Do Idols Face Abuse From Fans Of Other Members? TEEN TOP’s C.A.P Recalls Heartbreaking Fansign Stories
In an industry as high-risk as the K-Pop one — where fandoms reign supreme — it’s not uncommon to hear about fans getting into virtual or even physical altercations over their favorite stars. But what’s not often discussed is the unsettling scenarios in which idols are the ones facing abuse, not from anti-fans, but from fans of their own group’s members.
A recent “expose” from the former leader of TEEN TOP, C.A.P, highlights this dark aspect of fandom culture.
During a candid YouTube interview, C.A.P. opened up about the heartache he endured during his time with TEEN TOP, particularly at fan signing events. While the perception might be that all members are equally adored, he confessed to feeling like the least favored member.
Far from being just an internal struggle, this sentiment was only exacerbated by certain fans who did not shy away from expressing their disapproval of him. The star revealed that not only would he mostly get ignored by fans at fan meet events, but in worse scenarios, he would even get verbal abuse.
I was fine with not having a lot of fans. But, I struggled with fans of other members being hostile toward me.
— TEEN TOP’s C.A.P
His account is as shocking as it is heartbreaking. C.A.P. recalled instances where he would be directly blamed for the group’s challenges by fans of other members.
They’d say, ‘You’re the reason TEENTOP isn’t getting more popular,’ or ‘It’s your fault that my bias isn’t getting all the attention.’ They’d make it very clear to me at fansign events and whatnot that they hated me.
— TEEN TOP’s C.A.P
Such encounters made fan meetings a dreaded affair for C.A.P., causing him to want to retreat from these events eventually. The pressure to be constantly loved and validated in the limelight, combined with the verbal abuse from fans of his own group, took a toll on his emotional well-being.
But why do some fans feel the need to put down one member to uplift another? While it’s easy to dismiss these actions as the doings of a minority, they bring up an important concern about fandom culture’s toxicity. Idolizing an individual is one thing, but when it turns into a zero-sum game, where one’s gain is seen as another’s loss, the line between healthy admiration and toxic obsession gets blurred.
As K-Pop continues its global rise, stories like C.A.P’s serve as a crucial reminder that behind the glitz, glamor, and impeccable visuals are real people with real emotions. The culture needs a collective rethinking, with fans, agencies, and artists working hand-in-hand to ensure that no idol feels left out, unappreciated, or worse, abused by those who should be their biggest supporters.
