TWICE's Chaeyoung Shuts Down Indoor Smoking Speculation: "I'm Not That Thoughtless"

K-pop girl group TWICE's Chaeyoung pushed back against an online rumor that she smoked indoors at a recent event in Seoul. She said the object in her hand was a drink, not a cigarette.

On Aug. 12, Chaeyoung addressed the speculation directly through a fan messaging platform. "I was going to stay quiet, but people keep talking about a cigarette, so I have to say something," she wrote. "It's not a cigarette. I'm drinking a beverage. Look closely."

She continued, "I'm so tired. It doesn't make sense. There were so many people there. Would I really do that out in the open? I'm not that thoughtless."

The rumor started spreading this week across online communities and social media after a short video of Chaeyoung began circulating. According to fan accounts, the clip was filmed while she attended an FKA twigs rave event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.

In the video, Chaeyoung is seen lifting something in her hand toward her mouth. Some viewers questioned whether she was smoking indoors, and the clip picked up traction from there. Her direct response, saying she was simply drinking, appears to have shut down the speculation.

The moment lands during a sensitive stretch for the group. TWICE is currently in contract renewal talks with JYP Entertainment. Member Jeongyeon recently left JYP Entertainment and signed with BARO Entertainment, the agency that represents her older sister, actress Gong Seung-yeon.

TWICE debuted in 2015 and built a hit catalog that includes "Like OOH-AHH," "CHEER UP," and "TT." In 2022, all members renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment together, and the group has kept its momentum going through world tours and steady releases since.