GOT7's JAY B: "I fully acknowledge my responsibility for the privacy controversy… The person I was back then is dead" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Singer JAY B bowed his head over past controversies regarding his private life.

On the 27th, JAY B held a roundtable interview to mark the release of his third single, "Chptr. 1," at a cafe in Heungjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

JAY B debuted in 2012 as part of the male duo JJ Project under JYP Entertainment with Park Jin-young, who is currently active as an actor. He later re-debuted in 2014 as a member of the boy group GOT7 and has since firmly maintained his position as the team's leader.

However, some fans have expressed disappointment over past controversies while simultaneously expressing gratitude for his long-standing dedication to GOT7.

Previously, JAY B was embroiled in a privacy controversy in 2023 when conversations showing him sending direct messages (DMs) via social media to a non-celebrity woman were made public. Additionally, in 2021, he sparked controversy during a live broadcast on his personal social media account when photos of nude women were visible pasted on the wall of his room.

Regarding this, JAY B stated on that day, "I fully acknowledge my responsibility," adding, "I think I was too complacent in the past. In fact, aside from times like now when I am in this position and active, for example, if I were walking around the streets of Heungjeong, I would not consider myself a celebrity. While one cannot necessarily call that wrong, I realized that instead of thinking that way, I should have thought more about my responsibility toward myself."

He continued, "I have also reflected a lot. In fact, since I was young, it was difficult for me to think, 'I am a celebrity.' So, I acted as if I were nobody, but that was somewhat wrong. I should not have had such thoughts; I should have lived with some level of awareness (that I am a celebrity). Now, I clearly and fully acknowledge my responsibility," apologizing.

So, what do fans mean to JAY B? "Among the lyrics in the tracks on this album, there is one sentence that resonates with me the most. In Hangul, it says, 'I may not be able to help you, but I can sing for you.' I think of myself as an MP3-like existence to my fans. Frankly, there is no practical way I can help them. But I want to be helpful, and when I hear that I have been even a little bit of help, it makes me very grateful," he shared.

He also said, "That is why I felt sorry when those risks arose. In fact, when I was at JYP Entertainment, such things did not exist. I thought, 'I just need to work hard on my activities,' but at some point, I think I went wrong. As I came to realize that, I decided I should repay my fans," showcasing his unique love for his fans.

JAY B also displayed humility regarding his level of recognition. In response to the question, "Do you think there are parts where the public misunderstands JAY B?" he said, "Misunderstandings? Does the public know me? I think we need to make them come to know me now. If they know GOT7, they will know me." However, he added, "Jinyoung is probably known because of his dramas. But when it comes to JAY B, if you look at it by the standard of the general public, do they know me? Some people might know me. In fact, I don't think there are any misunderstandings. That also seems like a responsibility. The responsibility for what I put out there?" while laughing.

"It is amazing that new people come to like me. There is a thought of 'What is this?' Thank you. I am grateful, but I would prefer if they did not dig too deep into my past. The person I was back then is dead. Gone. I have been reborn. To long-time fans, I want to say, 'Thank you for being my friend.' To those who are just getting to know me, I think I can say, 'Thank you for becoming my friend going forward.' I truly tend to think of them like friends. That does not mean we do whatever we want."

"Chptr. 1" is released at 6 p.m. on the 27th through various online music platforms.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original