Ariana seethed that someone would still employ such outdated smear tactics.

It was clear that the “sugar daddy" Carl alleged was none other than Holden. Merely because he had seen Shawn visiting her, the fool had spun wild speculations.

Online debates grew increasingly heated over the identity of her mysterious benefactor.

"No way a small agency got her on the show without assistance. I bet she's got a wealthy guy funding her."

"Meh, just because she's attractive doesn't mean she has a sugar daddy. Not everything is about looks."

"I wonder who she knows that hooked her up with Julio.."

Most comments were harsh attacks, but a few did mention Ariana's looks in a different aspect.

"She looks strangely familiar; I feel like I've seen her around before."

"Same here! Her face gives me major déja vu."

Just as the thread erupted with speculation, Jayson, the general director of the show, posted an intriguing update.

Ariana, with intrigue, clicked on Jayson's latest post, eager to uncover its contents.

In a substantial message, Jayson conveyed with clarity that he had personally extended an invitation to Ariana to participate in the show. Jayson continued to meticulously counter Carl's public allegations, systematically dismantling each one and emphasizing that Ariana had rightfully earned her spot through sheer talent. He vehemently disavowed Carl's assertions regarding a "sugar daddy" benefactor, declaring them baseless.

To substantiate his claims, Jayson presented surveillance footage of the practice room. The video, crisp and undeniable, captured Carl and his entourage forcefully entering Ariana's team's practice room, brazenly ejecting contestants including Woodrow. The shocking audio recordings exposed Carl hurling taunting insults, and the altercation escalated when he threw the initial punch, deliberately shoving Ariana to the side and causing her injury.

In his capacity as the show's director, Jayson revealed that the producers had initially discreetly disqualified Carl in an effort to protect the contestants' reputations. However, Carl's distortion of events compelled Jayson to unveil the unvarnished truth.

The post swiftly went viral online, and Ariana scrolled through her feed as the clarifying video gained rapid traction.

Social media was inundated with hashtags chronicling Carl's downfall, and his former fans turned against him en masse, causing a sharp decline in his follower count.

Carl, consumed by impotent rage, smashed his phone upon seeing the post. He turned abruptly to Calvert, his face mottled with anger.

“You were entrusted to delete that footage! How in the world did Jayson obtain that video?"

With an unruffled demeanor, Calvert gazed back placidly.

"I warned you not to post claims. This unfortunate situation could have been avoided if you'd only heeded my advice."