RIIZE's fans were initially thrilled, but they ended up feeling upset after SM Entertainment finally revealed the design of the boy group's official lightstick.
On March 5, RIIZE's official SNS posted a new photo wherein a pointing finger's silhouette with the message, "RIIZE OFFICIAL FANLIGHT will be released in April," has been revealed.
The teaser image, believed to be the lightstick's design, immediately became a hot topic among the fandom BRIIZE.
Some were satisfied by the unique design that's apparently different among SM Entertainment artists, but it also caused a flood of complaints from fans for THESE 2 reasons.
RIIZE OFFICIAL FANLIGHT will be released in April. pic.twitter.com/iObRRjPZLR
— RIIZE (@RIIZE_official) March 5, 2024
RIIZE Lightstick Plagiarized? Claim Arises Due to Similarities With Epik High's Fanlight
First, not only Epik High's fans but BRIIZEs themselves raised brows after seeing that the design of the lightstick is similar to the iconic senior group.
"Park Kyu-bong" (a play to the curse "f**k you") is a fist-shaped light stick with a raised middle finger. Seeing RIIZE's lightstick, its design that raised the right hand spreading out its thumb and index finger while pointing upward showed an uncanny resemblance to this.
Although RIIZE is often seen with poses like that, both fandoms shooked their head and expressed that the overlapping design might cause unwanted discord between the two fandoms, especially since a "fanlight" is an important item to fans which signifies its identity and symbolism to the fandom and is unique to others.
International BRIIZEs Worry That RIIZE's Lightstick Could Insult Other Countries
The second controversy that arose following RIIZE's lightstick design was that in some countries, the shape of the hand is used to insult others.
In Japan, the country wherein they are actively promoting, the shape of the thumb and index finger extended means a "curse" and is considered one of the world's finger etiquette that should be refrained from.
What made it worse was that they also had Shotaro in the group, a Japanese member.
In response, it has been confirmed that fans are constantly raising issues with "KWANGYA 119," which is designed to protect the rights and interests of artists under SM Entertainment and to collect fandom opinions.
In addition to this, BRIIZEs took to X to criticize the "lame" and "ugly" design, with internet users leaving comments such as:
- "Did you have to do this when there is a Japanese in the group?"
- "Isn't it plagiarism?"
With the increasing call to change the design, fans hope that they will be heard once again, as this is not the first time a conflict like this happened.
In their early debut days, RIIZE tried to use the fandom name SUNZ (hereinafter BRIIZE) but changed it due to potential backlash from other foreign fans. Koreans tilted their heads as it reminded them of Japan's rising sun flag, which is associated with the Imperial Japan wartime atrocities.
In China, the word also sounds like a sexual term in the country, thus, after facing opposition from fans, it was later on revised.
Meanwhile, RIIZE will release a single and mini album in the second quarter of this year followed by a fan concert tour starting in May.
READ MORE: RIIZE's Fandom Name 'SUNZ' Changed to 'BRIIZE' Sparks Heated Speculation: 'Omg, the meaning...'
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
