CJ ENM had a meeting with X1, a project group produced by Mnet Produce X101.
On November 20th, the source from the CJ ENM said, "It is true that we have recently met with members of X1. We are also in contact with the members' agencies. We will decide carefully whether or not X1 would remain as a group through the discussions with the members and agencies."
The private meeting of that day was not the place to determine the group's future. According to the source, CJ ENM and X1 members often met and shared opinions. This meeting was just one part of those regular meetings and did not exchange opinions on the issue of group's future.
Since opinions about the group's continuity are divided, the company is being cautious to make a final decision.
However, the news of the meeting between CJ ENM and X1 made the public opinion deteriorated again. The dominant voice is 'Do not hand the ball to the members'.
At this time, there is no doubt that any decision would cause a heated criticism whether X1 would remain or collapse. The members of X1 will subsequently suffer secondary damage due to the group's unfortunate fate. Amid this precarious situation, CJ ENM is taking an ambiguous stance about their plan saying that they would decide according to the members' wish. This is to evade public criticism and pass it to the group members.
The Produce series were caught up in the voting manipulation controversy that the number of votes received by the trainees released after the Live Finals contest in July showed suspicious patterns.
Viewers set up a fact-finding committee to sue Mnet and the staff team to the prosecution, and Mnet also commissioned the police to investigate the production team. In the process of confiscating the production staff office, X1 members' agencies, and the letter voting data company, the police expanded the investigation to not only 'Produce X' but also other seasons as well as 'Idol School'.
The police arrested the producing director Ahn Joon-young and CP Kim Yong-beom. Eight other staff, including project managers, Mnet representatives and CJ ENM vice president Shin Mo were also charged with the crime.
PD Ahn admitted to manipulating votes of Produce X and Produce 48 in the police investigation, and acknowledged that the Produce 1 and 2 were also rigged.
Mnet stated, "We take this very seriously. We admit that we are heavily responsible for this incidence. We want to express sincere apologies. We will do our best to take reasonable measures and offer compensation for damages to ensure prevention of recurrence and renewal."
However, IZ*ONE's comeback plan was canceled. X1 stopped working, and I.O.I's reunion has virtually failed. Mnet hasn't reached any solution for this situation. Instead, they are running another audition program, "Teenage Singers".
The police plan to continue the investigation of the Produce seasons and the Idol School.
