I never witnessed anyone being unkind to Hyunjoo. They were all young and respectful toward each other.” In a particularly striking statement, ‘C’ remarked, “To think Lee Naeun could lead a bullying effort is simply unbelievable.”

However, the backlash against these testimonies has been swift, as many netizens greeted the accounts with skepticism. Citing previous court rulings from defamation lawsuits brought by April members against Hyunjoo, critics pointed out inconsistencies and highlighted that the court had noted biases in the statements made by DSP employees defending the group.

The court ruled that the subjectivity of personal feelings makes it challenging to determine the absolute truth of the accusations, while also accepting evidence from Hyunjoo's side, including diary entries that depicted her experiences more positively.

As the narrative continues to unfold, online discussions show a divide among fans and observers. Some suspect that the supporting testimonies are merely attempts at "media play" aimed at rehabilitating Lee Naeun’s public image.

While the controversy remains unresolved, it serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of group dynamics in the entertainment industry and the ongoing discussions around bullying and accountability. The question looms: will these testimonies be enough to vindicate Lee Naeun, or will the shadow of controversy continue to linger over her career? Only time will tell.