On October 7, 2024, fans of ENHYPEN expressed their outrage after The New Yorker published an article featuring CEO Bang Si-hyuk, highlighting his significant role in the rise of K-pop. The piece, titled "The K-pop King," discussed various artists under his label HYBE, including BTS, TXT, and the newly formed groups ILLIT and KATSEYE.
However, controversy arose from Bang's comments about ENHYPEN's debut era, where he described the members' aesthetic as "dark and sexy" while reminiscing about their time as trainees.
He noted that they existed in a space between being public figures and not yet celebrities, likening their experience to that of vampires. He stated:
“There’s something really dark and sexy about them. They were not part of the general public, but not celebrities yet. Being of two worlds, but not belonging to either, made me think of vampires.”
ENHYPEN's fans took to social media, highlighting the inappropriateness of Bang’s remarks, especially considering that member Ni-ki was only 13 years old and Heeseung had just turned 19 at the time. A user on X, @secretabandon wrote:
"every piece of information i discover about this man just gets progressively worse each time."
"calling teenagers as young as 13 sexy was certainly a choice," a fan commented.
"WTF THAT FREAKING WEIRDO," an X user wrote.
"The more I see from the article the more nauseating it gets.... that is just creepy," another person mentioned.
"HELLO?? this should not be kept away from engenes, this is so gross, they were all literally minors……. hybe is at it again," a fan remarked.
The remark particularly angered fans, as ENHYPEN members were still minors during their debut.
Fans considered it inappropriate for an adult man to refer to a group of teenage boys as "sexy."
"Wait weren’t they just babies back then? Eww," a fan commented.
"CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHERE THIS CAME FROM????? IT'S DAMN SICK ON THE LORD'S PART, THE MINOR LIT WAS 13 YEARS OLD," an X user mentioned.
Fans express outrage over Bang Si-hyuk's recent comments about ENHYPEN
Giving further details on the "vampire concept" suggested by Bang PD, the publication stated that in 2020, when ENHYPEN was formed through a survival show, the Dark Academia aesthetic was trending on platforms like TikTok, a theme he capitalized on for the group's image.
Under his direction, HYBE established a “story division” that crafts fictional narratives to enhance promotional content, which has included a vampire-themed web novel and an EP titled Dark Blood, featuring a track named Bite Me.
Bang further remarked that the fans' reactions to these themes marked a significant milestone, noting that they embraced the content rather than viewing it as a mere commercial venture.
The latest incident, however, is part of a growing pattern of criticism aimed at Bang Si-hyuk, who has faced backlash previously for various public comments and disputes, including a notable disagreement with former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.
The negative feedback regarding Bang's comments on ENHYPEN seems to reflect a broader dissatisfaction with his management style, suggesting that public sentiment towards the 52-year-old executive continues to decline.