Super Junior's Heechul faced criticism for an alleged inappropriate comment he made towards LE SSERAFIM's Kazuha during a recent episode of the Korean variety show, Knowing Bros (also known as Men on a Mission). The show, known for its comedic skits with idols and Korean celebrities, had LE SSERAFIM as their guests.
he was older than she is NOW when she was born btw https://t.co/cziaMbm9ZA
— steph is livs lover (@paintmeonce) May 1, 2023
considering the fact that he used to go on air and publicly confess he’s attracted to a 15 y/o sohee this shouldn’t be surprising. his weebo, nico-nico-niii obsessed, creepy ass will jump any japanese woman, as long as they are under the age bracket that he prefers. https://t.co/TWiUzQVzeS
— jay (@tensorfied_) May 1, 2023
After the episode aired, one international fan shared screenshots that painted Heechul in a negative light, with netizens reacting angrily to the comment, criticizing the age gap between Heechul and Kazuha. Some even brought up past actions and attitudes of Heechul towards women.
Clearing Up Misunderstandings with Full Context
An international fan quickly shared the full context of the incident, including clips related to the screenshots.
this new gen of fans are so malicious istg. do yall not have in real life relationships? yall label any interaction b/w a 4th gen idol and a senior idol "creepy," "weird" "mean" or other same shit. u guys need to stop being chronically online istg. this kind of mindset - https://t.co/InhHk5XeJN
— ً (@milfeastsea) May 1, 2023
The first clip showed an exchange between host Kang Ho Dong and LE SSERAFIM's Sakura, discussing their "business relationship" and the sharing of phone numbers. In the second clip, Kazuha said she had fun on the show and felt like she gained "new uncles in Korea."
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Heechul referred back to the earlier conversation, asking if she would give her "uncles" her number. Like Sakura, Kazuha explained that it was up to her manager.
International Netizens and Korean Forums Defend Heechul
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International netizens who saw the real context expressed their anger at fans attempting to destroy a career through misleading screenshots. They emphasized the importance of understanding the context before drawing conclusions.
What’s fake?
— PrettyPoodle⁷ BTS💛💙🐩 OS (@GratefultoJesus) May 1, 2023
Korean netizens also hit back at the criticism towards Heechul, sharing their thoughts on how easy it was to form opinions based on a few screenshots without context.
Fan Comments on the Misunderstanding
Fans were astonished at how some people seemed to disregard the context in order to criticize Heechul. They pointed out the prevalence of fake news and malicious comments on community sites that lead to cyberbullying.
Although the screenshots could cause confusion, the level of misunderstanding has generated significant backlash towards Heechul online.
he debuted two years after she was born. TWO YEARS. https://t.co/Dk6yH52TNK
— jindol (@shawolbit) May 1, 2023
This is like the 100th girl he’s been weirdly predatory to https://t.co/0jUeTBeSkG
— Nicolas is happy (@niggaolas) May 1, 2023
About Knowing Bros: A Popular South Korean Variety Show
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Knowing Bros, also known as Men on a Mission or Ask Us Anything, is a popular South Korean television entertainment program that premiered on December 5, 2015. Produced by SM C&C, the show airs on Saturdays on JTBC. Set in a high school classroom, the fixed cast, including Super Junior's Heechul, act as same-aged students. Guests arrive as visiting students from another school and engage in interviews, games, talent shows, and improvisational acting. The show is notable for its informal language, disregarding Korean language seniority rules and allowing the guests and cast to interact more comfortably. This casual setting has contributed to the show's success and widespread acclaim.
The incident involving Super Junior's Heechul and LE SSERAFIM's Kazuha took place during an episode of Knowing Bros, where guests and cast members often engage in light-hearted banter and activities. The informal and relaxed atmosphere of the show is a crucial factor to consider when evaluating the context of Heechul's comment and the subsequent backlash.
The backlash against Super Junior's Heechul for his alleged indecent behavior towards LE SSERAFIM's Kazuha was due to a misunderstanding caused by taking his comment out of context. The full context of the conversation and clips showed that Heechul's comment was not inappropriate, and many netizens came to his defense. It is crucial to consider the context of situations before jumping to conclusions and spreading false information, as it can lead to unnecessary backlash and damage to an individual's reputation.