YouTuber Potato Turtle apologizes for 'rude' attempt to meet BLACKPINK's Jennie

YouTuber Potato Turtle (real name Song Ji-yoon), who became embroiled in a 'sasaeng' (stalker) controversy after releasing a video visiting the agency building without notice to meet BLACKPINK member Jennie, has issued a formal apology. While the creator explained the content was intended to express fan sentiment, criticism continues to mount, with many arguing that unauthorized visits to private spaces infringe upon an artist's safety and privacy.

On the 14th, Potato Turtle posted a lengthy apology on social media (SNS), stating, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable due to the video I recently uploaded. Reading each of your comments, I am deeply reflecting on how reckless my actions were."

The creator also addressed the intention behind the controversial content.

Potato Turtle explained, "I am currently working on a series of content challenging 100 items on my bucket list. Among them are achievable goals like 'seeing the aurora in Iceland,' but also realistically difficult goals like 'having a cup of coffee with Jennie.'"

"I wanted to challenge myself even with things that seemed impossible. I wanted to knock on the door and create possibilities in my own way," the creator continued. "However, I never actually thought that visiting the company or the concert venue would result in actually meeting Jennie."

Regarding the production method, Potato Turtle added, "I often refer to content from overseas creators. In other countries, there are often types of content where people convey their sincerity or deliver public messages of support to celebrities, and I wanted to express my feelings in a similar way."

"My judgment was very lacking. I caused discomfort to many people, and for that, I am truly sorry," the creator said.

The controversy began when Potato Turtle released a video on YouTube claiming to fulfill a bucket list item—'having a cup of coffee with Jennie'—by visiting the office of Jennie's personal agency, OA Entertainment.

In the video, without any prior appointment, the creator rang the doorbell of the agency entrance to deliver a letter and a bouquet of flowers. Subsequently, the creator released footage of attending a performance featuring Jennie while holding a picket that read, "Jennie unnie, do you want to have a cup of coffee?"

As the video spread online, netizens criticized the move, stating, "Fan sentiment and privacy infringement are distinctly different issues," "The act of visiting an office without authorization can be a threat to an artist," and "This behavior is no different from a sasaeng fan."

With concerns regarding artist safety due to sasaeng fans being a recurring issue in the entertainment industry, many pointed out that visiting agencies and private spaces under the pretext of 'content' is inappropriate.

As the backlash grew, Potato Turtle set the video to private and issued a further apology to reflect on the actions.

"I did not realize that the act of blindly visiting the company to deliver a letter and flowers could be perceived as sasaeng behavior," the creator stated. "I thought delivering a letter and filming the process was a way to express my sincerity, but I have realized that the method itself was wrong."

"I was too ignorant about idol fan culture and the safety issues surrounding artists. I promise to act more cautiously in the future and not repeat the same mistake," Potato Turtle added.

Regarding the picket held at the concert venue, the creator apologized, saying, "Since it was my first time visiting a concert venue, I lacked understanding of concert etiquette. I will respect the order of concert venues and strictly follow viewing etiquette in the future."

However, the creator denied allegations that the incident was 'noise marketing' intended to drive views.

"The criticism that I used Jennie for content is not true," Potato Turtle emphasized. "I simply wanted to convey my sincerity as a fan who likes Jennie. I hope my feelings are not distorted because of my inadequate methods."

The controversy highlights the thin line between fan sentiment and content production, as well as the ongoing need to protect the privacy and safety of public figures. As digital content creation expands, calls are growing for creators to balance freedom of expression with the responsibility to respect the private lives of celebrities.