RIIZE Members Allegedly Do OT7 Hand Signs During Fansign
Recently, Seunghan‘s departure from RIIZE was announced. This decision was made within 48 hours after it was announced he would return after a 10-month hiatus. Many international fans have been left confused and heartbroken as a result. Seunghan’s departure from the group appeared to be a result of SM Entertainment giving in to bullying from some Korean fans who protested his return, sending funeral wreaths to the company, as they were angry about his pre-debut lifestyle, as it had been revealed he had a girlfriend and smoked.
Consequently, international fans are now protesting and boycotting RIIZE and SM Entertainment unless Seunghan returns. K-Pop stores worldwide have joined the boycott, even releasing statements, promising not to stock RIIZE products.
DUE TO THE INJUSTICE OF RIIZE. #JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #AlwaysWithSeunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SEUNGHAN #홍승한 @RIIZE_official #BOYCOTTSM @SMTOWNGLOBAL pic.twitter.com/Soq5upQqhB
— hana! 𝝑𝝔 | sungholover 🍀 (@heepurinz) October 13, 2024
Despite the high tensions within the fandom currently, RIIZE is as active as ever, although the members appear to have been affected by Seunghan’s removal. On October 17, RIIZE performed at the The BLUE HAPPY FESTIVAL 2024 in Yokohama, Japan. Fans noticed that it appeared the members intentionally left an empty space in formations, possibly indicating the members’ true feelings about the situation.
I understand you guys want them to speak out publicly but trust me. THIS is them expressing their true feelings on this matter!! Riize ALWAYS wanted Seunghan in. You’re delusional if u really think this is a coincidence! pic.twitter.com/dwkPVAr8vn
— seunghan 5th gen it boy🫧 (@pwonbbin) October 17, 2024
오늘자무대 pic.twitter.com/ynsTFdJfzm
— 맞자 (@r_meowish) October 17, 2024
Now, RIIZE held their KMStation Fansign in Guangzhou, China. Leading up to it, international fans were concerned about the members’ wellbeing. Still, they hoped that the members might be transparent about how they feel about the matter.
i need riize to do the bare minimum for today’s fansign idfc no one should be allowed to work where they have to possibly meet ‘fans’ who dragged them down to filth acting innocent under this circumstance pic.twitter.com/nduehXBEab
— 😕 (@eyesofbam) October 18, 2024
i’m seriously so concerned with this fansign today knowing some cfans helped organize and fund the wreaths and they didnt make it any better with their signs at the airport today. its so unfair and inhumane to put riize through this.
— bay (@soobmeme) October 18, 2024
riize in their next performance pic.twitter.com/1qfveE7qcY
— ِRIIZE IS SEVEN (@ilovjsc) October 17, 2024
During the fansign, the members didn’t appear in good spirits, naturally.
That's the fakest smile I have ever seen on Sungchan's face. IDK if some of you still think they are "happy", you guys need to get your eyes checked#JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #UnfairExit_Seunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SM_쓰레기pic.twitter.com/kr8YyJgWUy
— ʙᴏʏᴄᴏᴛᴛ ꜱᴍ, ᴡᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ꜱᴇᴜɴɢʜᴀɴ ʙᴀᴄᴋ! (@BaeBaelicious) October 18, 2024
you can tell the whole vibe is off in the fansign in China riize do NOT wanna be there.
— ᡣ𐭩𝒾̸ᡣ𐭩𝒾̸ (@binsaxy) October 18, 2024
Yet, some also appeared to be “subtly protesting” with hand gestures. For instance, Sungchan appeared to hold up an upside down “7.”
the upside down 7, exactly sungchan pic.twitter.com/kEnlSyxAq8
— ً (@jeberene) October 18, 2024
SUNGCHAN????they just want their bro back😭pic.twitter.com/fHUQ8UrEe4
— BOYCOTT PROJECT (@SEVENRllZE) October 18, 2024
ok everyone can say how this pose and the 520 pose is a very common pose but you’re telling me riize chose to do THIS instead of hundreds other they could do?? pic.twitter.com/58UPWEx2jV
— SEUNGHAN IS BACK 🫧🧡 (@zhangzuihao) October 18, 2024
Anton notably appeared to hold up seven fingers, which fans believe was his way of emphasizing that RIIZE is seven, not six, members.
OMG ANTON SHOWING 7 FINGERS DURING THE FANSIGN IN CHINA TODAY, THATS IT. THATS IT!!!!!!!
7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣7⃣#홍승한_고소진행및결과_공지해#RIIZEWITHSEUNGHAN#JUSTICE_FOR_SEUNGHAN #UnfairExit_Seunghan #SMSupportsBullying #SM_쓰레기 pic.twitter.com/p61gXSYZZi
— isa 🫧 ㅎㅅㅎ RIIZE is 7 (@calcifereyes) October 18, 2024
“a confident pose”
and anton held up 7 fingers 😁 pic.twitter.com/1NmbVYRtVO
— riize files (@riizefiles) October 18, 2024
RIIZE IS SEVEN YUPP ANTONN pic.twitter.com/NtvEIeYlsx
— elisabeth7️⃣🫧 (@wonsunsunn) October 18, 2024
anton being BRII7E president i see the vision he's literally "😊🖐🏻✌🏻"
alwayswithseunghan#홍승한_고소진행및결과_공지해
sevenornone#RIIZEWITHSEUNGHAN
justiceforseunghan pic.twitter.com/WMvxvWzqBw— BOYCOTT PROJECT (@SEVENRllZE) October 18, 2024
On the other hand, some fans questioned the true intentions by the hand gesture. Since the fansign was held in China, some thought Anton might have been doing the hand sign for 520/”Wo ai ni” (我愛你), a Mandarin phrase that means “I love you.” In China, the number “520” is phonetically similar to “wo ai ni.”
+ they don't just hold up one hand with 5 fingers and the other with 2. they always have to show the fist to symbolize 0 bc it's complete that way. they do it by showing the numbers one by one on one of or both their hands.
(credits to the original owner/source from tiktok!) pic.twitter.com/FHY0kN3I5P
— yenn ☆ 🍉 (@mo0nb4da) October 18, 2024
lastly, this video i found by user @/22ball22 from tiktok again.
all these clearly shows that the 520 pose is done by doing one by one on each or one hand to show all 3 numbers and not just by only holding up 5 and 2 fingers at the same time FOR A WHILE. pic.twitter.com/ydWLGHWGCo
— yenn ☆ 🍉 (@mo0nb4da) October 18, 2024
I don't usually use tiktok as my source of information but google wasn't that helpful and these references are legit.
thank you, Anton, for doing this. this already means a lot.
let us keep on fighting for Riize and seunghan, briize! #NoSevenNoRiize #RIIZEWITHSEUNGHAN
— yenn ☆ 🍉 (@mo0nb4da) October 18, 2024
Still, it didn’t look quite right, making fans believe he was doing OT7 hand sign.
THIS IS HOW YOU DO WO AI NI (520) SIGN https://t.co/9Act8zBM5R
— ً (@jeberene) October 18, 2024
them denying it i can'ttt. this is how they usually do the 520 pose though 😭 https://t.co/SS3MPBXVUS pic.twitter.com/4yIUFDOrMy
— ♡ seunghan will come back (@talkthetrack) October 18, 2024
Consequently, international fans believe the members are making their position on the matter known with a “subtle protest.”
HELP NOT EVEN A DAY ???????💀 https://t.co/a6vjpXSelo pic.twitter.com/b7TUMFSn3B
— 타🪽 (@miuclubb) October 18, 2024
What do you think?
