TWICE's stylist receives hateful comments due to Chaeyoung's outfit. Upon seeing the idol clad in the controversial shirt, ONCEs and K-pop fans poured out their frustrations because of the outfit's meaning.
TWICE Chaeyoung, Stylist Earn Backlash Due To Idol's Controversial Outfit + Meaning
On March 18, TWICE began promoting their most recent track, "Set Me Free," on music shows.
Although the group's performance at MBC's "Music Core" was excellent, people flocked to social media platforms to criticize the idol and her stylist after spotting the rapper performing while sporting a contentious shirt.
In images posted on TWICE Tzuyu's personal Instagram and throughout the concert, Chaeyoung wore a cropped top. Fans immediately recognized the shirt as what seemed to be a modified QAnon t-shirt.
The photo was then taken down immediately, following the backlash.
In the video, TWICE member Chaeyoung can be seen wearing the problematic shirt. Although QAnon may not be extensively known worldwide, especially among younger fans, it is unquestionably well-known in the U.S.
The motto of QAnon is: "When we go one, we go all." Its logo is a Q-shaped cut out of the American flag. Chaeyoung's top bears the Q and the second half of the statement.
It is a political and conspiracy theory movement developed in 2017 when an anonymous user, using the identity "Q," started tweeting encrypted messages and claimed to have U.S. secret clearance.
With their most well-known conspiracy theory claiming that the former U.S. president was at odds with a global ring of Satanic, cannibalistic child sex traffickers, QAnon is well-known for being pro-Donald Trump.
They soon became intimately identified with the "Pizzagate" conspiracy, which alleged that Democrat leaders had abused children at a pizzeria in Washington, D.C., later targeted by an armed shooter who believed in the conspiracy theory.
After Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 US election, QAnon adherents attempted several initiatives to discredit or invalidate the result. They were involved in the historic January 6, 2021, incident that killed several people as they attacked the U.S. Capitol.
Moreover, the controversial QAnon has been implicated in several incidents over the past few years and has faced accusations of anti-Semitism, Racism, and Homophobia.
On the other hand, TWICE members are not aware of the meaning of the shirt. This made the fans express their frustrations on social media against the stylist.
The stylist is being criticized for not conducting their research even though it is unlikely that the TWICE members would be familiar with it. However, this is not the first time that the girl group's stylist garners criticisms from fans.
This issue is particularly troubling because the incident occurred as TWICE's new album, "READY TO BE," was actively pushed in the U.S. then.
TWICE is currently having a busy schedule due to the promotion of their newly-released album.
What are your thoughts about this issue? Comment down below.
READ MORE: TWICE Performs at 'The Kelly Clarkson Show,' Explains 'Moonlight Sunrise' Meaning
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