Seventeen‘s Seungkwan is currently facing intense online criticism from BTS’s Suga fans, known as ARMY, following a misunderstanding related to a promotional Instagram post.
Seungkwan, a member of the popular K-pop group Seventeen, posted a series of photos on Instagram to promote Cass beer, for which he is currently a model. The post included images of Seungkwan enjoying the beach while holding Cass Light beer, along with a message cheering for South Korean athletes participating in the Olympics.
Misunderstanding Leads to Online Backlash
In the caption of the post, Seungkwan wrote:
“Is everyone enjoying the Olympics together? Let’s cheer on the South Korean athletes until the very end! 💪 Let’s create a support video for our South Korean athletes 💙 Check out the profile link at @official.cass! #Ad #Cass #Olympics #CheerUp”
Additionally, he included a mandatory disclaimer:
“Warning: Excessive drinking can cause stroke, memory impairment, or dementia. Drinking during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects. Whatever it is, do it in moderation.”
The situation took a negative turn when some of Suga’s international fans misinterpreted Seungkwan’s post. They believed that Seungkwan’s message was a subtle insult aimed at Suga, who had previously been involved in a controversy regarding DUI (Driving Under the Influence). The fans speculated that Seungkwan was trying to present himself in a positive light by promoting responsible drinking, contrasting it with Suga’s past issues.
Speculations and Escalation
The controversy escalated when certain fans noticed the product Seungkwan was holding in the photos—Cass Zero Sugar beer. Some fans speculated that the “Zero Sugar” label was a direct jab at Suga because of the word “sugar” in the product name. Although this theory appears to be a stretch, it fueled further anger among the fans.
The situation worsened when fans not only targeted Seungkwan but also dragged his close friend, the late Moon Bin, into the controversy. Many derogatory remarks were made about Moon Bin in the comment section, adding to the overall negativity. As a result, some of Seungkwan’s fans removed references to Moon Bin from their posts to avoid the hurtful comments.
Seungkwan’s Reaction and Fan Response
Due to the overwhelming backlash, Seungkwan made changes to his Instagram feed. He had previously pinned a tribute post for Moon Bin and set his profile picture to an image of him. However, following the harsh criticism, he unpinned the tribute post, likely due to the distressing comments targeting both him and his late friend.
Netizens React to the Situation
The incident has also sparked reactions from Korean netizens, who have expressed their disbelief and frustration over the situation:
“Don’t they know that they’re supposed to include a warning message? What’s wrong with them?”
“Seriously, what’s wrong with them? Leave Seungkwan alone.”
“Why is the overseas fandom so unreasonable and disgusting?”
“Isn’t it ridiculous to attack someone promoting safe alcohol drinking habits instead of going after those who drive drunk? Are they idiots?”
“Oh, so the foreign fans think it’s mocking because it’s Zero Sugar? This is just… wow. Suga, your guilt is really big here. And those foreign fans are seriously pathetic.”
“What’s wrong with them? Seriously, it’s only because it’s Seventeen that there’s any defense; if it were another idol, they wouldn’t even be able to defend themselves… They’re like bullies, what is this?”
“Wow.”
“This is crossing the line.”
“I can’t believe they’re attacking Moon Bin too.”
“These fans are crazy.”
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