Red Velvet's Irene finds herself in the middle of a growing controversy following claims of staff misconduct during a recent fan signing event.
On December 9, a shocking post surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) and various online forums. The post accused a security guard at Irene’s fan signing event of inappropriate behavior towards a fan, leading to a wave of backlash.
A user identified as "A" shared their friend’s experience at the event. "My friend 'B' attended the event, and the treatment they faced was terrifying," A wrote. "While I’ve seen poor treatment at fan signings before, this crossed the line."
According to A, B was subjected to excessive security checks. "They were asked to roll their sleeves above the elbows and jump to ensure no hidden recording devices. When asked, ‘Can I touch your body?’ they felt pressured to say yes, fearing they’d be removed from the event otherwise," A explained.
Although the alleged contact wasn’t directly on the chest, A claimed it was “below the collarbone and above the undergarment.” They questioned, "Why is such an invasive process necessary just to meet an artist? What’s scarier is knowing it could happen again."
A also shared a past experience from another fan signing, where security allegedly “subtly checked the chest area.” They added, “Why treat fans like criminals? If you don’t trust fans, stop holding these events."
The post quickly gained traction, with another fan stepping forward to share their experience. "I was wearing a padded jacket, and they said, ‘Let me touch you briefly,’ then checked my arms, underarms, and sides," the fan claimed.
Online, fans voiced their outrage. Comments flooded in, saying, "Why treat paying fans like this?" , "This is stricter than airport security!", "They need to apologize and change these practices", "If safety is such a concern, just stop holding fan signings" and etc.
This isn’t the first time such allegations have surfaced. Last year, HYBE’s group &TEAM faced similar backlash after fans reported invasive security checks at their fan signings. HYBE later apologized and promised non-contact measures to ensure fans' comfort at future events.
Fans are now urging SM Entertainment and Irene’s team to address the issue. Many have tagged the agency and Red Velvet’s official accounts, demanding accountability.
Meanwhile, Irene’s recent solo debut with her album Like A Flower has been a major success. The album surpassed 330,000 copies in first-week sales and continues to receive love from fans. However, this controversy has cast a shadow over her promotional activities.
As of now, SM Entertainment has not released an official statement regarding the allegations. Fans are watching closely for their response.
Source: [1]
