THE BOYZ’s Sunwoo is in the spotlight again, but not for his music. His recent comments about the female actress in his Darling music video have stirred up a storm among fans and netizens. The K-pop idol’s attempt to clarify the casting choice backfired, leading to heated discussions online. Many fans feel his words were out of touch, while others question why he felt the need to explain at all. Here’s a detailed look at what happened, why it’s causing such a fuss, and how people are reacting.
Fans are buzzing about Sunwoo’s messages on the fan app Bubble, where he talked about the woman featured in his Darling cover video. Released on his birthday, April 12, 2025, the video shows him in a playful, romantic storyline with a mysterious actress. His comments aimed to clear up any rumors, but instead, they’ve ignited a wave of criticism. Let’s break it down.
What Sunwoo Said About the Darling Video
On April 13, 2025, Sunwoo posted a series of messages on Bubble to explain the casting for his Darling music video. The video, a cover of Sik-K’s 2016 song Darling featuring Crush, was a special birthday gift for fans. It features Sunwoo acting out a sweet, romantic plot with a woman whose face is often hidden by a cap or camera angles.
Here’s what Sunwoo wrote on Bubble:
I was planning to do it alone, but I figured I needed some kind of counterpart. So I asked a friend I’ve been close with since middle school to help out — no need to be jealous, haha.
And by the way, the friend who helped me out isn’t just some regular person — she’s an actress. I asked her to help for work-related reasons, so let’s not start any weird rumors~^^
If it were just a regular person, I would’ve called a Deobi (fans) instead.
Sunwoo said he originally planned to star alone but decided a co-star would enhance the video. He reached out to a friend from middle school, emphasizing she’s a professional actress. He also jokingly told fans not to be jealous and claimed he’d have invited a fan (called The B or Deobi) if it wasn’t a professional job.
These messages were meant to stop rumors before they started, especially since K-pop fans can be sensitive about idols in romantic settings. But the response was anything but positive.
Why Fans Are Upset
Fans and netizens took to TheQoo, a popular Korean discussion forum, to share their thoughts. Many found Sunwoo’s tone and choice of words off-putting. They felt he misjudged how fans would react and made the situation worse by speaking out.
Here are some reactions from TheQoo:
What are you talking about… you’re an idol.
This is so funny. You want to use your girlfriend in a music video to show off to your fans?
What does this person do that makes it seem like he’s always causing controversy?
I would have rather not said anything.
Oh man, I’m so glad I’m not a fan of his.
If you hadn’t said anything, I would have just thought you were taking a picture with an actress…
No, I came after reading the Esquire article, so if you’re close friends since middle school, aren’t you in the same group? hahahaha If you didn’t say anything, I wouldn’t have thought this, but it’s even funnier because I can see what kind of kids they were in school.
Many fans thought Sunwoo’s comments were unnecessary. They argued that by mentioning the actress was a close friend, he invited speculation rather than shutting it down. Some felt his tone was too casual or even condescending, especially the part about fans not needing to be “jealous.” Others questioned why he assumed fans would jump to rumors in the first place.
One user pointed out that without his explanation, they would’ve assumed the woman was just an actress hired for the job. Another suggested his mention of a middle school friend made it sound like he was hinting at a deeper connection, which fueled more chatter.
The backlash centers on Sunwoo’s approach as an idol. Fans expect idols to be careful with their words, especially about topics like romance, which can spark intense reactions. Many felt he underestimated how his largely female fanbase might interpret his playful remarks.
The Darling Music Video Details
To understand the full context, let’s look at the Darling music video itself. Released on April 12, 2025, on THE BOYZ’s official YouTube channel, it’s a cover of Sik-K’s Darling by Sunwoo. Here are the key details:
Song: Cover of Darling by Sik-K featuring Crush, originally released in 2016.
Release Date: April 12, 2025, coinciding with Sunwoo’s birthday.
Platform: THE BOYZ’s official YouTube channel.
Concept: A lighthearted, romantic storyline where Sunwoo and the actress go on a pretend date, with playful and sweet moments like walking together and joking around.
Actress: A woman whose face is often obscured by a cap or camera angles, described by Sunwoo as a middle school friend and professional actress.
Purpose: A special gift for fans to celebrate Sunwoo’s birthday.
The video’s romantic vibe was meant to match the song’s lyrics, which talk about love and affection. Sunwoo helped direct the video, showing his personal investment in the project. But the cozy, couple-like scenes caught fans’ attention, and some wondered about the actress’s identity even before Sunwoo’s comments.
Sunwoo’s History of Controversies
This isn’t Sunwoo’s first brush with public criticism. Recently, he faced backlash over an incident involving his AirPods. On April 11, 2025, a video showed Sunwoo dropping his AirPods and shouting “My AirPods!” while a security guard picked them up. He took them with one hand without saying thank you, which netizens called rude.
Nana, a former member of After School, commented on the video:
He needs to be scolded.
Her remark drew mixed reactions. Some agreed with her, while Sunwoo’s fans defended him, saying he later apologized and clarified he thanked the guard off-camera. Nana faced hate comments on her Instagram but stood by her stance, explaining she found the behavior disrespectful but wasn’t judging Sunwoo’s character.
Sunwoo addressed the AirPods issue on Bubble:
Everyone kept talking about the AirPod, so I looked up the video. Would I really scream at a security guard in front of fans to go pick up my AirPods? That’s insane. I’m dumbfounded.
His agency, Onehundred, issued a statement on April 13, 2025:
We sincerely apologize for failing to properly manage issues related to the artist’s character. Sunwoo is also reflecting on aspects of his behavior he hadn’t even been aware of before.
Older controversies also resurfaced. Pre-debut AskFM posts linked to Sunwoo included offensive remarks, like calling a woman his “ideal pet” and joking about stealing someone’s girlfriend. Fans debated whether these were really his words, but the posts added fuel to current criticism. Some netizens said:
His ideal type is a woman with no future? That’s gross beyond words.
How is this guy a celebrity?
These past issues make fans and netizens less forgiving, with some feeling Sunwoo keeps stumbling into avoidable controversies.
How This Affects THE BOYZ
THE BOYZ, formed by IST Entertainment (now Onehundred) in 2017, is an 11-member group: Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, New, Q, Ju Haknyeon, Sunwoo, and Eric. Known for hits like The Stealer and Thrill Ride, they’ve built a strong fanbase called The B or Deobi.
Sunwoo, the main rapper, is a key member, often praised for his talent and charisma. But this controversy risks overshadowing the group’s achievements. Fans worry it could hurt THE BOYZ’s image, especially since Sunwoo’s comments come amid other recent criticisms.
The group has faced fan concerns before. In 2018, some Korean fans demanded Sunwoo and New leave due to old social media posts. Cre.ker Entertainment (now Onehundred) apologized and kept both members. This time, there’s no official statement yet on the Darling issue, but fans are watching closely.
What Fans Want Moving Forward
The uproar over Sunwoo’s comments shows how tricky idol-fan dynamics can be. Many fans feel he should’ve stayed quiet or chosen his words better. They want him to be more aware of how his actions and words land, especially given his influence.
Some fans still support Sunwoo, arguing he meant no harm and was trying to be transparent. They point out he’s young—24 in 2025—and learning to navigate fame. But others think he needs to take accountability and avoid casual remarks that can be misread.
On X, sentiments vary:
anyway sunwoo has alr apologized & clarified TWICE for this so idk what do yall want from him again im so tired we have to do this again
This shows frustration from some fans who feel the criticism is overblown. But the louder voices on TheQoo suggest Sunwoo’s approach didn’t sit right with many.
The Darling controversy highlights a bigger issue in K-pop: fans expect idols to maintain a careful image, especially around romance. Sunwoo’s attempt to get ahead of rumors only sparked more debate, leaving fans divided.
