“When Will Y’all Ever Learn?” — Internet Reacts to Alleged Stalking of RIIZE Fans and Altercations with Bodyguards Outside Hotel

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, multiple videos showcasing RIIZE members being followed by some fans in Shanghai gained significant traction online. The footage also depicted Chinese netizens engaging in physical confrontations with the group’s bodyguards, attempting to get closer to capture footage of the members. This behavior sparked a wave of criticism from fans worldwide, expressing concern over the harassment and disruption caused to RIIZE.

Earlier, on October 18, 2024, SM Entertainment’s rookie boy band, RIIZE, hosted a fan signing event in Guangzhou, Shanghai, where they interacted with their supporters. During this event, Seunghan demonstrated his solidarity with former RIIZE members by performing the “7-finger”gesture, symbolizing their original principle that “RIIZE is 7.”

To provide context, Seunghan was ousted from the group after an 11-month hiatus that lasted from November 2023 to October 2024. His absence was largely due to a controversy revolving around his reported smoking and dating, after private photos of him surfaced online.

Following the incidents on October 20, international fans observed that RIIZE’s Anton appeared visibly unsettled as several fans shoved their phone cameras in his direction for photographs. Moreover, a group of fans stalked the members to their hotel, raising serious safety concerns for the artists.

Fans took to social media to admonish the individuals behind these invasive actions, voicing their frustration:

“When will people ever learn?”

Many RIIZE supporters pointed out the moral issues surrounding how K-pop idols are treated, asserting that such figures deserve respect as human beings rather than being viewed as “dolls.”They expressed empathy for the group members:

“The audacity to invade their personal space with cameras as if their feelings don’t matter; they’re treating them like dolls,”a fan commented.

“It’s astonishing seeing Anton upset repeatedly over the last week…,”another fan noted.

“Those ‘fans’ forget he’s an Aries… pushing him could lead to an outburst,”another follower added.

Many expressed concern for Anton’s well-being based on his demeanor in various clips, suggesting that his frustration was evident, and some encouraged him to firmly respond to invasive fans:

“Anton should start flipping off anyone who shoves their phone in his face,”a fan suggested.

“The boys have seemed so drained; they look perpetually stressed, even when they appear happy. It’s heartbreaking what OT6 has caused,”another fan remarked.

“This is not okay. Why do people think this behavior is acceptable? They need to be free of disrespectful and intrusive fans,”a fan expressed.

Global Fans and Major K-pop Retailers Unite in Boycott Following Seunghan’s Departure from RIIZE

On October 13, 2024, Wizard Production, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment, announced Seunghan’s removal from RIIZE. This announcement came just 48 hours after the company had confirmed his return to the group. Notably, on October 12, a group of Korean netizens sent protest wreaths to SM Entertainment, demanding his exit from RIIZE.

Following the announcement, fans across the globe criticized the company and the toxic culture within Korean entertainment that penalizes K-pop idols for dating.

Numerous prominent international K-pop retailers, such as SubK Shop, KPOPNARA, and Stardust K-pop, joined the boycott by halting all sales and shipments of RIIZE’s albums. Over 121 K-pop retail outlets from the United States, India, Germany, and beyond have participated in this movement.

Here’s a list of notable international retailers within the K-pop sales landscape that have supported the boycott:

Kpop Castle, Florida
SubK Shop
Oppang K-pop Store, North Carolina
KPOPNARA, New York City
KPOPNARA, Chicago
EVEPINK, Texas
Boutique Musica, France
TAI YOU Store, France
yumekonbini, Italy
Stardust K-pop Shop, Italy
House of K-pop, Singapore
Kpop Bazaar, Australia
Kboo Store, Spain
LightUbK, Canada
Hey!Hallyu, Netherlands
Copenhagen Kpop, Denmark
Saranghello, San Francisco
Sarah & Tom, Canada
Kaido Italia K-pop Shop, Italy
kpop1004, Canada, and the USA
KSPACE, Czechia
12KST Shop, California
Sokollab, the United Kingdom
Kpop Store, Georgia (USA)
Chorusaruma, Saudi Arabia
Cookie Kshop, India
Saranpop Kpop Store, Cambodia
Artbox, Canada
Kpopalbum.khstore, Cambodia
All Korea, Qatar
KPOP.RS, Serbia
iPurple, Europe
Kpop Gateway, Virginia
Choice Music, Los Angeles
I Heart Kpop, Australia (Brisbane)
CNA K-Pop, the Philippines
KKANGZ and Kpopstopnz, New Zealand
Kpop Nara, Woodfield
Moonlight Mart, Aurora
Kpop merch by Choc Choc, Chicago
kpopofchicago, Chicago
Seoul Stop, the Philippines
Kpop Kingdom, Virginia
Kpopzone, Denver
Kpopdistrict, the United Kingdom
Nola, Germany
SeoulStation, Germany
Kpopowo, Poland
Kpop Store, Poland
KpopSzop, Poland
K Stars, the United Kingdom
Kpop.mo
K-pop utopia, Wisconsin
Which Chulien, the Philippines
soundbloom, Florida
Kloud Kpop, California
Ploghvey Kpop, Tennessee
Kpop Time, Australia
Kpopfriends, Australia
Daebak, Germany
Jamais Vu Kpop Shop, the United Kingdom
BD Kpop Corner, Bangladesh
Aegyo Kpop Store, Germany
The Happy Store, the Philippines
At Dessert Eats, San Diego
Cokodive
Kpop Fanstore, Indonesia
Smoke Shop, Chile
Kpoppin USA, Florida
Tokki-Shop, Germany
Daestore, France
DICO KPOP STORE, Chile
Uri Shop, Chile
Krmerch, Singapore
Kingdom of Kpop and More, North Carolina
Kpop SA, Texas
Neo Tokyo, Germany
Akira, Canada
Momo Store, Spain
The Korner, Germany
Impact Store, Spain
Pig Rabbit Shop, Spain
The K-Pop Empire, Washington D.C.
Oh Seoul Happy, North Carolina
K Town, Canada
Wondernara
Chingu Dachi, the Philippines
Kpop n More, Tennessee
n.cat, the Philippines
Yumiko, Poland
Poppe Shop, the Philippines
Kandy Pop, California
iMusic Shop, Denmark
Super Dragon Toys, Belgium
Soojib, the United Kingdom
K-moon, Italy
The Sounds Store, Netherlands
Pink Box, Texas
Kpop Nation, the USA
Hallyu Hamke
Onnigom, Finland
Eri Shoppe, the Philippines
KorK, Missouri
Kyyo and Lilakshop, the United Kingdom
Bak Bak K-store, Europe
Peach Blossom Shop, Ukraine
Froggoshop, Ukraine
Kstory Espana, Spain
Chuchucherry, the United Kingdom
Kaepjjang Shop, France
Cheng Gong, Italy
Nat’s Idea Kpop, Poland
VT Carrollton, Texas
Kpop Republic, California
Kpop Pink Store, California
Melashy World, Puerto Rico
Shopluxc, Mexico
Dongsong Shop, Mexico
idollmusic, South Carolina
Variaworld, Netherlands
Kplace USA, California

Currently, the members of RIIZE include Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee, and Anton. They made their comeback with the mini-album “RIIZING,”released on June 17, 2024.

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