On September 6, it was reported that Stray Kids’ Felix (Lee Yong-bok) had taken legal action on his own against anonymous users on X (formerly Twitter). The announcement revealed that Felix had already obtained formal approval from a US federal court to obtain the personal data of suspected users, with the aim of identifying and prosecuting them in South Korea. According to reports, the formal approval was issued on September 5, 2025, and details emerged today, Saturday, September 6.
Felix, the lead rapper and lead dancer of Stray Kids, was born in Australia of Korean descent. However, in recent years, he has been subjected to a wave of negative social media rumors, including accusations of “staff abuse” and “arrogant behavior,” which he has insisted are malicious and unfounded.
Court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California reveal that an anonymous user on X published three false posts on specific dates: March 8, March 15, and May 24 of the same year, 2025. Posts accused Felix of “treating staff like servants” and “acting like an arrogant prince.”
But according to the documents, those false rumors have really taken a toll on him—leaving him stressed, hurt, and with his reputation unfairly damaged. Felix also emphasized that the accusations weren’t just people sharing opinions, but targeted attempts to damage his character, making them legally defamatory.
Felix previously filed a civil defamation lawsuit with the Seoul Eastern District Court. However, the lawsuit was temporarily halted due to the inability to identify the defendant. X protects the anonymity of its users under U.S. privacy laws. But attorney Jeong Gyeong-seok from the Lee Law Firm — which focuses on defamation cases — worked with the U.S. side to secure a subpoena that would reveal user data, such as real names, addresses, and emails. Speaking to the media, Jeong explained that the case is being pursued under Korea’s defamation law, where damages can reach up to 20 million won (about $15,000). He stressed that uncovering user identities is crucial since platforms only keep data for 3–6 months, adding that “recent logs” are especially important when tracing users through Korean telecom providers.
While several Korean superstars — including BTS — have reached similar settlements in defamation cases, Felix’s lawsuit has drawn particular attention online. What makes it stand out is that he filed it on his own, without JYP Entertainment, the group’s agency that usually oversees finances, stepping in. Even though JYP said in a statement today that the company “continuously takes legal action against defamation,” this time Felix personally took the initiative to protect his name and reputation.
