APRIL's Lee Na-eun Drops From Drama 'Taxi Driver' After Bullying Claims

K-pop girl group APRIL member Lee Na-eun who was embroiled in allegations recently of bullying a member Lee Hyun-joo has been removed from the upcoming SBS drama "Taxi Driver."

Studio S, the production company for the upcoming SBS drama, said on Monday that the APRIL member would no longer play the female lead role in SBS's drama "Taxi Driver."

Reports said that the agency already finished filming 60% of the program; hence, all those will be re-filmed with a new actress replacing APRIL Naeun.

The production company did not divulge further details about the artist's replacement were revealed.

"About 60 percent of the filming has been completed, but we have decided to replace Na-eun with another actress after talking with her management company," the production company said in a statement. "We will reshoot all the scenes with the new actress."

Studio S also expresses regret for taking some time before making a decision.

A netizen on February 28 claiming to be the younger brother of former member Lee hyun-joo wrote on an online community that her fellow group members bullied his sister.

The post asserted that the mistreatment caused Lee to grieve panic attacks and allegedly attempt suicide, in due course resulting in her departing the group in 2016. 

Lee Na-eun agency DSP Media denied the allegations of bullying.

The netizen claiming to be the younger brother of former APRIL member Lee hyun-joo stood by his bullying claims despite the fact that DSP Media threatened to file lawsuits.

The netizen wrote, "I've realized that the April members have no feelings of guilt whatsoever after witnessing the messages the agency and the members' acquaintances have been sending to my parents. Their claims are groundless and make my sister look like the one with the problem. So I'm here to tell the truth."