Disney Channel/Image Group LAFifth Harmony is defending a security guard accused of "inappropriately touching" a fan at a hotel in Rio. After more people claimed they had also been manhandled by their bodyguards, band members Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Lauren Jauregui, Dinah Jane and Normani Kordei released a statement on Twitter Monday. "We have been really busy working and making sure that you guys have as amazing of an experience with us as possible," the quintet began. "But we feel like sometimes you guys forget that there are only 5 of us versus the hundreds of you."
The X Factor-formed group said the murder of Christina Grimmie at a fan event has put all of them on high alert. "Our security team is set up and in place to protect us and out privacy when people go beyond normal boundaries. We've seen all over Twitter outrage over one of our security guards attacking and trying to inappropriately touch one of our fans and we wanted to put out a statement calling out this lie," the "Work From Home" singers said. "We were there."
"The girl tried to come to Lauren and Dinah's doors and the security we hired were with us speaking to us and making sure we were safe. We saw this girl lie to them about where she was staying and where her actual room was, tell them to 'shut the f--k up and stop talking' and then proceed to try and lunge towards Lauren's room so she could get a note to her. The security guards who ushered her away and made sure she didn't follow through were doing their jobs of protecting us. Especially in light of recent events like the shooting, we can't ever be too safe with our personal space and protection," Brooke, Cabello, Jauregui, Jane and Kordei explained. "The security guard did nothing but try to make sure the girl went back down the stairs to where she was actually staying. She combated and fought to break free of their directing her and in the process was shouting that they were touching her and trying to take her clothes off."
"Four of us were out there and experience this scene with our own eyes. Not one security guard inappropriately touched or harmed anyone," they continued. "They would never intentionally harm any one of our fans. Resisting doing what you're being asked politely to do and getting hurt in the process isn't anyone's fault but your own. We will continue to support our security team in making sure that they protect the boundaries so many people seem to think they're entitled to disrespect."
Fifth Harmony kicked off their 7/27 Tour on June 22, and will next perform tonight in São Paulo. In spite of the backlash, the "Worth It" singers will not be backing down. "We're sorry for any inconvenience but we do not appreciate people lying about our team and costing people their jobs just so they can get extra attention from us," the pop stars said. "We'd appreciate if you recognized that when you disrespect our team and their hard work, you're disrespecting us."