South Korean rapper and singer B.I, a prominent third-generation K-pop idol, made headlines during his 2024 "HYPE UP" tour when a fan unexpectedly kissed him during a fan interaction event.
The incident occurred as B.I. was holding the Oceania leg of his "Hype Up tour," with concerts in New Zealand and multiple locations in Australia. The star was specifically performing in Brisbane on Tuesday and was wading through the crowd to interact with fans. At one point, he began moving closer to a fan to allow them to hug him when the unidentified person pressed a kiss to his cheek.
The incident was captured on video and shared across social media platforms. This led some fans to get enraged.
"He may be too generous w fan service for his own good but it's crazy how some people need to be reminded that kissing a stranger without consent is not normal behavior in any context? Security needs that reminder, too," one fan wrote.
"Whoever did this is not a fan. Otherwise, they wouldn't do that. He already said he hates his face being touched," another fan wrote.
Despite the unexpected event, B.I continued his performances.
BRO rewatched the vids & someone went to hug and KISS him on the cheek???? cmon yall wtf???? so fking disrespectful #HYPEUPinBRISBANE #HYPEUPTOUR #HYPEUPinOceania #KIMHANBIN #BI pic.twitter.com/ALCuH92SVW
— nicole🎡🎡 비아이 ; 김한빈 (@peaceminus13_1) April 22, 2025
Concert organizers have not released an official statement regarding the incident. However, the episode has prompted online conversations about fan etiquette at K-pop events, especially as artists strive to maintain close yet safe relationships with their supporters. Similar incidents involving other idols have previously led to increased security measures and public reminders about appropriate fan behavior.
One of the most widely reported similar incidents involved BTS member Jin, who was unexpectedly kissed by a Japanese fan during a public hug event in Seoul in June 2024, just after his military discharge. The fan, instead of simply hugging Jin as intended, kissed him on the face or neck, leaving the idol visibly surprised and prompting him to turn away.
Another notable incident occurred with former TVXQ member Kim Jaejoong, who has faced multiple invasions of privacy by obsessive fans over the years. In one disturbing case, while Jaejoong was resting in a sleep pod, a fan secretly entered the room, took a photo of him while he was asleep, and later boasted online about kissing him during his vulnerable state.
