SM Entertainment Accused Of Discrimination Against Fans

Red Velvet held a public fansign on July 8, 2024. The fansign was held at a public area with many passersby. A clip of Irene has gone belatedly viral after fans realized just how discriminatory SM Entertainment is against fans.

NCT Wish recently held a public fansign at Coex Mall on July 28, 2024. Fans complained after the event, claiming that security guards had prevented them from watching on the sidelines.

Public fansigns usually allow passersby or fans who did not win a slot to watch from the side, while those who won slots would be seated in front of the stage.

코엑스 공팬 진짜 속상하다…
늦잠 자서 갈 생각 못하다가 하이디라오 예약 때문에 2시쯤 갔음
사이드 펜스 쳐져있는 곳 앞에 아무도 없길래 ?? 하면서 섰더니 바로 씨큐가 저리 가라고 함
그래서 머글인 척 뭐하는데요? 왜 서있으면 안 되는데요? 따지니까 아무말도 못하길래 걍 섰는데 내가…

— 먀 (@Qoo_yummy) July 28, 2024

I’m really upset at the public fansign at Coex… I slept in, so I didn’t think about going to have a looksee, but I went because I had a reservation at Hai Di Lao that day. I went around 2pm, and saw that no one was standing at the fences by the side, so I stopped and stood there. The security guards came to me right away and told me to go away. So I pretended to be a non-fan and asked, ‘what event is this? Why can’t I stand here?’ They couldn’t say a thing as I questioned them, so i ended up being allowed to stand there. When other fans copied me and came over, the guards immediately started acting up. They’re so friendly to non-fans, but act up against fans who are spending money… I don’t know if this should be so.

— Qoo_yummy

A Red Velvet fan stepped in with a video of Irene standing up for the fans. Fans who had won slots had not been allowed to take photos of the girls at a public fansign, while passersby and non-fans were allowed to do so. Irene immediately spoke up and allowed the fans to take photos.

이짓을 아직도 하네 pic.twitter.com/NYIbZ5y0Hj https://t.co/RwkP3VqXYN

— 시루 (@siluuuuuux) July 29, 2024

Netizens sided with the fans, accusing SM Entertainment of “reverse discrimination.” While they should be treating fans better than non-fans, they seem to be doing the opposite.

Screenshot 2024-07-30 at 3.27.47 AM — | *theqoo*

So it’s okay for passersby, but not fans who are spending good money? Are they trying to go against the capitalistic society?
Logically, is this right?
The fans are right.
The fans said the right things. Isn’t this reverse discrimination?
Honestly, we have to boycott the idol culture to some extent… Otherwise it won’t change.
So cool of Irene.
Honestly, they’re right.

It seems like similar things have been going on for awhile, given how fandoms across generations are equally frustrated.

Source: theqoo