Harin (Harada Rin), a Japan-born model and actor who recently revealed she was cut just before NewJeans’ debut, has spoken out directly about the surge of attention surrounding her story.
On the 14th, Harin posted a lengthy note on her YouTube community. “I’m grateful for all the sudden attention,” she wrote, “but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little worried, too.”
She emphasized that her interview reflected deeply personal feelings of setback and disappointment from her past, not an attempt to accuse or expose any company or individual. She added that while the experience was hard, it made her stronger, and she’s still rooting for the trainees she laughed and cried with back then.
Earlier, on July 12, Harin appeared on a YouTube channel run by Japanese actor Takeda Hiromitsu, where she talked about her idol trainee days.
In the video, Harin said a last-minute company decision forced her to give up her idol dream. She recalled being abruptly told her contract was terminated and that she alone had to leave, which sent her straight back to Japan.
Born in 2003, Harin is a former member of Japan’s 'Shibu3 Project.' She passed a Source Music audition under HYBE in 2020 and joined the company, later moving to ADOR, where she trained with NewJeans’ pre-debut lineup―only to be dropped right before debut.
After that video went live, her YouTube and social feeds saw a wave of encouragement along with some trolling, prompting her to set the record straight.
She closed her post on a calm note, saying she’ll stay true to herself and asking fans to keep supporting her.
Harin is currently active as a model and actor.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)