Rapper Jessi accused of neglecting fan during assault

Rapper Jessi has been accused of neglecting a fan while he was being beaten by a member of her group for asking Jessi for a photo, JTBC reported Friday.

Rapper Jessi, left, and a footage of her fan being beaten reported by JTBC [JTBC]

Rapper Jessi has been accused of neglecting a fan while he was being beaten by a member of her group for asking Jessi for a photo, JTBC reported Friday.

JTBC reported that an 18-year-old fan of Jessi was assaulted by a person accompanying the artist in southern Seoul in the early hours of Sept. 29.

In an interview with JTBC's investigative program, the victim explained that after introducing himself as a fan and requesting a photo, Jessi declined. He claimed that he apologized for bothering her and turned to leave, but a person near her suddenly struck him in the face.

The man reported the incident to the police after which Jessi and her group quickly left the scene.

Jessi uploaded a letter of apology on Saturday, explaining that she panicked and failed to act appropriately because she did not know the perpetrator in person. The person who beat the fan was an acquaintance of Jessi's producer who she had only met that day, according to her agency.

Rapper Jessi's apology uploaded on Oct. 12 on X [SCREEN CAPTURE]

"A fan recently asked me for a photograph while I was having a private gathering, which I declined twice because it was late at night," Jessi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"At that moment, the victim was beaten by someone who I only saw that day. I failed to care for the fan because I was shocked by how the situation suddenly unfolded."

"I am deeply regretful of the damage that the victim suffered regardless of any reasons," she continued. "I feel a sense of responsibility. I and my agency have been trying to contact the victim and his mother so that they may be given the rightful apology and compensation from the perpetrator."

Jessi recently signed with entertainment agency DOD and established her own label Unni under the company.

BY YOON SO-YEON, YONHAP [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]