On August 20 (KST), it was reported that Lee Do Kyung, a senior HYBE executive, will succeed Kim Ju Young as ADOR’s CEO, following Min Hee Jin’s departure last year. This decision comes as NewJeans continues its legal battle with HYBE and ADOR, demanding Min Hee Jin’s reinstatement.
However, public attention has shifted back to an earlier case involving David Bolno, HYBE America’s COO, and the tragic death of aspiring singer Camila Sterling.
In March 2023, Sterling, 24, was found dead in a luxury Miami Beach hotel bathroom, surrounded by baggies of “pink cocaine” — a designer drug mix containing ketamine and caffeine — as well as condoms. Hours earlier, Bolno, then 47, had been with her but left around 4:30 a.m. to return home to his wife and children. Though cleared of direct suspicion since Sterling made a room service call after his departure, Bolno’s relationship with the young singer was reportedly deeper than business.
Business Insider reported that Sterling referred to Bolno as her “boyfriend” in texts and voice memos. He allegedly spent over $140,000 to rent her a condo and even created a music label for her. She also alluded to powerful figures supporting her career without naming him directly.
The resurfaced story sparked outrage online, with netizens questioning HYBE’s integrity: “Is HYBE seriously a magnet for every kind of social evil?”, “The industry is dominated by old men at the top while young women do all the work. It’s infuriating”, “I can’t even believe this is real. It feels so disgusting, like something out of a movie”, “If this is true, they should all be punished severely. People like that shouldn’t walk free.”
The scandal, once dismissed after Bolno was cleared, is now fueling renewed criticism of HYBE’s leadership structure, with many questioning whether such executives should continue to wield power in the entertainment industry.
Sources: Koreaboo
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