A K-pop star was photographed kissing a woman. Fans decided he should be fired for it.
Supporters of K-pop star Seunghan are pushing back after his return to the boy band RIIZE was foiled by what they say was bullying from toxic fans.
It all started with a kiss.
K-pop star Seunghan was banished for almost a year from his boy band, RIIZE, amid backlash over leaked photos showing him kissing a woman when he was a trainee — behavior considered unacceptable by some fans who expect their idols to remain single and have wholesome images.
When the South Korean entertainment company behind the band, SM Entertainment, tried to bring him back to the band earlier this month, fans still weren’t ready to forgive him, sending white funeral wreaths to the company’s headquarters in Seoul and organizing online campaigns in protest.
Within two days of his return, SM Entertainment said Seunghan was out again, leading fans to post triumphant videos showing them dancing in front of the funeral wreaths.
“I think leaving the team is the best decision for everyone,” Seunghan, 21, said in a letter posted on social media. “I don’t want to cause more confusion or hurt to the fans, and I don’t want to cause more harm to the members or the company.”
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