’90 Day Fiancé’: Jihoon Lee Reassures Fans After Disturbing Instagram Message
Rumors have swirled about a possible breakup between Jihoon Lee and Deavan Clegg of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way in recent weeks. Still, 29-year-old Jihoon of South Korea and Deavan, a 23-year-old model and mom of two from Utah, haven’t made any official statements either way on social media.
But one thing has been more than clear: Jihoon’s ongoing issues with online critics as the second season of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way rolls on. In addition to deactivating and reactivating his Instagram more than once, Jihoon has taken to social media to call out critics directly.
Recently, he posted a troubling comment in response to one particularly harsh troll—leading to a wave of support from his fans, followers, and castmates alike.
Jihoon shared a disturbing message from an online critic
Jihoon and Deavan have been targets for a great deal of online criticism in recent months. Deavan and her mom, Elicia Clegg, got backlash from fans after criticizing South Korea and being harsh on Jihoon.
The criticism ramped up even more after an incident on a recent episode in which Deavan’s daughter, Drascilla, appeared to run towards the street. Deavan took to Instagram to declare that the clip (which involved Deavan and Elicia yelling at Jihoon and Jihoon breaking down in tears) didn’t show the whole story.
Meanwhile, Jihoon has deactivated and reactivated his Instagram account and turned off the comments on several of his posts after fans attacked him for his lack of steady employment.
“I’m sorry, but please don’t fight with each other about my family,” Jihoon wrote in one Instagram post. “I’m going to stop the comments.”
More recently, the 90 Day Fiancé star shared an especially horrific comment from a critic. The screenshot of the message, sent to him in a private DM, read: “You’re such a bad father. Kill yourself you idiot f*ck.”
Jihoon’s caption of the screenshot read simply, “Oh really?”
But in a comment that many believed was deeply alarming, Jihoon wrote in response to the message, “Can I die?”
TLC cast members swarmed the comments to offer kind messages
Fans immediately swarmed the post to offer their support to Jihoon. Many begged him to seek help from his loved ones or a mental health professional and urged him to ignore the cruelty of haters and trolls.
Jihoon’s 90 Day Fiancé castmates also joined in to offer their words of empathy and wisdom.
David Toborowsky, Annie Suwan Toborowsky’s husband, wrote in an encouraging comment: “Don’t let anyone get to you. You know your love for your family and that is all that matters.”
Kenneth Niedermeier, Armando Rubio‘s husband, also shared some kind words, writing to Jihoon: “That’s sad and pathetic, keep your head up high. Humans are not made to be perfect. You know who you are.”
Jenny Slatten and Sumit also chimed in on their joint Instagram account, commenting: “No no no no no. You, yourself know how much you love your kids and I am sure you are like other fathers who love their kids and do anything to keep them happy. People don’t know you very well. Only people [who] know you best are your family, your loved ones, your friends. So never let any hate affect you and your family.”
Even Aladin Jallali‘s ex, Laura Jallali, who has had her own share of comments from trolls over the years, had some generous words to share with Jihoon. She wrote, “Ignore the trolls Jihoon, you got this and it will all work out. Sometimes things happen that we don’t understand but good things will come out of it. Stay strong, hold your head up high!”
Deavan’s husband assured fans he was all right after he received support
Two days after his initial comment, which concerned many fans deeply, Jihoon assured his followers that he was feeling better and wasn’t in any danger.
“Thank you very much,” he wrote in an Instagram story. “I saw so many positive DM and the world is beautiful yet.”
Later, the 90 Day Fiancé star took to Instagram again to ask his followers not to send any hate towards his wife, mother-in-law, or stepdaughter, either. Jihoon begged fans to show more empathy and compassion for his family.
“Not everyone is perfect,” Jihoon wrote in his post. “Me and Deavan, even Elicia, I’m so sorry. But please stop all criticism. Especially Elicia, they’re probably having a harder time than I am. I heard that Elicia and Drascilla’s under threat of murder. It is 100% wrong. I’m begging you guys, I just want peace…I apologize to you guys, but thank you so much.”
In a caption for the post, Jihoon pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic was straining many people’s lives and relationships. He asked that his followers show kindness to each other during this “hard time” throughout the world. Jihoon also offered his “sincere apology” for “only showing [fans] bad things,” implying that he wanted to make some positive changes of his own as well.
