▪ Photos shared on social media, raising concerns.
▪ Fans demand better privacy protection for Mingyu.
▪ L’Occitane issues apology for the incident.
Recently, a significant privacy breach has put SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. French luxury brand L’Occitane faced backlash after an employee leaked inappropriate photos of Mingyu from a commercial shoot.
The controversy began when the employee posted several images of Mingyu on their personal social media account. These included photos of Mingyu in various states of undress, which fans quickly covered with grey blocks to protect his privacy. The unauthorized sharing of these photos raised serious concerns about the invasion of his personal space.
L’Occitane employee leaks private photos of Mingyu.
Fans were outraged by the employee’s actions, expressing their frustration on social media. Many took to trending hashtags to demand better protection for Mingyu. The incident sparked a broader conversation about privacy and respect for celebrities.
L’Occitane has since issued a public apology, addressing the issue directly. The official statement from the brand condemned the employee’s behaviour and promised to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future. Despite this, many are questioning how such sensitive material ended up on a private phone and why it was shared online.
SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu was the brand ambassador for L’Occitane.
The situation has sparked intense debate among Korean netizens. Many expressed disbelief that the photos were saved on the employee’s phone in the first place. Comments ranged from concerns about portrait copyrights to accusations of sexual harassment. There is a strong sentiment that the employee’s actions reflect poorly on L’Occitane’s internal policies and employee training.
L’Occitane released an official notice that addressed the matter.
This is L’Occitane Korea.
We sincerely apologize for the recent incident involving the unauthorized release of photos from the L’Occitane Asia Ambassador campaign, which were improperly distributed on the personal social media account of one of our employees. We acknowledge that there is no excuse for this breach and fully accept responsibility for what has occurred.
We take this matter with the utmost seriousness, and we deeply regret the distress caused to the artist and all the fans. We extend our deepest apologies to them.
The employee involved has been completely removed from all duties, and immediate disciplinary action (Suspension) has been enforced.
To prevent such incidents in the future, we will implement a comprehensive and regular training program for all employees. This program will emphasize the critical importance of respecting the copyrights, portrait rights, publicity rights, and privacy of our brand ambassador.
SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu
We will ensure that every employee thoroughly understands and adheres to these principles, and we will approach this process with a strong sense of responsibility.
We deeply regret the occurrence and accept full responsibility. Once again, we sincerely apologize to the artist and all the fans.
Critics argue that L’Occitane’s response, while timely, does not fully address the gravity of the situation. Some believe that more severe consequences are needed to ensure accountability and prevent future breaches. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining privacy and respect for celebrity endorsements.
As L’Occitane works to manage the fallout from this scandal, the focus remains on ensuring that such invasions of privacy do not recur. Fans and observers alike are watching closely to see how the brand handles this situation and what measures are implemented to protect artists like Mingyu in the future.
Disha Paul, hailing from Howrah, is an enthusiastic individual with a profound love for K-pop and K-drama. Her fascination often leads her to watch episodes and craft insightful recaps, capturing the essence of these vibrant shows.
