Former CLC’s Elkie Calls Out CUBE Entertainment In An Exclusive Tell-All

[My Everything]

Former CLC‘s Elkie recently took an exclusive interview with a Hong Kong newspaper, Mingpao. In the interview, she revealed the real reason for her departure from CUBE Entertainment and CLC.

Elkie claims that even though she had worked hard in order to debut, there were people that still criticized her despite her efforts. Although she would not call it discrimination due to her status as a foreigner, Elkie does acknowledge that she had fewer opportunities given to her as compared to Koreans.

Although I was mentally prepared for a tough road ahead, a lot of unexpected things happened. I’m optimistic so I always say yes no matter what other people say, but some people called me fake.

— Elkie

When she first debuted, a composer allegedly told her she was “really dumb” and “totally useless” which brought her down. Elkie also called out the system for affecting her health.

The most extreme incident was when I couldn’t sleep for several days and wasn’t even able to remove my makeup. The longest time I’ve had dance practice was for 16 hours straight, from noon to late at night. I was so tired that I walked like a zombie.

— Elkie

Elkie also pointed out that CUBE Entertainment was not providing the appropriate resources for CLC, culminating in less than stellar results. In particular, Elkie calls the giving away of the song “La Vie en Rose” to IZ*ONEan opportunity that was taken away from the CLC girls. CLC had finished recording “La Vie en Rose” before it was given to IZ*ONE and CLC released “NO” instead.

The song and opportunity that originally belonged to us were given to someone else and the situation felt so helpless. The 7 of us worked really hard, but the agency took away our opportunities. I think the agency was way too out of line. I feel so disappointed. CLC did not have releases frequently…sometimes it took a year to have a new song or album. When the agency said they will not give CLC any more resources, I thought there was no point for me to stay. As an artist I just wanted to meet with fans through my works. If nothing can be done, there’s nothing I can do to repay the fans, and I can’t accept that.

— Elkie

On the other hand, Elkie maintains that she still keeps in contact with the other CLC members and that they have a good relationship. She even offered for them to have a room at her place when they come to visit her in Mainland China.

Previously, Elkie had filed for a termination of her contract with CUBE Entertainment, resulting in her departure from the group.

Source

Edited April 19, 2021 by My Everything

[GetRapper]

So Lightsum IS CLC's replacement then....

Elkie is still a CCP sellout but I believe her in this case

 

[rowanokke]

this is deff against the NDA she signed.. cube sue incoming 

[SLY]

25 minutes ago, My Everything said:

When she first debuted, a composer allegedly told her she was “really dumb” and “totally useless” which brought her down. Elkie also called out the system for affecting her health.

 

Elkie's literally the second/third best singer in the group... I remember her having the most ridiculous lines in High Heels (debut) and suddenly belting high notes in No Oh Oh (first comeback). She was my favorite CLC member along with Yujin, I'm sad to hear how hard her experience under Cube was and how it's probably what the other members of CLC must be feeling as well.

[WujuLike]

cube did clc so dirty

[Elessar]

When she first debuted, a composer allegedly told her she was “really dumb” and “totally useless” which brought her down. Elkie also called out the system for affecting her health.

The most extreme incident was when I couldn’t sleep for several days and wasn’t even able to remove my makeup. The longest time I’ve had dance practice was for 16 hours straight, from noon to late at night. I was so tired that I walked like a zombie.

No matter what she has done recently, all that is so damn wrong and normalized in the industry. Honestly fuck those producers, they just want to get the job done without putting any effort or understanding the situation of the idols, and the overwork is worse since it puts the health of them in the line, I remember Sana and the rest of twice not sleeping for 3 days during cheer up era, all kpop companies are trash and company boot lickers are imbeciles.

[No1]

What pisses me the most is that groups that are shelved are not let go. A group being disbanded would be sad news all around, but to keep them tied to a contract doing nothing for probably years should be downright illegal.

A group might not get the results they wanted, so it's fair to take away resources, but then just let them go. Stalling their careers and their lives tied to a contract serves no purpose; the money invested on them is lost anyway. The only certainty is that they're not gonna recoup it if they're doing nothing.

[Your Biggest Fan]

I feel so bad for her. Being in a foreign land, trying to follow your dream, and being mistreated by the company that's supposed to help you reach your goals.

This really shouldn't be a shock to anymore. Fans need to realize that mistreatment and K-pop go hand in hand. Mistreatment can take any form such as verbal abuse, crazy diets, packed schedules and idols practicing hours on end with no sleep. Every idol has experienced at least one of the things I've listed.

[No1]

49 minutes ago, rowanokke said:

this is deff against the NDA she signed.. cube sue incoming 

She's off in China though, doubt it would do anything.

[lighterxx]

1 hour ago, My Everything said:

In particular, Elkie calls the giving away of the song “La Vie en Rose” to IZ*ONEan opportunity that was taken away from the CLC girls. CLC had finished recording “La Vie en Rose” before it was given to IZ*ONE and CLC released “NO” instead.

Yeah it's a gpod song but it did good because it's an izone song my girlie, I understand feeling hateful and jealous, but there is no guarantee CLC would hit big, especially when what made people listen from the first instance was name Izone

[rushingriver]

And the thing is, this is probably an very common experience. Kpop is an extremely hard industry to be in with a lot of shitty people

Edited April 19, 2021 by rushingriver

[KentasGlittery EyeMakeup]

19 minutes ago, lighterxx said:

Yeah it's a gpod song but it did good because it's an izone song my girlie, I understand feeling hateful and jealous, but there is no guarantee CLC would hit big, especially when what made people listen from the first instance was name Izone

She never said that they would have hit big, just that it was a wasted opportunity and her statement did not feel neither hateful nor jealous.

Not to mention how much better CLC's demo sounded and suited their vocals, I said what I said.

[starsocks]

42 minutes ago, No1 said:

What pisses me the most is that groups that are shelved are not let go. A group being disbanded would be sad news all around, but to keep them tied to a contract doing nothing for probably years should be downright illegal.

A group might not get the results they wanted, so it's fair to take away resources, but then just let them go. Stalling their careers and their lives tied to a contract serves no purpose; the money invested on them is lost anyway. The only certainty is that they're not gonna recoup it if they're doing nothing.

thank you.

[Danee Danee]

I get how disheartening it must have been for them to get comeback song taken from them. And to see other group getting wins with it. Especially after recording it, learning choreo, hyping fans... I mean maybe it wasnt best fit for them image wise or whatever excuse cube went for. But this just had to be really depressing situation. If I was in their shoes, I would cry my eyes out tbh. Saying as someone who never really liked CLC's music. 

I still think 7yrs contracts are way too long. 3 yrs is enough to see if the group is doing as well as you want them to do and if you want to support them. Keeping group you don't want to support just so no other company snatch the members is seriously vile. Especially since CUBE never seems to actually know what to do with the group. 

Im not surprised she run back home after this experience. 

[My Everything]

4 minutes ago, Danee Danee said:

I still think 7yrs contracts are way too long. 3 yrs is enough to see if the group is doing as well as you want them to do and if you want to support them.

While I agree we have to remember there are groups that hit big after more than 3 years of being relatively nugu 

[GetRapper]

7 minutes ago, Danee Danee said:

I still think 7yrs contracts are way too long. 3 yrs is enough to see if the group is doing as well as you want them to do and if you want to support them.

 

2 minutes ago, My Everything said:

While I agree we have to remember there are groups that hit big after more than 3 years of being relatively nugu 

I agree with both of these opinions. Maybe it should be like professional sports contracts where it is still a multi-year contract but with an option to renegotiate after the 3rd or 4th year or something like that.

[Danee Danee]

20 minutes ago, My Everything said:

While I agree we have to remember there are groups that hit big after more than 3 years of being relatively nugu 

 

16 minutes ago, GetRapper said:

 

I agree with both of these opinions. Maybe it should be like professional sports contracts where it is still a multi-year contract but with an option to renegotiate after the 3rd or 4th year or something like that.

There are companies who were more or less nugu and made it after the three years cap. But lets be honest, no group (outside of Brave girls) never found success in the moment when company or/and members gave up on the project. On the other hand there were plenty of groups and artists which were hold by companies and kept in situation when realistically it was impossible for them to make it, yet they were prohibited to search for their own path. There is no shame in deciding to support project you believe in even after the 3 yrs, but there is no shame in saying you stopped to see reason to try when your group never really entered top 100 and company never send you to more then one music show per one comeback in eternity. 

[Solfa]

3 hours ago, My Everything said:

 “La Vie en Rose” to IZ*ONEan opportunity that was taken away from the CLC girls. CLC had finished recording “La Vie en Rose” before it was given to IZ*ONE and CLC released “NO” instead.

I don’t think the song was the problem, IZ*One was an extremely fandom driven group, it would have done well with any song that’s average or above it regardless. CLC had not developed that stan attracting factor yet. In fact, I’d say ‘No’ served that purpose, create some fandom for the group. 

Also, personally I like No more than La Vie En Rose. But I understand this still feels as a lost opportunity to her, I feel bad for her and CLC.

[lighterxx]

1 hour ago, KentasGlittery EyeMakeup said:

She never said that they would have hit big, just that it was a wasted opportunity and her statement did not feel neither hateful nor jealous.

Not to mention how much better CLC's demo sounded and suited their vocals, I said what I said.

This part 

3 hours ago, My Everything said:

The song and opportunity that originally belonged to us were given to someone else

Made me think so. I understand and support her rest of the decisions and commentary honestly, but it's pretty clear to me that she was upset they didn't get the song hence not the success it brought, that's why she talks about wasted opportunity for me. It's understandable I would absolutely be a at least a bit hateful, even if I was a saint. Issue was like I said, no matter what song izone got, it would succeed because it's izone, that's what made people listen. 

[Thigh-high feminist]

I understand her frustration but NO is the far better song and CLC crushed it.

[hee_woo]

I don't condone the system and I truly hope it changes (especially contracts length), but as far as it goes to giving CLC releases/activities, I don't think Cube did a terrible job. It's just that CLC was doomed from the beginning the moment they got into attitude controversies as rookies. Did you guys see knetz reaction to Laboum's supposedly "chart reversal" ? They started digging up their past controversies and dragging them down, it would have been the same for CLC (in fact, they kinda did that when they earned a bit of attention for 'No'). 

The public was never too fond of CLC from the start and that was the main problem. I believe Cube gave them enough releases. Brave Girls for instance, only got 2 mini albums albums from 2016 until 2020, while CLC got 8 minis in the same period of time. You can argue Cube is richer than Brave Ent, but for Cube it still implied a risk yet they never stopped giving them songs until late 2020. (Also, I'm only comparing them to Brave Girls since they're the only group I follow that debuted around the same time as CLC (the new-line up).

Edited April 19, 2021 by no_one

[rowanokke]

52 minutes ago, no_one said:

I don't condone the system and I truly hope it changes (especially contracts length), but as far as it goes to giving CLC releases/activities, I don't think Cube did a terrible job. It's just that CLC was doomed from the beginning the moment they got into attitude controversies as rookies

what controversy? i only got into kpop in 2016 so if youd mind linking 

[hee_woo]

1 hour ago, rowanokke said:

what controversy? i only got into kpop in 2016 so if youd mind linking 

https://onehallyu.com/topic/207578-nb-clcs-first-scandal/

http://netizenbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/08/pann-more-clc-giving-attitude-to-seniors.html

https://pannative.blogspot.com/2017/06/clc-jang-yeeuns-kakao-story-post-about.html

 

Edited April 19, 2021 by no_one