Several girl group members have recently spoken out about smoking rumors that followed them for years, highlighting how speculation based on ambiguous photos, videos, or jokes can quickly spread online as if it were fact.
From TWICE’s Chaeyoung to fromis\ 9’s Lee Chaeyoung and tripleS’ Kim Yooyeon, the idols have each directly addressed claims that they smoke. All three cases share a similar pattern: there was no confirmed smoking scene, but online speculation continued to circulate until the idols themselves felt compelled to respond.
TWICE’s Chaeyoung Denies Recent Smoking Allegations
On August 11, Chaeyoung was spotted at a rave party hosted by FKA twigs and Seoul Community Radio at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza. A video showing her bringing an object toward her mouth subsequently circulated online, with some users speculating that she was smoking.
As the discussion continued, Chaeyoung addressed the rumors through a fan communication platform. She explained that the object was a drink rather than a cigarette, adding that she had initially intended to ignore the speculation because she was tired of seeing people talk about smoking.
Chaeyoung also questioned why she would openly smoke in front of such a large crowd, stressing that she was not someone who would behave so thoughtlessly.
Her clarification eventually put the immediate speculation to rest, but the incident once again demonstrated how quickly an ambiguous moment can turn into a rumor involving a public figure.
Fromis 9’s Lee Chaeyoung Says She Has Never Smoked
Fromis 9’s Lee Chaeyoung has faced a similar situation for several years. The idol addressed the rumor during an appearance on the YouTube channel ‘Ipman Yeolmyeon’ last month. The speculation reportedly began after a 2023 photo posted on her official account appeared to show an object resembling an electronic cigarette.
However, Lee Chaeyoung firmly denied ever smoking. “I was a non-smoker, and I am a non-smoker. I have never smoked even once,” she said. She explained that the object in the photograph was actually far away from her and that she had not realized what it was because of its bright pink color.
The rumor became so persistent that Lee Chaeyoung said even electronic cigarette companies contacted her with sponsorship offers. She speculated that her naturally husky voice may have contributed to the assumptions, but admitted that the situation was upsetting. “I have never smoked a cigarette in my life,” she emphasized while asking people to stop associating her name with the rumor.
tripleS’ Kim Yooyeon Also Addresses Smoking Speculation
tripleS member Kim Yoo Yeon has also spoken about similar rumors. During her appearance on the same YouTube channel in May, Kim Yooyeon revealed that online searches for her name were still associated with smoking-related speculation.
“I have never smoked an electronic cigarette or a cigarette, but it even appears in my related searches, so my parents are very upset,” she said.
In her case, the rumor reportedly originated from a joke during her 2024 appearance on ‘No Back Tak Jaehoon.’ When asked a question about smoking, Kim Yooyeon laughed rather than immediately answering, which some online users subsequently interpreted as evidence that she might actually smoke. As the speculation continued, she expressed her frustration at having to address the claim.
When asked directly whether she had ever smoked even once in her life, Kim Yooyeon immediately answered “No,” once again rejecting the rumor.
How Smoking Rumors Can Grow From Ambiguous Moments
Although the circumstances surrounding the three idols differ, their stories share an important common thread. None of the cases described in the report involves confirmed footage of the idols smoking. Instead, the rumors developed from an ambiguous gesture in a video, an unidentified object in a photograph, or a joke made during a television appearance.
Once the speculation began, however, it continued to circulate through online communities and related-search terms, eventually becoming an unwanted part of the idols’ public images.
The experiences of Chaeyoung, Lee Chaeyoung and Kim Yooyeon have therefore sparked broader discussion about the way online rumors involving celebrities are created and amplified. Their cases serve as a reminder that speculation is not the same as confirmation, particularly when a single photograph, brief video clip, or joking response is used as the basis for a serious claim.
For the three girl group members, directly addressing the rumors may have helped clarify their positions, but the fact that they had to repeatedly defend themselves also highlights how difficult it can be to erase an unverified claim once it becomes established online.
Sources: Daum | MHN스포츠