Singer Soyou Receives Apology for In-Flight Racism, Vows Legal Action Against 'Drunk Rumors'

Former SISTAR member and singer Soyou has received an official apology from an airline following an alleged incident of racial discrimination during an international flight. However, she has also announced her intention to take legal action against persistent rumors claiming she was intoxicated during the flight.

Soyou initially shared her experience on social media last month, detailing an encounter on a flight from Atlanta to Korea after her schedule in New York. She claimed that a flight attendant, after she requested a Korean-speaking crew member due to fatigue, treated her like a problematic passenger, even summoning security. She expressed her distress, stating she felt discriminated against due to her race and was unable to eat for over 15 hours, leaving her deeply hurt.

The situation escalated when a netizen posted on social media claiming to have been on the same flight, alleging Soyou was visibly intoxicated and that security was not involved as she described. This account contradicted Soyou's initial statement.

In a follow-up post, Soyou clarified that she had consumed only a small amount of alcohol in the lounge before boarding and that any issues stemmed from a misunderstanding due to her limited English proficiency when communicating with the flight crew. She confirmed security was called but explained that a Korean-speaking flight attendant helped resolve the misunderstanding, and she was cleared to continue her journey without issue.

Despite the clarification, Soyou stated that she continued to experience humiliating moments and cold treatment throughout the flight, reinforcing her belief that racial bias was involved. She eventually received an apology from the airline regarding the discrimination claims.

Soyou expressed gratitude to those who supported her but emphasized her resolve to combat the 'drunk rumors.' "I will take firm action and pursue legal measures against baseless speculation, the spread of unconfirmed false information, and insulting remarks that infringe upon personal rights," she stated firmly.

Fans are rallying behind Soyou, with comments like "Soyou, stay strong! Racism is unacceptable" and "Hope the people spreading drunk rumors get punished." Many also thanked her for speaking out about her experience.