BOYNEXTDOOR Mocked And Mobbed At Their Latest Airport Sighting After Samsung Fallout

On October 11, 2024 (KST), BOYNEXTDOOR left for Madrid from the Incheon International Airport. To the press and fans waiting at the airport, the members showed off their Apple products, like iPhones and AirPods.

While assumed not to be malicious, the members’ actions ended up triggering a strong response from Korean netizens—more so given how Samsung had treated them while their collaboration lasted.

BOYNEXTDOOR Gets Flamed For Alleged Disrespect Towards Samsung

Herald Corp even reported that Samsung expressed discontent at the idol group’s behavior.

A Samsung representative said, ‘Celebrities don’t actually bring a lot of impact when it comes to cellphone marketing. So, perhaps, collaborating with celebrities who are real Samsung Galaxy fans would be less pretentious and better appealing to the target audience.’

— Herald Corp

Fast forward a week, on October 19, 2024 (KST), BOYNEXTDOOR members were spotted at the airport—leaving through Incheon International Airport once again. The vibe was far less pro-Apple this time, amid the backlash members received—but, without the members addressing the backlash, trolling remained at large. One Korean media, Sportainers, shared video from the group’s airport sighting with an abrasive title of “BOYNEXTDOOR’s Departure: Apple Boys of This Galaxy!”

Comments under the video and across online communities also mocked the group.

• “I’m sure the members won’t ever do something like that again, but what happened, happened. It’s inevitable. This group will forever be mocked for the Apple thing.”
• “Well, the members mocked Samsung first. So… They kind of asked for it. Too bad they won’t explain themselves or apologize.”
• “LMAO. They brought this on themselves.”

In addition to the mocking, BOYNEXTDOOR members also had to put up with mobbing. Newsen captured moments from the group’s walk through the airport—with fans getting too close and acting uncivilized.

Fans voiced concern at how uncomfortable and intimidated the members looked, asking one another to do better.

• “I see a lot of rude people… Had the guards not been there, the members would not have been able to move through and gotten hurt. Even with the guards, these so-called fans are running at the members. This is the worst departure video I’ve seen. The last departure video is still getting a lot of hate comments, too. Remember that we, as fans, make BOYNEXTDOOR’s reputation, too. Please act like grown-ups and stop doing things that hurt the group.”
• “Ugh… I feel like the fandom has become messier.”
• “Oh, no… What is this? Taesan and Sungho almost got squished between the doors. Woonhak and Riwoo seem to be fake-smiling. And Jaehyun looks like he’s going to burst into tears any second. Those people aren’t fans. They’re sasaengs.”

Will BOYNEXTDOOR find some peace at the airport next time? Fans sure hope so.