Fans are demanding that Wendy leave "SNL Korea."
Keep on reading to know more.
SM Entertainment Receives Backlash Following Red Velvet's Wendy Being Casted on "SNL Korea"
Back on July 6, media outlets reported that Red Velvet member, Wendy, will be joining the cast of the upcoming season of "SNL Korea" - also known as "Saturday Night Live" - alongside other stars such as Shin Dong Yup, Cha Chung Hwa, Ahn Young Mi, Kwon Hyuk Soo, Jung Sang Hoon, and more.
However, the news of Wendy joining as a cast on the Korean reboot was not well-received. Fans, especially ReVeluv (Red Velvet's fandom), have taken to their social media to voice out their concern and criticize SM Entertainment, Wendy's label, for allowing the "Like Water" singer to be cast on the show that has been heavily embroiled with sexual assault allegations.
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Fans began trending "FREE WENDY" and "#WENDY_OUT_SNL" on Twitter and have tagged SM Entertainment's account to bring forth the issue, explaining that there are numerous other shows that Wendy could be cast on, but the label chose to allow her on a "problematic" show with a bad reputation.
We need Wendy to join a show where she could show her talents fully as a singer. She is a singer not a comedian. Don't send her to this show where it was very problematic & had bad reputations in the past. It's enough SM!
— Red Velvet Stats (@RedVelvetStats) July 7, 2021
FREE WENDY#WENDY_OUT_SNL @SMTOWNGLOBAL
In addition, fans also criticized SM Entertainment for trying to "ruin" Wendy's image. Stating that "she is a singer, not a comedian," and are telling the label that Wendy should be on a show where she can fully show her talent as a singer.
Others also stated that they would have been open to the idea of Wendy being cast on "SNL Korea" had the cast been different, as the current cast lineup are those who were involved in the past show's controversies.
"SNL Korea" Sexual Assault Allegations
Back in 2016, "SNL Korea" became embroiled in controversies and eventually infamous for its sexual assault allegations.
In November 2016, the show came under fire after a video of SNL cast member Lee Se Young, and other female cast members approached boy group B1A4 - who were the guests on the show - and touched their genital area during a meeting held between the cast and crew members.
The video, which was originally posted by "SNL Korea," and is now deleted, was allegedly part of an initiation ritual. The members of B1A4 were also seen covering their genital area in the video.
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As the video began to circulate, many netizens - both domestic and international - were outraged and heavily criticized the show. Following the intense backlash, "SNL Korea," as well as the cast members, released an apology.
However, they continued to be embroiled in the controversy as it was found out that fellow boy groups INFINITE and Block B had also experienced the same "initiation" of the female cast members touching their bodies.
A police investigation was eventually launched following Lee Se Young's departure from the show but was later dismissed.
After facing more controversies, "SNL Korea" was canceled.
What are your thoughts on Wendy joining the show?
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Written by Robyn Joan
