Producers behind South Korea’s first reality dating series centered around a lesbian cast say they will edit the show’s remaining episodes to minimize the appearance of one contestant following controversial revelations about her past.
As Pride reported last month, ToGetHer debuted on Korean streaming platform Wavve with two episodes of its planned 10-episode season on April 25. It was greeted with enthusiasm, ranking 14th on the platform’s most-watched list within days and sparking interest from international viewers.
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However, one contestant, Kim Riwon, quickly faced accusations of queerbaiting on social media where her past work hosting adult livestreaming content came to light. In an April 29 social media post, Riwon reportedly acknowledged hosting private adult broadcasts between 2016 and 2024, as well as taking part in six in-person meetups, which she said involved no physical contact. She also acknowledged a previous relationship with a male partner which she described as traumatic and abusive.
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“I was subjected to threats,
Riwon described herself as “a woman who loves women,” writing that she came to understand her sexuality in middle school, and noting that she had previously been in a serious relationship with a woman for over two years. She said that her participation in ToGetHer was a way to reclaim her story but apologized for not disclosing her past to the show’s producers.
“I appeared on the show without disclosing this part of my past to the producers. That was selfish, and I sincerely apologize to those who were disappointed or hurt by my actions,” she wrote. “It breaks my heart to think that I may have fueled misconceptions. This entire situation stems from my selfishness and past mistakes. The LGBTQ+ community, the production staff and viewers are all victims. I take full responsibility.”
In its own statement, the show’s production company acknowledged “the limitations in fully verifying every aspect of a participant’s background” and apologized for “the concern caused by recent issues involving one of the cast members.”
Pride also reports that another ToGetHer cast member, Hangyeol, has alleged that after filming wrapped, Riwon invited her on an overseas trip, which Hangyeol interpreted as inappropriate. In a statement posted on social media, Hangyeol suggested that Riwon’s invitation may have been an attempt to lure her into the sex industry. Riwon has denied the allegation.
The third and fourth episodes of ToGetHer, which were originally scheduled to drop on May 2, have been delayed. According to Indian entertainment site Pinkvilla, the show’s producers released a May 4 statement saying that they are re-editing the remaining episodes to remove as many scenes featuring Riwon as possible without compromising other participants’ storylines. A release date for the remaining episodes has not been announced yet.
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