Red Velvet’s Seulgi recently faced backlash from netizens after being seen swapping shoes with her manager at the airport. She had injured her foot while practicing and traded her uncomfortable high heels for her manager’s sneakers. Some netizens criticized Seulgi, accusing her of pressuring her manager to change shoes or suggesting that her manager may have been uncomfortable in Seulgi’s ill-fitting high heels.
In response to the criticism, Seulgi issued an official apology this morning. She explained the circumstances of her foot injury and apologized multiple times to her manager and anyone else affected by the incident for any possible discomfort caused.
The apology, however, sparked further controversy. Many netizens questioned the necessity of the apology and came to Seulgi’s defense online. They also raised concerns about the intense scrutiny and criticism idols face in their everyday lives. Hundreds of K-netizens expressed their support for Seulgi, arguing that the backlash was unwarranted.
One netizen commented, “It’s really tiring to see people criticizing something without knowing the full situation.” Another added, “Why are people so angry? It’s not like it was a huge scandal, just a temporary change of shoes.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I didn’t think it was an abuse of power. People guessing everything about the situation and getting mad are the ones who look strange,” and “It’s so sad that she even had to write an apology.”
Many netizens pointed out that Seulgi’s actions did not seem disrespectful or abusive. “People should look in the mirror before they throw rocks at someone,” one netizen advised, while another commented, “It seems there are many people these days who enjoy bullying and harassing others.”
Defenders of Seulgi argued that such situations can happen in life, suggesting that the manager might have been the one who proposed the shoe swap in the first place. “Situations like this can happen in life. Of course, the manager is probably the one who suggested they switch shoes in the first place,” one supporter noted.
The incident highlights ongoing debates about the level of scrutiny and criticism that K-pop idols face, with many netizens calling for more understanding and empathy towards celebrities in their everyday lives.
