However, it is marketed as a global show.
Koreaboo
Starlight Boysan ongoing South Korean and Chinese boy group survival show, recently premiered via iQIYI AND SBS on October 26, 2024. Sixty-nine male competitors from around the world compete for a place in the final top 9. Lee Sung Kyoung is the MC, Lee Seung Gi, BIGBANG’s Daesung, Choi Youngjoon, Hanhae, Kwon Eun Bi, Pentagon’s Hui, THE BOYZ’s Eric, AND Yoon from STAYC they are judges (called “Drivers”).
It has already been criticized with accusations of racism and xenophobia despite being advertised as a global spectacle.
Here, beautiful teenagers from around the world come together to receive professional training at Starlight Academy, pushing boundaries of language and culture and setting the stage with their talent and passion. Through fierce competition and teamwork, they will compete for the opportunity to become a globally recognized super idol. Let’s witness how they are born from starlight and become trending stars!
— iQIYI
Japanese-American intern Mr and Japanese trainee Ryo Kaito executed AB6IXit’s “BREATHE” together. They proved to be a great team, but both showed their individual talents.
Their performance went viral on social media, with 3.3 million views at the time of writing. Many netizens are outraged by the guiders’ decision. In the episode, Syo received no stars.
so you’re telling me this man has zero stars?????????? pic.twitter.com/G7YuMr4P0Y
— 💌 (@yuseopie) October 27, 2024
yes and the other guy got 1 star and he’s really cute 😔 they just don’t have any taste
— Alexa (@arnteness) October 27, 2024
he ate because the mentors talked about it 😭
— kat ✶ ds girl (@kkusuriurii) October 27, 2024
Netizens denounced the guiders’ rudeness towards Syo and felt that their decision-making was completely hypocritical. Syo, who had not learned to dance, was not even given one star for his potential while he was a Korean apprentice Kim Seong Ju received one star despite there being no dance lessons. He was also told he was quite cute, while the other interns were given none because they were apparently “too cute”.
one star for a guy who did NOTHING on stage but zero stars for SYO who consistently sang and danced live??? ok you suck @Starlight_Boys_ #StarlightBoys #SYO pic.twitter.com/lEnLGIcZeM
— 🌪️ (@withSYO_) October 26, 2024
literally a solo korean guy came out after this with ZERO trainee/idol experience who barely had any choreography and no damn charisma or star quality but they gave him one star because he was cute.
we all know exactly why the judges were more critical of Syo than others. https://t.co/mr3H9yNAiA
— cait 💜🫧 especially ia (@taeminstease) October 28, 2024
Netizens also expressed concerns about racism and xenophobia. Syo had said that he is stereotyped because he is half black, as most expect him to portray a hip-hop image.
Xenophobia is at its peak in this show
— Yujingram (@yujingram) October 27, 2024
Also, in preview, the Chinese singer Sun Ying Hao speaks on behalf of the idols and trainees, emphasizing that they are human beings, not machines. Netizens suspect that this occurred in response to the judges’ alleged xenophobia and racism.
nahh this doesn’t suit me in ANY way. we live in a world where we try to have healthy and safe working environments EVEN for kpop idols, trying to exhaust and starve them like in the past, don’t we? #starlightboys pic.twitter.com/wYL012OBR9
— mimi 🤍 VOTE FOR SUN YING HAO!!! (@weipilled) October 27, 2024
please root for him. Even if it’s not your choice, encourage it. he’s defending every intern in that room and risking his chances of debuting while doing so.
— noelle (@midascrush) October 26, 2024
I will not explain the situation further. look up what happened between the judges and SYH, it’s not my job to educate you. learn about the xenophobia he faced on the show.
— noelle (@midascrush) October 26, 2024
While netizens are outraged by the judges’ apparent biases and biases, they encourage each other to vote for Sun Ying Hao, Syo, and all the mistreated contestants.
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