[Kim Jun-seok, Sportschosun] Complaints are growing as baseless speculation about female celebrities being pregnant continues to repeat itself.
Singer Ailee recently denied pregnancy rumors herself, and broadcaster Lee Ji-hye and singer Hyuna have also faced similar incidents, expressing discomfort over intrusive attention that crossed the line.
On the 19th, Ailee's side said that the recent pregnancy rumors circulating online were "not true."
Ailee had recently performed on stage at a festival. After video clips of the performance spread through online communities and social networking services, some users began speculating that she was pregnant.
The rumors were fueled by gestures that appeared to cover her stomach during the performance, as well as the way her outfit seemed to make her midsection stand out.
The speculation spread even faster because Ailee had previously revealed that she and her husband, Choi Si-hoon, were preparing to have a child. However, her agency quickly denied the pregnancy rumors and cautioned against overinterpretation.
A similar case happened to Lee Ji-hye as well.
Lee Ji-hye recently mentioned the pregnancy rumors on her YouTube channel, saying, "There were some comments that really shocked me."
In a video where she appeared wearing a dress, some viewers thought her stomach looked protruded and raised the possibility that she might be pregnant with a third child.
Lee Ji-hye responded, saying, "If I let my guard down even a little, my stomach shows," and added, "I also get swollen, and there are times when I don't feel well." She then made it clear that it was simply a change in body shape and had nothing to do with pregnancy.
Hyuna also went through a similar situation after marriage. Since marrying Yong Jun-hyung last year, online pregnancy rumors have repeatedly surfaced whenever she appeared healthier than before.
Hyuna eventually said directly, "I am working out hard, staying healthy, and managing my weight well," and her agency also explained, "The pregnancy rumors are completely untrue."
As this shows, female celebrities are repeatedly caught up in pregnancy rumors based on even small changes in appearance, such as weight fluctuations, swelling, or differences in how their clothes fit.
More and more people are also expressing discomfort as pregnancy, a private matter, becomes the subject of speculation regardless of their own wishes.
Online reactions have also continued to say, "It's rude to assume someone is pregnant just because their stomach looks a little bigger," "We should respect privacy until the person says so first," and "Congratulations are fine, but baseless speculation can be burdensome."
As goodwill and interest can sometimes turn into excessive speculation, there are calls for more caution when it comes to pregnancy rumors based solely on changes in a celebrity's appearance.
narusi@sportschosun.com
