[NB] [Update] Publishing company for 'My Sweet Orange Tree' responds to IU's Zeze controversy

[Jo.]

Publishing company for 'My Sweet Orange Tree' responds to IU's Zeze controversy

 

 

Article: "5 year old Zeze is sexy?"... IU's new track under controversy for sexual interpretation

Source: Dispatch via Naver

The Korean publishing company for the book 'My Sweet Orange Tree' wrote a Facebook post saying <"IU-nim, Zeze is not the child you interpreted him as"> and expressed three points that they were upset with, the first being IU's interview, her lyrics, and Zeze's drawing in her album jacket cover.

They were displeased that used the term 'sexy' and explained, "Zeze is a 5 year old child who has pain within him due to child abuse. We're not sure if 'cunning' and 'dirty' is the proper way to describe him through Minguinho, Zeze's only friend who gives him warmth and consolation. The book is an autobiography of the author and is dedicated to many of the Zeze's out there in the world who are being abused today still. How can she judge a piece of work with such an intent in this way?"

On the depiction of Zeze in the album jacket picture, the rep said, "The fact that Zeze is wearing fishnet stockings and posing in that way...... Of course, there is freedom to interpreting creations. But we're not sure if sexualizing a 5 year old child going through the pain of abuse is something we can agree with. The freedom of expression, however, happens under the approval of the public."

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1. [+6,390, -274] This is how IU always is. She keeps her mouth shut when opinions turn against her. She was exactly like this during Eunhyuk's scandal. Kept her mouth shut and acted like nothing was happening until it was swept under the rug. Fans always say she's known for being a celebrity who communicates well but she hides in the face of scandals like this~

2. [+4,252, -180] If only she never said she produced the entire album from composing to writing the songs, I doubt the controversy would've brewed to where it is now. She responded so quickly to her dating rumors, why is she staying quiet on issues like this? She needs to give a clear explanation on her lyrics to Zeze and her lolita concept.

3. [+3,593, -134] Zeze is a 5 year old child, the same age as Minyul from 'Dad! Where are you going?' So when Minyul was trying hard not to lose in a game, her interpretation is the same as saying Minyul was cunning and sexy in the way that he tried. Zeze is also a victim of domestic abuse. He's been exposed to violence and doesn't know right from wrong, how could she interpret his words and actions as cunning? With her logic, she would be understanding of Go Young Wook too.

4. [+3,489, -164] Please don't mess with minors

5. [+3,080, -172] This controversy is going to cause a big drop in her image...

6. [+1,636, -34] Just what exactly is in IU's head that she interpreted a 5 year old victim of child abuse as sexy? That is not an interpretation but an error, an error that stems from her own wrong sense of values. 5 year old Zeze is not a fictional character but a reflection of the writer's childhood. He wrote this book in dedication to all of the Zeze's of the world. I cried all night after reading that book. How dare IU interpret this book in such a manner? As a fan of Zeze, I have no idea what IU was thinking. Please, don't you dare call this your art.

7. [+1,400, -36] Exactly what type of mind do you have to have to see a 5 year old child as sexy?

8. [+1,376, -28] This is such an embarrassing;; I don't know what she was thinking while writing such sexual lyrics about a 5 year old child. As if her sucking on a milk bottle in her music video wasn't shocking enough, and now all this with her media play claiming she produced the entire album herself, tsk tsk.

9. [+1,336, -80] If a male singer had done this concept with the little match girl, he would've been exiled from the industry and possibly even taken before the law. ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ Korea is so lax when it comes to the sexual expression of women.

10. [+1,249, -32] Even Dispatch is getting involved in this... this is wrong, and she needs to admit that it's wrong.

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Source: Nate

1. [+602, -11] Think of it on the contrary. If a male singer had described the little match girl as a lonely but determined and sexy character and wrote lyrics sexualizing her saying "Girl, girl, you're lonely but strong. Brighten up my darkness. Set fire to my match. Don't blow. My light is weak and might turn off. Treat me lightly. Lighten up this darkness." He would've been exiled. There are tons of characters in books that show double sides. Of all of them, why did she choose a victim of child abuse? And to approach it in a sexual interpretation? She needs to apologize for this.

2. [+518, -7] Even the publication company of the book wrote a post about it... but will IU ever respond? ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ But of course she'll keep quiet and wait for it to be swept under the rug so that when she has her next comeback, she'll write on her fancafe saying "My fans had a hard time right?"  ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹

3. [+424, -11] The ministry of family and women's rights would be all over this already if it was a male singer

4. [+42, -0] She might need psychological treatment

5. [+41, -1] I don't know what more to say other than that she is sly. 'Red Shoes' plagiarism, Eunhyuk's picture leak, 'Leon' plagiarism, another plagiarism scandal. Amazing how she managed to get out of each scandal without so much as an apology. Furthermore, her fans praise her for being a singer songwriter prodigy artist...

6. [+38, -0] Anyone who's actually read the book couldn't possibly write lyrics like she did

7. [+27, -0] This seems to be her unluckiest year

8. [+27, -2] This is what happens when you're dumb but try to act smarter than you are

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[update]

 

Article: Publishing company reps, "We don't expect an apology from IU... we just wanted to get the story straight" [official statement]

Source: OSEN via Naver

1. [+2,791, -68] Sometimes admitting to your mistake and asking for understanding and forgiveness is the best way possible

2. [+2,762, -94] Anyone who's actuall read the book will understand how dangerous her interpretation is. Zeze is not just a young child. He's a victim of child abuse from an impoverished family. It's cruel to sing such lyrics to a child like that.

3. [+2,108, -123] I don't get how IU could've thought that about young Zeze. She acts like an artist all the time and media plays all of her articles on the main page but of course she's quiet at times like this ã…Žã…Žã…Ž

4. [+738, -18] It's important to get the story straight... the author is dead, it's the publisher's job to make sure the story is straight.

5. [+734, -39] Even I'm upset, can't imagine how the publisher's feeling... IU needs to stop thinking so sexually. Just because you have dirty thoughts doesn't mean everyone else does.

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[Yiyang♥]

damn   

[Lolitalol]

I hate this

[Cloud Of Perception]

 If IU was so disgusted by her image and didnt want to participate in any of this do you think she would have been an idol in the first place she could have chose the life of an indie artist instead she chased MAINSTREAM SUCCESS and their is nothing wrong with that but painting her as this innocent flower who was abused by the BIG BAD MEN is too far and unrealistically delusional to the way the mind of a person works stop painting IU as a weak victim who get taken advantage of because no one knows who she is truly.  Is what happened to IU right NO sexualizing minors is wrong in the same principle how can you disregard the possible sexualization of a minor in Zeze, I am a fan of IU but people need to realize that questioning her lyrics is nothing wrong , IU may hate her former innocent concept which is something we will never know but regardless she already shed it in Modern Times and got praised for it now in Chesire she went into some weird controversial direction and people are weirded  out by it and thats fine if no one questioned anything whats the point of doing anything in life we all look at things differently and IU should clear this up sooner rather then later as its a sketchy representation of a kid with questionable lyrics why is that so hard to do if she is innocent of any devious intent.

[mischievous]

IU should apologize to Zeze, to Eunhyuk, to the public. Where are her fans with "sexy isn't sexy in Korean" excuse?

[i_apologize]

But the lyrics is definitely about a tree calling 5 year old kid sexy >.>

 

 

 

1. [+602, -11] Think of it on the contrary. If a male singer had described the little match girl as a lonely but determined and sexy character and wrote lyrics sexualizing her saying "Girl, girl, you're lonely but strong. Brighten up my darkness.

 

IU didn't even write anything close to this.

[tropicamong]

wowwwww.....

[Hypertonic]

iu is a dumb bitch who is currently making shitty choices in her music career.

[indigo]

IU lives in a castle of sand. 

[Lucky Blue]

They were displeased that used the term 'sexy' and explained, "Zeze is a 5 year old child who has pain within him due to child abuse. We're not sure if 'cunning' and 'dirty' is the proper way to describe him through Minguinho, Zeze's only friend who gives him warmth and consolation.

Where are those IU stans that have been saying 'In S.Korea 'sexy' have a lot of different meanings' BS? With this y'all can stop defending her. IU is disgusting.

[removed929393303]

i thought people were saying that the "sexy" part was a mistranslation yet the comments keep bringing it up and they wouldn't have misunderstood her. so i guess that is what she said. 

 

anyway, though a lot of the stuff people have been throwing at her has been part of a witch hunt this is a legitimate issue that she should address and explain herself better.

 

i think some of her fans are blindly defending her because of the other hate she's been getting and now they're unwilling to admit when something is an actual problem because they feel she's being unfairly attacked. 

[night vale.]

this is getting out of hand. 

 

edit: if it was honestly only a bad choice in art, then they just need to come out and say something. Because right now it just looks bad. The problem with "not getting art" in this isn't that people aren't okay with being uncomfortable, but it's not like this is some private art gallery or performance for a small group of individuals in the art community. It's mass-produced music. This + a witch hunt that was already brewing since her dating got revealed is not a good combination.

[Thotcahontas]

IU girl ...........

 

[Aeri]

IU is in some deep shit 

[lepidoptery]

1. [+602, -11] Think of it on the contrary. If a male singer had described the little match girl as a lonely but determined and sexy character and wrote lyrics sexualizing her saying "Girl, girl, you're lonely but strong. Brighten up my darkness. Set fire to my match. Don't blow. My light is weak and might turn off. Treat me lightly. Lighten up this darkness." He would've been exiled. There are tons of characters in books that show double sides. Of all of them, why did she choose a victim of child abuse? And to approach it in a sexual interpretation? She needs to apologize for this.

... I'm actually curious how well this flowed in korean... though I guess it's mostly based off her lyrics already....

[HugeBoi Minos Wife]

 

 

 

1. [+602, -11]  There are tons of characters in books that show double sides. Of all of them, why did she choose a victim of child abuse? And to approach it in a sexual interpretation? She needs to apologize for this.

 

Thats the point I actually agree with. The story of the character seems too heavy to be used in a song. I understand the motive but she should have chosen a better muse for her song.

 

Edit: And its not Zeze she found "sexy" but the duality in his character that relates to herself. Just to clarify.

[Keline]

But the lyrics is definitely about a tree calling 5 year old kid sexy >.>

 

 

 

 

IU didn't even write anything close to this.

 

She literally wrote "Climb up me" in English in her lyrics

 

i thought people were saying that the "sexy" part was a mistranslation yet the comments keep bringing it up and they wouldn't have misunderstood her. so i guess that is what she said. 

 

anyway, though a lot of the stuff people have been throwing at her has been part of a witch hunt this is a legitimate issue that she should address and explain herself better. 

 

Truth. As I-fans, we cannot be misinterpreting the lyrics if the Korean publishing company are voicing the same concerns.

[chananaz]

It's worrying that people are feeling sorry for IU when this is an actual issue that needs to be addressed. Her other scandals may have been witch hunts but this one certainly isn't.

 

 

 

IU didn't even write anything close to this.

they probably tweaked it to fit the theme of the match girl more

[NiNiBear]

This is gonna blow up if not handled by some pretty good PR....  but still now that this company said something, idk how this will turn out in her favor if at all, it doesnt exactly look good rn....it kinda does need to be addressed.....50/50 rn I read comments, this company's post and Asian Junkie's post and I'm getting different POV's... so we'll see how this turns out....

[Taelent]

Does there need to be a witch-hunt every month in the world of kpop or something 

[MidnightEXO]

i thought people were saying that the "sexy" part was a mistranslation yet the comments keep bringing it up and they wouldn't have misunderstood her. so i guess that is what she said. 

 

anyway, though a lot of the stuff people have been throwing at her has been part of a witch hunt this is a legitimate issue that she should address and explain herself better.

 

i think some of her fans are blindly defending her because of the other hate she's been getting and now they're unwilling to admit when something is an actual problem because they feel she's being unfairly attacked. 

 

I agree I was only annoyed people kept saying he was wearing argyle when its clear its fishnet and I just didn't like the Idea of a dark story being interpreted that way but I was never against IU ... I am just rather disappointed now that even K nets are telling us she said sexy and now I'm just ... saddened I think she should speak up 

[93605]

the people defending her are just as worse as she is. you guys are disgusting 

[MidnightEXO]

Does there need to be a witch-hunt every month in the world of kpop or something 

This isn't a witch hunt for once its pretty not ok if you've been following everything 

[mendoan]

LOEN maybe its ur time to shut them uo with money

[bella]

what IU said and did was wrong the only thing that can fix it now is apologizing.

 

 

 

 How can she judge a piece of work with such an intent in this way?"

 

 

But we're not sure if sexualizing a 5 year old child going through the pain of abuse is something we can agree with. The freedom of expression, however, happens under the approval of the public."

 i agree.