Netizens Divided Over TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Extreme Pepero Game on Inkigayo

TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) members recently played an intense Pepero game on SBS’s Inkigayo, sparking heated reactions online. The game, which involves biting a Pepero stick to leave the shortest piece, led to members Hueningkai and Soobin nearly touching lips. Fans and critics are split over whether the moment went too far.

The clip comes from Inkigayo’s YouTube variety segment, where TXT took over the show’s convenience store. The members were challenged to break the record for the shortest Pepero stick. Hueningkai and Soobin competed fiercely, leading to an unexpectedly close moment.

Some netizens criticized the scene, calling it uncomfortable. Others defended the members, stating they were just being competitive. The debate has grown, with comparisons to other groups who played the same game.

Mixed Reactions From Netizens

Online forums and social media exploded with opinions. Some comments were negative, while others saw it as harmless fun.

“I thought they were from a small agency. It seriously looked like they straight-up touched. If someone forced me to do that with a friend, I honestly could never do it. Just imagining it gives me chills all over.”

“But they weren’t the ones who suggested the Pepero game—it was part of a segment to set a record. Is that really something to get hate for?”

“Y’all are arguing over a game…?”

“If Hueningkai hadn’t done it like that, the show would’ve been boring. But now people are blaming him…”

“Isn’t that basically a tooth kiss?”

Comparisons to Other Idols

Some pointed out that girl groups like NMIXX also played the same game without backlash. This led to discussions about double standards in K-pop.

“Didn’t idols from other agencies do this game too? Is it only a problem because it’s guy-guy? No one complained when girls did it with each other.”

“A ton of idols have done this. Why is everyone freaking out now?”

“It’s not even their own content—it’s a segment on Inkigayo. What else were they supposed to do?”

Defense From Fans

Many fans argued that the members were just following the show’s concept. They emphasized that TXT didn’t choose the game and were simply being entertaining.

“They showed past records before the game. You think they’d take it lightly? The sad part is that even doing all that, they still only came in second. LOL.”

“He was just insanely competitive lol.”

“Honestly, a lot of male idols have done stuff like this. Even in groups I’ve followed, they’d pass food mouth to mouth or go as far as kissing without even thinking about it. It’s not a big deal.”

Criticism of the Show’s Concept

Some netizens blamed Inkigayo for pushing “fan service” too far. They argued that such games make idols uncomfortable for entertainment.

“This was too frequent in this group so I left the fandom.”

“Stuff like this is why they get mocked as ‘gay-pop’ both in Korea and internationally. Instead of being recognized for their music, they market themselves with things like this.”

“The program itself really forces all this borderline fanfiction stuff. I hated it when my ult group was on there too.”

The debate highlights ongoing discussions about K-pop variety shows and fan service. While some see it as harmless fun, others believe it crosses boundaries. TXT’s competitive nature in the game has only fueled the conversation further.

Sources: Nate

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