T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun), who faced a fierce backlash from fans who had supported him for 20 years after going public with his relationship with actress Nana, has issued a statement of his own three weeks later.
On the 1st, T.O.P apologized on his personal social media account to the operators of the fan site Choi Seung-hyun Dot Com and the fans who had supported him for 20 years, saying, “I hope those precious years won’t be remembered as a time of misunderstanding and hurt. I will live with gratitude in my heart for the rest of my life.”
Fan site shuts down eight days after relationship news … “The issue wasn’t the relationship, but misleading fans and passing off work”
Choi Seung-hyun Dot Com announced it would cease operations just eight days after T.O.P officially confirmed his relationship with Nana. But the site said the decision was not because of the relationship; rather, it cited “misleading fans,” including passing off practical work during an exhibition and album project and a lack of communication.
After an initial apology from T.O.P’s agency, Top Spot Pictures, failed to quell the backlash, T.O.P personally issued a heartfelt apology three weeks later. Attention now turns to whether he can win back the fans who have turned away.
Full statement from T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun)
Hello. This is T.O.P, Choi Seung-hyun.
I want to share my heartfelt feelings with the operators of Choi Seung-hyun Dot Com, who have been with me for the long 20 years.
Even at times when I found it difficult to believe in myself, you believed in me, and with your warm hearts and precious support, you gave me the strength to make music again.
I will never forget the time and effort you devoted to standing by that site, nor the precious sincerity of the fans who joined together in support of me.
Thanks to the tremendous love you have shown me, I was able to make it this far.
Because I felt I had to be careful with every word I said amid the various circumstances, it took me time to express how I felt. Though I am late, I want to share my heartfelt feelings with you directly.
The operators of Choi Seung-hyun Dot Com have shown me devoted love for longer than anyone else and have been a great source of support.
I hope their time and effort, and the sincerity behind them, will not be obscured by misunderstandings and speculation, but will be remembered for what they truly meant.
I hope that even the precious years we spent together will not be remembered as a time of misunderstanding or become a source of hurt for either side.
I know all too well that the attention and love you give me are never something I can take for granted, and I will carry deep gratitude in my heart for the rest of my life.
I sincerely apologize to the operators of Choi Seung-hyun Dot Com and the fans who have been misunderstood and hurt because of me.
I earnestly hope my sincerity reaches you.
