Cao Lu Faced Backlash After Revealing Unpaid Earnings

Former Fiestar member Cao Lu revealed on October 30 that she faced online accusations of dishonesty after publicly disclosing that she never received earnings from her time as an idol.

YouTube Discussion on Industry Settlement Realities

The disclosures came to light in a YouTube video titled “Girl group Momoland, who recorded 1 billion views on their music video—But how much did they actually earn?”

Cao Lu appeared in the upload alongside Jane and Ahin, both formerly of Momoland. The group gathered to discuss the financial realities of the entertainment industry.

The dialogue followed an earlier video released by former Momoland member Hyebin. In that recording, Hyebin asserted that public perception regarding idol wealth is entirely incorrect.

Weighing Fiestar’s Past Against Momoland’s Deficits

During the conversation, Jane and Ahin explained how their group generated significant revenue. Yet, substantial initial debt and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic pushed their earnings back into the negative after their initial settlement.

Those revelations prompted Cao Lu to reflect on her own tenure with Fiestar.

Fiestar debuted in 2012 with the track “Vista.” The group later promoted several other singles, including “So Tight,” “I Don’t Know,” and “One More.”

Frequent Broadcasts Spark Public Backlash over Unpaid Status

Cao Lu stated that her heavy broadcast schedule worked directly against public understanding of her financial situation.

Because she appeared frequently on television and worked constantly, online commenters accused her of lying when she revealed she was unpaid.

She recalled feeling deeply distressed by the public backlash. The harsh reaction highlighted a stark contrast between her hyper-visible, active schedule and her zero settlements.

Breaking the Taboo on Income Discussions

Public perception only began to shift after other group members stepped forward to corroborate her claims.

Cao Lu noted that fellow Fiestar member Yezi discussed similar payment issues in an interview. That intervention paved the way for other members to share their own accounts.

Jane and Ahin echoed those sentiments during the YouTube discussion, admitting that talking openly about income was previously a strict taboo within the industry.