Siblings TXT‘s Hueningkai and Kep1er‘s Huening Bahiyyih are both popular and established K-Pop idols now. Still, their older sister, Lea Navvab Huening (also known as J’Lea or Jung Lea), was actually the first to make her debut in 2017 as a member of VIVA. She was active as an idol for about three years until the group disbanded in 2019 without a formal statement.
For years, Lea has maintained a following as a YouTuber, TikToker, singer, model, and MC. In November 2022, she debuted her first single, “A Good Day To Love.”
In April of this year, Lea signed with PI Corporation. Recently, she joined as a contestant on PI Corporation and Makestar‘s upcoming global girl group survival show Time Turner.
Time Turner plans to search for a new generation of global entertainers. The audition will take place in an area of space-time known as P-134, somewhere with infinite potential and where dreams come true through time travel. The winners will debut as Time Turners who journey through time while creating music and art.
— KPop Wiki
Auditions were open for women of any nationality aged 19 and up until September 18. Time Turner, which will broadcast for only two weeks, is scheduled to conclude this week via TikTok. Winners will be selected through global fan votes with no judges’ involvement.
Although Lea previously said she liked her current life, she has always been open to re-debut. In a 2021 interview with &ASIAN, Lea said she would like to try debuting as an idol again if the opportunity arose.
But, I still want to be an idol. Though I did it [before], it didn’t work out. So if I have another chance, I want to try again.
— Lea Navvab Huening
Fans were initially excited for Lea to debut again, as they long hoped she would. Yet, public sentiment has changed since the show premiered.
@enharikistan VOTE FOR HER AND YEONSEO YALL #fyp #hueinglea #junglea #timeturner #kpopsurvivalshow #leanavvab #txt #kep1er
♬ APT. – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
@xolovetyun 🥹🥹🥹 LET’S MAKE LEA DEBUT LIKE WE MADE HIYYIH DEBUT!! LEAMON FIGHTING!!!! 🍋💛💛 #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #HUENING_BAHIYYIH #LEANAVVAB #timeturner #JUNGLEA #정리아 #lea #kep1er @🍋LEANAVVAB랴밥🍋 @timeturner_official
♬ FIND ME NOW – TIME TURNER
Time Turner proved disappointing due to its low-budget nature. Netizens have also been annoyed that votes are gathered via paid TikTok gifts.
me being excited for timeturner because all the contestants were 19+ versus finding out it’s just a rigged show made for farming tiktok gifts pic.twitter.com/iEHyZXYKIp
— mari🪷🐈⬛ (@lotuslaced) November 11, 2024
timeturner contestant saying she didn’t know votes would end up being paid gifts and she’s sorry and telling her fans they really don’t have to vote 😭 pic.twitter.com/ishwg4fL0h
— saz ❖ (@miyagender) November 10, 2024
the new timeturner girl group “survival show” is so low budget 😭 they’re not even seeing this whole thing is just to farm tiktok gifts pic.twitter.com/OfvgacQqTC
— 천사 (@yeof4iryy) November 8, 2024
The “influencer” contestants have also been underwhelming in terms of talent and idol potential. Netizens have been astounded by the performances. Top contestant Kelly Kim especially has been ridiculed for her lack of skills.
THIS SHOW IS A MESS #TimeTurner pic.twitter.com/aaCwiDKn2i
— Fea | vote yeojun on weverse (@myunghanzz) November 14, 2024
TIME TURNER KELLY KIM IS 26 YEARS OLD THIS GIRL IS ALMOST 30 ACTING LIKE THIS???!!!
Omggg I thought she was 20 that’s why I wasn’t saying anything. pic.twitter.com/DjM1MCm6ut
— ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𐦍༘⋆ JOY ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𐦍༘⋆ (@akababelas) November 20, 2024
They will never make me like timeturner pic.twitter.com/oZBYK3RqsX
— Jenna ミ★ loves kai 🛝 (@ujistar1025) November 16, 2024
kelly kim ain’t the only dozen on time turner- pic.twitter.com/P7qrV4ETMa
— 𓆩🐬𓆪 (@jjeonghyeons) November 19, 2024
Despite Lea’s experience, she has been among the criticized contestants, as she appears ill-prepared. Clips of her and Cleo performing ITZY‘s “Untouchable” have circulated, going viral across social media. Lea seemed to mess up the choreography.
timeturner unit battle team us cleo leanavvab huening lea untouchable performance pic.twitter.com/cf0sLtx9Nj
— ً (@survivalshows) November 18, 2024
Lea redoing the chorus choreo that she messed up 🥺💔 she was so sad about it#LEANAVVAB #랴밥 #JLEA #정리아#TIMETURNER #타임터너 pic.twitter.com/IZBO7Gdget
— vote ✦ lea 🧸🇳🇬 (@leatuned) November 18, 2024
@apateuuu_ leaaa fighting 😭🥲 #leanavvab #cleo #timeturner #us #TIMETURNER
♬ suara asli – yoonn – yoonn
@imspycy Replying to @aywonchu the real bestie harusnya memang kaya gini 😭 #TimeTurner #Time_Turner #Us #Cleo #Lea
♬ original sound – aimspaici – aimspaici
While Lea is best known for her singing skills, even her singing clips have left much to be desired. Some feel like there might still be potential, though.
@kananmats Time turner – leanavvab performance 2nd battle Sorry idk what my phone is doing the whole perf got lost 😭😭 #timeturner #survivalshow #kpop #fyp #leanavvab
♬ son original – ✨
On the other hand, as more clips circulate showing Lea in an unfavorable light, public sentiment has shifted dramatically toward her. Many are confessing they regret ever wishing for her to debut again.
The “Untouchable” performance, especially, was the “law straw” for many.
now don’t jump me when say this but do y’all think hueningkai and hiyyih looking at that timeturner shit they sister on embarrassed asf 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ivkYrG6FIX
— 🌸via🌸 (@basicallyvia) November 18, 2024
time turner is a fucking JOKE TOTALLY agree with all the lea kelly yeonseo bs
also the girl dancing with lea lowkey looks SO ANNOYED OOP pic.twitter.com/L8o8Nx8Yro— 1등 크래비티🥇 (@kytpabo) November 19, 2024
Read more below.
New Controversial K-Pop Survival Show Addresses Criticism
