Street Woman Fighter 3 Winners O depan gang in Turmoil Amidst Internal Conflict
O depan gang, the victorious crew from Mnet's 'Street Woman Fighter 3,' is currently embroiled in internal disputes, casting a shadow over their recent championship win. The Japanese dance team, lauded for their striking performances and strong camaraderie throughout the competition, is now facing significant turmoil just as their post-victory activities were set to commence.
Initially, tensions surfaced during the group's nationwide tour following the show's conclusion. At 'THE REAL STAGE' concerts held in Seoul on September 6th and 7th, only six of the seven members appeared on stage. Leader IBUKI was notably absent, leaving the remaining members to issue tearful apologies to their awaiting fans. The organizer, Route59, later released a statement indicating that IBUKI had "reversed her agreement and notified us of her withdrawal."
However, the situation escalated rapidly as IBUKI took to social media the same night, alleging that she was "pressured into contracts without a voice as an artist" and accusing the company of unfair practices. Route59 swiftly countered, stating that IBUKI's manager had demanded undisclosed side conditions, including requests to omit performance fees from contracts, which the company deemed made negotiations impossible.
On September 9th, six members—Ruu, Hana, Kyoka, Junna, Minami, and Uwa—released a joint statement detailing their perspective. They explained that IBUKI's longtime personal manager became O depan gang's manager upon the team's formation, a decision they claim triggered repeated disputes. These included issues with unpaid or unclear performance fees, offers not being shared with members, and the loss of opportunities for both group and solo activities.
The six members further stated that IBUKI had previously apologized and promised to dismiss this manager but never fulfilled that promise. "We believed her words and agreed to rebuild trust so all seven of us could perform together. But that promise was not kept," they wrote. Their post was subsequently deleted, and the members later claimed they were locked out of the group's official account, sparking suspicions of the manager's intervention. Amidst these developments, unverified claims regarding a personal connection between IBUKI and her manager, as well as rumors of secret contracts to divert performance fees, have intensified online speculation, further damaging the crew's image post-win. The unfolding crisis, which began with a missed performance, now centers on issues of leadership, transparency, and loyalty, leaving fans keenly watching for further developments or any signs of reconciliation.
O depan gang, a dance crew from Japan, rose to prominence after winning the third season of Mnet's dance survival show 'Street Woman Fighter'. Member Kyoka, in particular, garnered significant attention for her captivating stage presence and impressive dance skills throughout the competition. The current internal conflict threatens to disrupt their activities following their championship victory.