Content warning: this article contains details regarding sexual assault, sex trafficking and drug abuse.
In pop culture news this week, “Bridgerton” season three is released, a member of the Burning Sun scandal tries to make a return and more. Read to find out the lore:
Bridgit Mendler graduates from Harvard Law School
Bridgit Mendler is officially a Harvard Law School graduate! Mendler, who is 31 years old, reportedly walked across the stage with her son to receive her diploma. From 2022 to 2023, Mendler was the co-president of the Harvard Space Law Society. Congratulations to Bridgit Mendler!
BTS's RM releases a new album
BTS member RM has released his newest album, “Right Place, Wrong Person.” The album features 11 tracks that mix between hip hop, R&B and pop. The album has received positive reviews, particularly the song that has gone viral on TikTok, “Nuts.”
Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi get secretly married
“Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown and Jon Bon Jovi's son Jake Bongiovi got secretly married after just over a year of being engaged. According to The Sun, the couple got married in a small ceremony with their parents in attendance. The couple is reportedly planning a larger ceremony later this year.
Burning Sun scandal member makes attempts to return to music
Jung Joonyoung, former singer-songwriter and radio DJ, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2020 for rape and distributing nonconsensual sex videos. (Nonconsensual sex videos are often called “molka” in Korea.) The Burning Sun scandal took South Korea by surprise in 2019 when several popular celebrities were revealed to participate in sexual assault and nonconsensual video filming and distribution.
Burning Sun was a nightclub in Gangnam that former Big Bang member Seungri partially directed. After a staff member reported an alleged sexual assault of a male club-goer, the investigation quickly became one about sexual assault, prostitution, drug trafficking and police corruption. Seungri was charged with sexual bribery in March 2019 and then resigned as one of the directors.
The allegations of rape and spy cameras became a part of the investigation when Jung Joonyoung confessed to nonconsensually filming and distributing videos of him having sex with women. He shared the videos in a KakaoTalk chatroom, which notably had Seungri, Highlight member Yong Junhyung and F.T. Island member Choi Jonghoon.
As investigations continued into 2021, several promoters and leaders of Burning Sun were arrested and convicted — mainly on drug and bribery charges. This caused larger drug sweeps of entertainment venues that caused hundreds of arrests, mainly pertaining to ecstasy and GHB (date rape drug), sexual assault and rape and illegally filming videos.
As this scandal has sparked conversations about the safety of nightclubs and controversy around K-Pop artists' fame, the BBC recently made a documentary about it. They reportedly had incorrect footage in parts of it and corrected it.
Jung Joonyoung, however, allegedly wants to make a return to the entertainment industry as a producer. He was released from prison in March, and his whereabouts have been unknown since. A journalist reported that the rumors of his supposed return are false, claiming that he plans to emigrate abroad.
Jacob Sartorius comes after JoJo Siwa
While promoting his newest single “Simon Says,” former-Musical.ly star and singer Jacob Sartorius has been publicly flaming JoJo Siwa in his TikToks. He has made videos about her claims to have invented gay pop, to be the first of her generation to transition into a musician and more. Through his videos, he has called back to his hit single “Sweatshirt.”
Will JoJo Siwa respond? No one knows, yet.
Nicki Minaj arrested prior to concert in Amsterdam
Nicki Minaj was arrested in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport for attempting to leave the country while in possession of “soft drugs,” which is prohibited. According to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, Nicki Minaj was fined and released.
Because of the arrest, Nicki Minaj postponed her concert that was supposed to occur. In a series of posts on Twitter, Minaj claimed that the arrest was an attempt to sabotage her tour.
Bridgerton's third season is released
The first part of the third season of “Bridgerton” has been released, with the second half being released on June 13. Season three focuses on Penelope Featherington, also known as Lady Whistledown, and Colin Bridgerton's romance. The new season can be watched on Netflix.
Red Lobster files for bankruptcy
Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing $1 billion in debt. The company announced that they will close dozens of stores nationwide.
Diddy faces a 7th sexual assault lawsuit
Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of seven sexual assaults in the past six months. Additionally, he is being accused of sex trafficking, rape and sexual abuse. Combs has denied all of the allegations against him.
U.S. Homeland Security agents raided two of his houses in March. In May, surveillance footage from 2016 showed Diddy chasing his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura down the hall, attacking her by the elevator and attempting to drag her to his hotel room.
In November 2023, R&B singer Cassie Ventura sued him for alleged years of abuse, claiming that she was trafficked, raped and beaten by Combs for years. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount of money shortly after it was filed.
Recent allegations claim that Combs sexually harassed and drugged people and hosted “sex trafficking” parties with underaged girls. Two of the women said they were teenagers at the time of the assault.
Following the several lawsuits, Combs strongly denied the allegations, calling the claims “sickening.”
