ØHENRY Supports Jessi After Fan Attack: ‘She Did Nothing Wrong’

On September 28, ØHENRY stepped forward as a witness featured in the video documenting the incident, stating, “I am a witness who was also present in the video that surfaced concerning the night of the incident.”

ØHENRY, an emerging American artist of Nigerian heritage, is garnering attention for his R&B repertoire, which includes tracks like “Belong With Me,” “Put It Down,” “Worth It,” “Dominos,” and “Every Day & Night.” Notably, he co-wrote the song “Love or Die” for The New Six, which achieved the 14th position on Billboard’s “2023 Best K-Pop Songs” list last year.

It seems that ØHENRY felt compelled to come forward as a witness after allegations arose regarding Jessi’s involvement in an incident with a minor fan.

He recounted, “I was invited by some friends in the music scene to gather at Courte Cafe in Gangnam. It was there that I first met a new group of friends, including Jessi. After the bar closed, we opted to grab some food and relax. We initially walked as a group of at least 12, but soon we got separated. During this time, many fans recognized Jessi and sought her out for photos, which she kindly accepted.”

ØHENRY elaborated, “As we became dispersed, we made the decision to wait for each other until we could regroup. While many in our group had been drinking, Jessi and I were sober. We ended up seated across from a 7-Eleven until one of our friends located the rest of the group. Jessi shared that she usually doesn’t go out and that this was her first outing in quite a while. She expressed her discontent over the group’s drunkenness and our separation.”

He continued, “A short while later, a male fan approached Jessi with two companions, requesting a photograph. Given the late hour, her fatigue, and her concern for an inebriated friend named Koala, she politely declined, stating she was tired. Despite her refusal, the fan continued to press, repeatedly asking ‘why?’ in an increasingly aggressive manner.”

ØHENRY added, “Just as we were preparing to leave, a man we had met that evening suddenly struck the fan. We were all stunned and bewildered by this unprovoked act of violence. Jessi was understandably frightened and anxious. None of us had any ties to this man, and his behavior was inexplicable. We were shocked to later find out he wasn’t even Korean. Jessi tried her best to de-escalate the situation, but the man’s actions were outrageous.”

He remarked, “In her distress, Jessi called a friend for assistance, and we convened a block away at a restaurant (izakaya) to calm our nerves and discuss the event. We focused on processing what had just happened rather than eating or drinking. Subsequently, the police arrived, requesting our IDs, and the fan came in, asserting that we were not involved, and then they left.” He stressed that their purpose at the restaurant was solely to resolve the incident.

ØHENRY insisted, “I swear on everything I hold dear, she did nothing wrong! I was there and witnessed everything first-hand. We had just met that night. How can she control a maniac she doesn’t know? It’s unfair to portray her as a bad person—this narrative is manipulative. Jessi, stay strong and keep your confidence!”

In the early hours of September 28, an incident unfolded in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, where an underage fan requested a photo with Jessi and was assaulted by a man believed to have been part of Jessi’s entourage. CCTV footage later revealed Jessi attempting to mediate before departing the scene, leading some to criticize her for abandoning her ethical responsibility during the assault. Consequently, Jessi attended questioning at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul.

Jessi has issued two apologies, stating, “Even though the incident occurred due to my presence, my actions, demeanor, and insufficient response since the event have hurt many, including the victim, causing feelings of betrayal and anger. I regret it to an immense degree. I deeply wish I could rewind to that moment.” She added, “Now, I’m committed to rectifying my mistakes and assisting the victim toward recovery. It’s regrettably late, but I implore for forgiveness once more. I was wrong.”

Contrarily, the assault victim responded through JTBC’s “Incident Director,” expressing, “I don’t think Jessi appears to be genuinely reflecting on the situation, and I find a lack of sincerity in her claims of moral responsibility.”

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