Nana Faces Fan Fury but Stands Firm After Calling Out THE BOYZ’s Sunwoo for Viral AirPod Incident; Addresses Her Critical Comments In A Long Message To Fans

A viral video showing THE BOYZ member Sunwoo dropping his AirPods has sparked a heated online debate, pulling actress and former After School member Nana into the center of a social media storm. After Nana criticized Sunwoo’s behavior, fans of the K-pop star flooded her Instagram with hate comments. Despite the backlash, Nana doubled down on her stance, defending her views in a detailed message to her fans. Here’s everything you need to know about this unfolding controversy.

What Happened in the Viral Video

The controversy began with a short clip that spread rapidly across platforms like Instagram and online forums. In the video, Sunwoo is seen walking toward an elevator after a schedule. He drops his AirPods and shouts, “My AirPod!” without moving to pick them up. A security guard quickly retrieves the item and hands it to him with both hands, a common gesture of respect in South Korea. Sunwoo accepts it with one hand and appears not to say thank you, prompting criticism from viewers.

Many netizens called out Sunwoo’s actions as rude. They pointed out that he didn’t attempt to pick up the AirPods himself, yelled loudly, and failed to show gratitude to the guard. The video, which gained nearly 10 million views, fueled debates about basic courtesy, especially for public figures like K-pop idols.

“He didn’t even say thank you.”
“Why yell like that instead of picking it up himself?”
“It looks like he expected the guard to serve him.”

Nana’s Sharp Criticism Sparks Backlash

On April 8, 2025, Nana commented on the viral Instagram post by @nyangnyangclip, where the video was shared. Her remark was direct and critical.

“He needs to be scolded.”

Her comment quickly caught attention, surprising netizens who noted her status as a senior figure in the entertainment industry. Some praised her for speaking out, while others questioned why she felt the need to comment publicly. The reaction escalated when Sunwoo’s fans, known as The B, flooded Nana’s Instagram with negative messages. They demanded an apology, arguing that Sunwoo had already explained himself. Some even brought up unrelated issues, like Nana’s attendance at HyunA and Yong Junhyung’s controversial wedding, to attack her character.

“Did you think it was a private account? Apologize and disappear.”
“Shut up and mind your own business.”
“This is really bothering me. Nana never spoke up against rap!sts and sa offenders but decides to speak up against sunwoo’s incident which wasn’t even deep and he clarified it.”

Despite the hate, Nana didn’t back down. When a netizen criticized her for judging Sunwoo based on a short clip, she responded firmly.

“A glimpse tells the whole story.”

This idiomatic reply, equivalent to “See one and you’ve seen them all,” suggested that Nana believed Sunwoo’s behavior revealed deeper issues. Her stance only intensified the debate, with some fans accusing her of being unfair while others rallied to her defense.

Sunwoo’s Explanation and Apology

As the controversy grew, Sunwoo addressed the issue on April 2, 2025, via a fan communication platform, likely Bubble. He explained the context of the incident, admitting that the video might have looked bad.

“Everyone kept talking about the AirPods, so I looked up the video. Honestly, it really does look like I just took it without even greeting or showing any manners.”
“A fan shouted something at that moment, and I was confused because I didn’t know what had fallen. I later realized it was my AirPod and looked around before receiving it from the person who picked it up. I did say ‘thank you’ without bowing my head.”
“I know I can’t keep explaining everything like this forever, but I admit that it was also my fault for making it appear that way. I’ll behave better so these kinds of misunderstandings don’t happen again.”

Sunwoo clarified that he verbally thanked the guard but forgot to bow, a customary sign of respect in South Korea. He promised to be more mindful, emphasizing that he always tries to be polite, even in small interactions like thanking someone for holding a door.

Some fans accepted his apology, defending him against further criticism. They argued that the situation was a misunderstanding blown out of proportion. However, others felt his explanation didn’t fully address the concerns, especially since he didn’t pick up the AirPods himself.

Nana’s Detailed Response to Fans

On April 12, 2025, Nana took to Bubble to share a longer message with her fans, addressing the backlash and clarifying her intentions. She stood by her opinion but explained that her comment wasn’t meant to define Sunwoo as a person.

“It seems like people are talking about the comments I left. I was surprised too when I saw all the malicious comments and messages telling me to apologize on my Instagram. Know that it wasn’t a comment I wrote with the intention of it becoming news, but things seem to have gotten bigger than I expected.”
“I don’t think it’s right to judge someone based on just a short clip. But to be clear, I wasn’t trying to label that person or decide what kind of person he is. It’s just that his behavior looked very rude to me, and the video itself was quite shocking.”
“So, my comment—that he ought to be scolded—was simply an emotional reaction to his behavior and words, not of the person himself.”

Nana went on to describe why the video troubled her so much. She watched it multiple times to ensure she understood the situation.

“He saw that he had dropped his AirPods and yelled, ‘My AirPods!’ so that everyone around could hear. But he didn’t take a single step, even though they were just a few steps away. Who was he expecting to pick them up? Was he unable to move? Was he talking to the AirPods he dropped, telling it to come to him on their own?”
“No, that’s not what I saw in the video. But I could be wrong too. Anyone can be misunderstood depending on the situation. That’s why I watched the video over and over again.”
“I don’t know who he is, but if someone like that had been next to me, I would’ve said the exact same thing. I would’ve said, ‘You need a lesson.’ And I probably would’ve added, ‘Where did you learn to act like that?’”

Her message struck a chord with many netizens, who praised her for her honesty and courage. Screenshots of her Bubble post went viral, with comments flooding online forums like theqoo.

“She’s 100% right. Nana is awesome.”
“Anyone who watched that video would think the same. It was such childish behavior.”
“Any normal person would agree with Nana.”
“Everything she said is spot-on.”
“That male idol and his fans should be grateful there are adults like Nana who speak up.”

Public Reactions and Ongoing Debate

The incident has divided opinions online. Some netizens support Nana, calling her a voice of reason who isn’t afraid to call out bad behavior, even from younger idols. They argue that her experience as a former idol gives her perspective on the importance of humility in the industry.

Others believe Nana overstepped by commenting publicly instead of addressing the issue privately. They point out that Sunwoo apologized and clarified his actions, making her second comment unnecessary. A few even questioned whether she mistook her public Instagram for a private account.

Meanwhile, Sunwoo’s fans remain vocal in his defense. They argue that the video lacks context and that piling on criticism after his apology is unfair. Some brought up Nana’s friendships with controversial figures like HyunA, questioning her credibility to judge others.

“She’s friends with HyunA but calls out Sunwoo for this? Who does she think she is?”
“Nana is right. People really need to stop overreacting at her for no reason.”
“Tell your own idol to get it together instead of ganging up on Nana for speaking facts.”

The controversy also reignited discussions about Sunwoo’s past behavior. In July 2020, he faced criticism for smoking at a non-smoking beach and posting a photo online. He apologized, promising to reflect. In 2018, fans accused him of misogynistic social media posts from his teenage years, though his agency denied the claims, stating they were unverified rumors.

Moving Forward

The debate shows no signs of slowing down, with both Nana and Sunwoo standing firm in their positions. Nana’s supporters see her as a bold figure unafraid to speak her mind, while Sunwoo’s fans feel he’s being unfairly targeted for a momentary lapse. The incident highlights how quickly small moments can spiral into major controversies in the K-pop world, where fans and celebrities alike amplify every action.

For now, Nana continues to face hate comments but remains steadfast, focusing on her career and fans. Sunwoo, meanwhile, is promoting with THE BOYZ, who released their third album, PHANTASY Pt.3: Love Letter, on March 17, 2025. Both stars are navigating the fallout, with the public watching closely.

Also Read: Actress Nana Openly Rebukes THE BOYZ’s Sunwoo for Allegedly Disrespecting Staff Members

To get instant updates on this controversy, Allow notification from VvipTimes.

Sources: theqoo, OSEN and theqoo

---