The group is going through everything.
On October 11, 2024 (KST), BOY NEXT DOOR left for Madrid from Incheon International Airport. To the press and fans waiting at the airport, the members showed theirs Apple products, such as iPhone and AirPods.
Although they were assumed to be harmless, the members’ actions ended up triggering a strong response from Korean netizens, especially considering how SAMSUNG they had cared for them as long as their collaboration lasted.
BOYNEXTDOOR is criticized for allegedly disrespecting Samsung
Herald Corp also reported that Samsung expressed discontent with the idol group’s behavior.
A Samsung representative said: ‘Celebrities really don’t have much of an impact when it comes to cell phone marketing. So, perhaps, collaborating with celebrities who are true Samsung Galaxy fans would be less pretentious and more attractive to the target audience.’
– Herald Corp
Fast forward a week, on October 19, 2024 (KST), the members of BOYNEXTDOOR were spotted at the airport, departing from Incheon International Airport once again. This time the atmosphere was much less pro-Apple, given the backlash members received, but, without members addressing the backlash, the trolling remained at large. A Korean media outlet, Sportainers, shared the video of the group’s sighting at the airport with an abrasive headline “The Departure of BOYNEXTDOOR: Apple Boys of This Galaxy!”
Comments under the video and in online communities also mocked the group.
- “I’m sure the members will never do something like this again, but what happened, happened. It’s inevitable. This group will forever be mocked for the Apple issue.”
- “Well, the members first mocked Samsung. So… they kind of asked for it. It’s a shame that they don’t explain or apologize.
- “LMAO. They brought it on themselves.
In addition to teasing, BOYNEXTDOOR members also had to endure mobbing. Newsen moments captured from the group’s walk through the airport, with fans getting too close and behaving uncivilized.
Fans expressed concern at how uncomfortable and intimidated the members seemed, asking each other to do better.
- “I see a lot of rude people… If the guards hadn’t been there, the members wouldn’t have been able to move and would have gotten hurt. Even with the guards, these so-called fans run against the members. This is the worst starter video I’ve ever seen. Even the latest starter video continues to get a lot of hateful comments. Remember that we, as fans, also make BOYNEXTDOOR’s reputation. Please act like adults and stop doing things that harm the group.”
- “Ugh… I feel like the fandom has gotten messier.”
- “Oh, no… What is this? Taesan and Sungho were almost crushed between the doors. Woonhak and Riwoo appear to smile fakely. And it looks like Jaehyun is going to burst into tears at any moment. Those people are not fans. They are sasaengS.”
Will BOYNEXTDOOR find some peace at the airport next time? Fans certainly hope so.
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