Stray Kids’ youngest member, I.N (also known as Jeongin), recently captured the hearts of fans worldwide not just for his performance skills, but for his deep sense of responsibility and kindness.
During the group’s highly anticipated fancon, “STAY in Our Little House,” a momentary accident on stage led to a personal and public display of concern that has since gone viral.
While idols often face chaotic environments during live shows, I.N’s immediate reaction to a potential injury involving a fan highlights the genuine bond between the group and their dedicated fandom, STAY.
The Encore Incident and a Narrow Escape
The event took place during the high-energy encore segment of the fancon. As is tradition for Stray Kids, the members moved away from the main stage to get closer to the audience, walking along the stands to greet fans individually.
Amidst the excitement and flying confetti, the floor had become cluttered with various props and debris.
While I.N was leaning over to gently high-five a fan in the crowd, he lost his footing.
Footage from the event shows the young idol tripping over an object on the floor, nearly taking a dangerous tumble toward the audience.
In a split-second reflex to stabilize himself, I.N reached out and grabbed the nearest available support, which happened to be the hand of the fan he was greeting.
The fan, caught by surprise, became a human anchor for the idol.
Though she did not intentionally pull him, her outstretched arm provided the necessary resistance to keep him from falling face-first onto the hard floor or into the barricades.
Witnesses noted that the momentum was quite strong, and for a moment, the situation looked like it could have resulted in a serious injury for either the artist or the attendee.
A Personal Apology and the Power of Communication
Despite finishing the show with his signature smile, I.N was clearly shaken by the possibility that he might have hurt the person who saved him.
That same night, he took to a popular fan-communication platform to address the incident directly.
His message was filled with both gratitude and a sincere apology, as he worried that his grip might have been too forceful during the panic of the fall.
In his post, I.N shared his thoughts with fans, saying,
“Today was so fun hehe. Sigh… I almost fell down during the encore. I think I was able to do well without getting hurt because a STAY caught me. But I grabbed onto their hand so tight… That I wonder if I didn’t hurt them.”
His vulnerability continued as he added,
“Thanks to the STAY who held on to me. Things could’ve been bad. But they caught me. Today was so fun. Tomorrow is already the last day. I’ll try to do better tomorrow.”
This direct communication served several purposes. First, it showcased I.N’s humility; rather than ignoring the stumble, he prioritized the well-being of the fan.
Second, it cleared up a significant misunderstanding within the fandom. Initial clips of the fall led some online observers to believe that a fan had aggressively pulled I.N toward the crowd, leading to unfair criticism of the attendee.
By clarifying that he was the one who “grabbed onto their hand so tight,” I.N effectively shielded the fan from online backlash.
Following his post, the fan involved reportedly shared that she was completely unharmed and was simply happy to have helped him stay safe.
The incident has left the community praising I.N for his maturity, with many noting that his first instinct after a scary fall was not his own safety, but the comfort of the person standing in front of him.
