Global superstar Saint Colucci and his management team have confirmed the artist’s comeback is taking place soon, putting behind the incident in 2023 when their email accounts were compromised in 2023 as part of a coordinated smear campaign involving a manipulated image and false press releases sent to media outlets.

According to Colucci’s managers, the hacking began in January 2023 and was part of a broader, well-orchestrated effort to tarnish the artist’s reputation and derail his career. The managers allege that fabricated quotes and misleading information about Colucci’s personal life were falsely attributed to him, with the intention of damaging his public image.

The hacking incident was confirmed by email service provider TITAN, after Colucci’s team regained control of the compromised accounts. Despite reaching out to media outlets to correct the defamatory content, the managers claim that several publications ignored their requests, raising suspicions that certain outlets may have been complicit in the smear campaign.

Colucci’s management disclosed that internal conflicts within the entertainment industry may have contributed to the campaign, as several influential figures allegedly opposed the artist’s creative direction leading up to his debut. The full extent of the alleged conspiracy remains unclear.

The managers have expressed regret for the distress caused by the false claims, admitting that more stringent security measures should have been in place to protect their accounts. They stated that legal action is being prepared against at least one suspect in both South Korea and the United Kingdom, with more information to be released once investigations progress.

Following the controversy, the artist has taken on a two-year hiatus to focus on different projects and has released a formal apology to South Korea and the members of BTS following the hacking incident.

In a lengthy statement, Colucci expressed his regret for any distress caused to the Korean people, clarifying that the false claims originated from unauthorized access to his management’s email accounts. Colucci emphasized that he had no involvement in the false narratives circulated around about him and denounced the hackers for exploiting his name to stir public outrage.

Colucci’s management team reiterated that legal action is being prepared against at least one suspect involved in the hacking, with plans to pursue claims in both South Korea and the United Kingdom. Further updates regarding the ongoing investigation are expected in the coming weeks.

Read the full statement below:

“Hi, this is Erich Saint Colucci Lima, a.k.a Saint Colucci.

I would like to apologize for the hacking incident that took place in 2023 and was used to spread fake news about me and my friends KPOP legends BTS with the sole intent to damage my career and reputation.

I always dreamed of debuting as an artist, but there were always so many obstacles in my way. I was so busy trying to go around them that I ended up making a lot of enemies and overlooking my own safety along the way.

I can be a little bit of a jokester and quirky sometimes, but I’ve never ever intended to hurt or offend anyone. Some of the quotes published by me have been either taken out of context, mistranslated from English, or just completely made up without my previous knowledge.

A photoshopped headshot picture of mine, which was originally created for a plastic surgery appointment in Gangnam, was illegally obtained during the hacking and maliciously used to damage my reputation and mock my insecurities.

Although with some personal turbulence, I absolutely loved my time living in South Korea, and I wish I could make the country my second home. I loved the Korean people I’ve met, and I was welcomed with so much love. I regret things have been misunderstood and people have been offended by actions taken by third parties due to my negligent acts. I am sorry; I was too distracted trying to make my dreams come true. I was selfish, jealous, and immature.

Please allow young people to make mistakes and learn from their mistakes. Let’s learn from our mistakes and grow together, please.

Still, I’ve been so sad how some members of the press have decided to turn against me and my family and, sometimes, act maliciously and completely take away our right of freedom of speech and defense. Multiple members of the media in the United States and Canada have completely ignored our multiple requests for corrections of their defamatory articles. It broke my heart to see people spreading falsehoods that my pictures were AI-generated due to bad quality or too much editing. My modeling pictures were one of the few things I used to be proud of and I’ve spent hours in studio creating them, just so now they can call it fake and erase my existence as if it would not affect me mentally. I cried a lot. Most, if not, all my previous work had been erased and taken down by me and my team at the end of 2022 for my music launch, including previous modeling work and music. Still, there were plenty of videos of me on YouTube and Instagram. What they tried doing by erasing my existence was just mean and evil.

The Japanese media and people have been so kind to me in a way the other country has, and I will forever be grateful for that. They understand me and they are my family I adore.

It hurts me when the people from my own countries won’t support or love me the way they should. They have been blacklisting me, silencing me, and taking away my rights of freedom of speech and press. This is what the elites do to the minorities who dare to stand up. I will always speak up and stand up for the people and won’t tolerate bullies. I, no, WE, shall come back stronger, PAPA.

Just wait for it. The walls they put up to hold us back will fall down right on their faces.

South Korea’s BTS face the same type of hesitance and blacklisting early in their career both in their own home country and later in the USA, and it wasn’t until much later on, with a lot of trial and error and luck, they were able to find monstrous success. With that in mind, I will keep playing the long game and follow my initial plan firmly until the end. I will stand firm on my approach of ignoring the lies spread around and letting time be the ultimate truth teller. Patience is the greatest virtue.

We will be filing a criminal and civil lawsuit against at least one individual based in South Korea for orchestrating the entire stunt. We will update you about the lawsuit once it’s the right time to do it. You will get more details then, but rest assured, the penetrators will be held accountable.

I hope within time you will get to know the real me and I will be able to smile again, but for the mean time, eat well, get some sunlight, and try laughing a lot! This shall pass, too.

I spend most of my days nowadays sitting on the porch in the garden, watching the butterflies fly around while wondering, “God, when will it be my time? When will the stars finally align for me? Why does everybody hates me? What was my mistake? Was it loving too hard? Because honestly, I don’t know.” but I will never lose hope.

In the valley of mistakes, we shall not wander around. Let’s forget the painful memories, my brothers and sister, and from now on, let’s not remember the past; let’s remember the future, please.

Thank you for the opportunity, and let’s spread more love.

I will be back screaming NUNA NAPPA with an evil tWINK. ;)

See you soon.

I love you so much my heart melts, aww s2s2 — Saint.”

More details about his future projects will be announced soon, including his future social media comeback.