Formed by Jay Park, LNGSHOT have gained attention in the K-pop community, particularly for their track MOONWALKIN’which made waves on streaming platforms, an impressive feat for a debuting group. However, the group’s growing popularity was quickly overshadowed by controversy.
In a recent interview with Harper’s BazaarWoojin cited Tory Lanez as his “role model”. The comment sparked immediate outrage on social media due to the rapper’s criminal record.
Tory Lanez (real name Daystar Peterson) is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in California for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. He was convicted in December 2022 on multiple charges, including assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and sentenced in August 2023. His latest appeal was rejected in November 2025, cementing his incarceration.
Netizens, especially international fans, condemned Woojin’s remark. Criticism spread quickly across Korean online communities, where users did not hold back in expressing their anger. Comments included:
- “Is a man who went to prison for shooting a woman your role model? Why are you an idol?”
- “Do you admire misogynistic violence?”
- “If he were a HYBE artist, there would have already been mass outrage.”
- “Calling someone rotting in prison for shooting a woman your role model is simply unacceptable.”
As the controversy continues to escalate, fans and critics alike are waiting to see if Woojin or his agency will apologize or clarify the statement. For now, the incident has left a damaging impression and will likely increase scrutiny on Woojin and LNGSHOT’s image moving forward.
Sources: TP, X
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