Forum Della Magia
Social media influencer and YouTube sensation Song Ji-a (also known as Free Zia) has come under public scrutiny for wearing counterfeit designer clothes on a South Korean reality show Bachelor’s Hell.
As one of the most popular contestants on the show, netizens and viewers clearly had their eyes on her and her social media accounts. Ji-a was often seen wearing high-end brands like Chanel and Dior on the show, with fellow cast member Moon Se-hoon commenting that “she was the most ‘bling’ and fabulous” out of all the contestants.
After the show aired, Ji-a was later accused by netizens in online forums of wearing counterfeit designer items on the show, such as a pink knit Chanel top, a Marine Serre style, a tube top with the Dior logo, and a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings. Some eagle-eyed netizens compared the photos of Ji-a with BLACKPINK’s Jennie, saying there were slight differences in the color of the pattern compared to the real thing.
On January 18, 2022, Song Ji-a posted a handwritten letter on Instagram, apologizing for “disappointing and hurting” people over the controversy. She had also mentioned that “she will recognize the seriousness of the problem and reflect” on her actions and that she will “live more responsibly” in the future.
With her online persona Free Zia focusing on luxury fashion and lifestyle content, there was no doubt that this issue would be overblown in Korean social media circles, with others saying they felt ” deceived and misled”.
Singles Inferno Song Jia In Controversy For Wearing Fake Designer Outfits On Public Shows pic.twitter.com/iO0DU0UEFQ
— another not pannchoa (@notpannchoa2) January 16, 2022
Freezia/Song Jia from reality show “Single’s Inferno” is slammed by knetz for wearing fake/fake luxury brands while trying to maintain a “golden spoon” image
[THREAD] pic.twitter.com/vxFdiuRO9U— NOT Pannchoa (@pannchoaNOT) January 18, 2022
However, for his international fans, it’s a whole other story. Unlike Ji-a’s compatriots, international fans have shown their support for the influencer and see no need for her to apologize for it. Some even commented on how unnecessary hatred was towards Song Ji-a.
the song jia goes on live television with CUCCI, Balentino, Shanel, Frada and Palenciaga pic.twitter.com/9QglQjGiDt
— YUJIN ⁉️ (@bbyjimjams) January 17, 2022
y’all mad at jia for wearing fake designers but she still does it better than most of y’all with a real piece 🤣 y’all mad at capitalism but y’all mad at bullshit like this this makes sense lmao. you do free work for these UNPAID marks pic.twitter.com/s5gR72m1o1
— ･:*☆ asha:･ﾟ★ (@girlmeetcouture) January 17, 2022
The scandal that Song Ji-a wore fake designer clothes on Singles Inferno?
We do not care? What she needs to do is send me her Aliexpress links.
— Samantha Lui 呂詠琛 (@samanthalui_) January 17, 2022
Song ji-a gets dragged because of fake marks and she said the only plastic surgery she did was her nose je ???? 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
– rt cattos and doggos (@malingdo) January 19, 2022
the knetz are so weird for doing song ji ah apologizing for wearing fake lmao brand clothes it’s so weird apologizing and also it’s literally okay.. it doesn’t matter if it’s real or not is how you wear it and if you look good wearing it
— ً rie (@vanttefm) January 18, 2022
I don’t understand why Knetz hates Song Ji A (I don’t know her but I keep seeing her in every article) because she wears “counterfeit” clothes and the company was paying for her house? I understand that she is wearing fake because it may violate the designer’s hard work +
— ✨ Melverse ✨ /// JAEJUN AND JOOAN START!😍 (@ddaraddaddara) January 19, 2022
The whole Song Ji-a ‘scandal’ is killing me lmaoo you don’t work hard enough to be so bothered by a woman wearing fake designer
— Puta Pendeja (@lilsushi23) January 18, 2022
I can’t believe they wrote a ji-a song to apologize, she owes you nothing
— rho (@rhodayyy) January 18, 2022
not the people who make the song jia apologize for wearing fake fancy clothes on singles inferno… how does this concern us 😭 and it’s not a crime either
— julia (@vcutdoII) January 17, 2022
Why are the knetz so crazy jia song wearing fake designer?? (also from what I understand it was a shirt and the rest of his stuff is real) Like what happened to everything around anti-capitalism…
— Dani💜⁷⟭⟬ (@koossparkles) January 17, 2022
song jia posting a handwritten apology for wearing fake luxury clothes and accessories??? why are they always so mad at everything pic.twitter.com/C2xHQtDVvK
— kamilah (@yootddies) January 17, 2022
song jia writing an apology letter for wearing fake luxury clothes on singles inferno??? why are these knetz always so miserable pic.twitter.com/OQGeAw7LJ6
— ashley (@prodhynjj) January 17, 2022
if chanel korea head office was a bit SMART they might take this opportunity to pack song jia as an ambassador bc fake or not she had to give them an insane amount of promo for ppl to find out that her adjustments were wrong in the first place
– ً (@girlblogstar) January 17, 2022
now people have to apologize for not affording designer clothes??? this is so sick 😐 jia song, come behind me https://t.co/GNVjbSmShP
— lyne🌙 (@soleilxetlune) January 17, 2022
From an international fan’s perspective, the situation seems to have been overdone, considering the amount of hate Korean netizens tend to throw at a person. But, in a post by Buzzfeed’s Steffi Cao where she interviewed Korean-American social media agency owner Courtney Park who translated Song Ji-a’s apology on TikTok, she said he was not not surprising to see a difference in the reactions of Korean netizens and Western Fans.
In this article, Park explained that “South Korean culture is very image conscious” and that “the focus is more on where you shop than how you search for Korean content creators. “. Besides these main reasons why Korean netizens are abuzz, lying is also a big no-no in South Korea’s highly conservative culture.
So we have it. What do you think about all this controversy, was Song Ji-a just a material gworl, was she wrong, or do you think it shouldn’t even be an issue?
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