Rumor Control – The REAL Insider Scoop On The T-ara Controversy!!!

**DISCLAIMER** — All information in this post has been personally received by me through an unnamed source who lives in Seoul & works for CCM. I can not personally verify this information, but I can personally vouch for the authenticity of my source. If you don’t like what you’re seeing, or you feel your fav has been put in a bad light….. just don’t shoot the messenger (aka don’t send me all kinds of hate mail). Please & Thank You!

So I’ve been holding on to some of this info for awhile (since before Hwayoung got kicked out), but I wanted to sit on it because I as not trying to kick up a shitstorm of controversy (so to speak), but now that the ish has literally hit the fanneth & the flames have died down some, I can finally reveal my AKPF EXCLUSIVE gossip from a TRUE CCM insider (ignore those “other” sites posting lies). If you need to get caught up on the controversy, check out Kristin’s trés informative “cliffnotes” roundup of T-araGate here. Let’s get right into it …. shall we?

1) There was no bullying, really. Just Isolation.  Which is still mean-spirited. But oh well. They tried to get along, it didn’t work. Look, you have to think about it this way. Here are 6 people who have worked really hard to get to the level of fame they achieved by the time Hwayoung joined the group. They had already experienced member shakeup from the first lineup of T-ara and they were finally comfortable with the 6 member group chemistry they had. Then KKS throws in this new girl — a rapper whos taking lines away from two people who already rap — & then on top of that this same new member needs a lot of training because she’s definitely not on the same level as the original 6 & she misses her twin like terribly & complains about not being put in the same group as her twin. Of course people aren’t going to be happy! So what do most catty young women do? They get bitchy & ignore the girl.

2) Jiyeon did NOT slap Hwayoung. But she almost did. Hyomin had to hold her back & there were many J vs Hwa catfights. The Troublemaking Trio (my favs Jiyeon, Eunjung, & Hyomin) were at the center of all the member complaints against Hwayoung. Boram & Qri mostly stayed out as to not choose sides. But at the end of the day, their loyalty resided with their original members.

3) Hwayoung WAS being arrogant & uncooperative. But simply, because she was tired of the drama & tired of being a T-ara member altogether. And the girl really wanted to be with her twin. I feel really bad for Hwayoung honestly. She was groomed to debut with her sister in 5dolls, but KKS thought she had more potential so he put her with T-ara. A group who did NOT want her in the first place, & honestly felt she didn’t have the same potential for their group. She was basically isolated, depressed (even though there is no such thing in S. Korea right?) and she acted out. Her final straw was when she threatened to act crazy in public against the T-ara staff & refused to perform at the show.

4) It was either Jiyeon & Eunjung or Hwayoung. Hwayoung’s last display of “ingratitude”  on the tour bus so to speak really set the troublemaking trio off! & that was the ultimatum presented to KKS & CCM by the diva trio… so they had to make the best business decision possible. They couldn’t lose their 2 biggest moneymakers or let the group go to hell like that with Hwayoung in it, so it was Bye Bye Hwayoung!

5) Ahreum & Dani were added to the group as punishment to some of the group members. You remember how Soyeon, Jiyeon, & Eunjung all publicly spoke out against their long, overworked hours in 2011? Welllll, KKS didn’t like that so how to get back at 3 of 4 of his most popular members? Add 2 new breezys to the nest to shake things up. Their addition was a statement to the originals that you CAN be replaced & that they better get in line. Also, their addition was only supposed to be temporary (for a year), but I guess things have definitely changed now that Hwayoung is officially gone.

6) The original group members are definitely cordial with the newest two members though. Why? Because KKS is watching them like a hawk & does not want a repeat fiasco of what having to get rid of Hwayoung cost T-ara in money, prestige, & reputation. Plus, they happen to respect Ahreum so far because she works really hard, has actual talent, and is more of a complement to the group than even they expected. And Dani is like a little sister (who they can manipulate  develop into being a great t-ara member) to the original members.

7) Dani doesn’t even speak Korean really at all that well, & shes debuting later because she’s (USA age – 12) & has a TON of training & Korean to learn to complete before she’s ready for debut time.

8) KKS didn’t think that firing Hwayoung was gonna be that big of a deal, as she was one of the least popular members anyways and a replacement at that. Boy was he surprised.

9) And as far as 5dolls/Co-ed goes? Well thats about as DOA as DOA could get. Hyoyoung was quietly let go of her contract earlier along with her twin Hwayoung & the real bullying controversy belongs to Chanmi & crew — who unceremoniously tormented poor SooMi until she had to practically beg to leave. thats a whole nother story

10) Hwayoung’s future as a solo artist? Very slim, indeed. and now that she’s been labeled as difficult & emotional in the industry (+ nobody really cares anymore –> T-ara lives on) her biggest chance is to be marketed in a duo with her twin, Hyoyoung (who’s got weak vocals & stage presence) for one of the lesser known agencies. Good luck twins!

11) T-ara’s future is still strong, yet they are a bit shaken by this ordeal. But expect NO more controversies in the near near future for this group. CCM is locked up tighter than San Quentin to make sure that Dani’s debut & T-ara’s fall comeback runs smoothly & is bigger than ever. The Troublemaker Trio (Eun, Jiy, Hyo) are contented & happy now that she’s gone plus they have the support of most industry professionals, idols, & the company itself. T-ara FIGHTING!

And that’s all Folks!! Well at least, all I can share so I don’t get my source caught up in some mess …. But I hope you enjoyed the fresh serving of gossip & tell me what you think in the comments below!  Especially if you need further clarification.