Ruby 🦁

--

June 16, 2022

Viewers: 25,789

--

Ruby is seen wearing a comfortable t-shirt while sitting on her bed holding a pillow in her arms. Her face is emotionless as she stares at the screen for a few seconds as the view count slowly rises.

RUBY: "Hello, everyone. This isn't a planned livestream... but I just needed to clear the air on things."

She fixes her bangs and continues her statement, appearing irritated.

RUBY: "I've been seeing so many comments over the last few days about this topic, so I'd like to officially give my two cents in support of my member and one of my closest friends I've known since high school."

She raises a confident eyebrow while clasping her hands and looking off to the side with an annoyed expression. Her lips are pursed as she remains in thought for a few seconds.

RUBY: "I was just as surprised as you all when the article came out about Kyungsook's allegations. But the biggest surprise was she actually believed in the lies she was telling."

Ruby smirks while looking at the camera. Fans comments are flying across the screen asking a whole bunch of questions about if she's okay and how she's been doing.

RUBY: "Let me cut to the chase so my words don't get construed. Seoyoon was not and has never been a bully. Not in school, not as a trainee, not in ROXI, and not in Z10N. The claims that she verbally abused anyone in the group are completely false."

A pause before she continues in a confident voice.

RUBY: "I've talked to her myself to get clarity about the situation... and I believe her words when she told me what she went through in secret, and about the harassment from Kyungsook that she had to hide from us because she wanted to protect us. She didn't want us to see or hear these unflattering moments because she didn't want it to negatively affect our views on the group. She wanted us to think everything was cool so we didn't worry. Seoyoon told me she felt like this was her battle she had to overcome and didn't want to put that weight on me or Sena's shoulders..."

A pause. Ruby scratches her head with a sigh as she continues to explain that she never saw Kyungsook or Seoyoon in any serious heated arguments, so when they did have a difference in opinion, she thought they were joking. She remembers the award show moment where Seoyoon tripped and fell on gravel and scraped her knee - a bad accident she assumed Kyungsook didn't cause on purpose when she tripped her with her foot. But later learned the details about the nasty whispers she'd sent to Seoyoon that went unnoticed by staff and members.

As she's talking, fans comment their baffled reactions about the harassment allegations, several people sending sympathetic messages in support of her and Seoyoon.

RUBY: "I felt bad hearing all this - honestly, I felt like a guilty bystander. Like, how could I have not known any of this was happening? I was in my own little world working hard to prove myself as an artist and a rapper... and I didn't even check on Seoyoon to see if she was OK."

Ruby grinds her teeth while shaking her head. She squeezes the pillow in her arms while reading fan comments who are spamming red heart emojis.

RUBY: "I don't blame Seoyoon at all. I understand why she hid her pain, but it still doesn't feel good..."

Ruby rubs her pointer finger over her bottom lip in thought.

RUBY: "That's part of who Seoyoon is. If you know her, you know how she works hard to make everyone comfortable and brushes off any personal worries so that others don't feel burdened. It's honestly annoying..."

She chuckles, showing a softer expression for the first time in the whole broadcast.

RUBY: "But that's how she is. She has so much heart and cares so much about other people-- that reminds me. I also wanna address these comments about her serious demeanor."

She points a finger while grabbing a can of soda offscreen and then sipping it before clanking it down on a bedside table.

RUBY: "Ha! This idea that because back in the day, Seoyoon was a serious-faced leader and she could look 'scary' and that made her more likely to be a bully-- that's crap! Someone's outside isn't their inside. One shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Deep down, Seoyoon is an affectionate person who cares for those closest to her. Period."

She reads more fan comments of support.

RUBY: "Right! You also agree? Why do people assume that? The media used to say the same about me, that I was a scary rapper! I used to get edited so badly on variety shows that at one point, I accepted that I was a hardhead. I mean... I am a little bit..." (grins) "But that's not all I am, you know? Anyway... that irks me sooo much!"

She sips more of her soda while reading comments. There are a few laughing emojis on the screen and a post that says #SeoyoonIsInnocent.

RUBY: "Anyway, groups have disagreements. Okay. That's normal. But bullying?"

She shakes her head with a disgusted expression.

RUBY: "Not from Seoyoon. Seoyoon was back then and still is now the BEST leader our group could ask for. Don't be fooled. She's always respected every member and put us first. She was never selfish and she never took advantage of her power. She worked hard then and now, and never complained about anything. That's the type of person she is, not what the media or someone else wants to paint her as..."

A bunch of heart emojis fill the screen of her live broadcast. She tilts her head and pouts a little while scanning the screen with eyes of affection.

RUBY: "Heavenlys... you guys are so awesome. I was feeling really annoyed when I started this livestream, but now I feel so much better being able to talk with you and venting a little bit about things."

She sighs.

RUBY: "I hope you consider these truths today and continue to support Z10N going forward. We won't be held back. This is just a small hurdle but it won't stop us 'cause we got each other's backs and always will. I guess a certain someone wishes they had that sort of undying support in their lives... they're hateful 'cause they don't wanna see others shine because they're miserable themselves. Ha! Yeah, I see right through 'em. If you know, you know."

After a few short goodbyes and flying kisses toward the screen, Ruby stops her broadcast in a more positive headspace.