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On Sunday, October 20, 2024, several clips of RIIZE members being stalked by a few fans in Shanghai went viral online. Some clips also showed Chinese netizens trying to get past their security detail by fighting with the bodyguards to film the group members. This invited global backlash toward those netizens for inconveniencing RIIZE and allegedly harassing them.
On Friday, October 18, 2024, SM Entertainment's rookie boyband, RIIZE, held their fan sign event in Guangzhou, Shanghai, China, where they met their fans. In a gesture of rebelling against their company and showing support for former RIIZE members, Seunghan did the "7-finger" pose to represent the band's original ethos that "RIIZE is 7."
For the unversed, Seunghan was removed from the group after an 11-month hiatus (November 2023 to October 2024). He was on a hiatus because he became embroiled in a dating and smoking controversy after his pictures of allegedly smoking a cigarette and kissing his reported girlfriend went viral online.
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Meanwhile, on October 20, international fans noted that RIIZE's Anton looked disturbed and uncomfortable as a few fans tried to shove their phone cameras on him to click his pictures. Furthermore, some fans stalked the group to their hotel and wanted to film them, which caused safety concerns for the members.
Fans lashed out at those netizens who allegedly jeopardized the K-pop group's safety and wrote:
"when will y'all ever learn"
RIIZE's fans also highlighted how unethical it is to treat K-pop idols as "dolls" and not humans and sympathized with the band members.
"The audacity to shove cameras in their faces like nothing is happening, zero respect, it's like they are mocking them "you are a doll, your feelings doesn't matter, you'll do whatever we want"," a fan wrote.
"This is the first time I've seen anton angry more than 3 times in the span of a week..." another fan emohasized.
"Those "fans" forget he is an aries … y’all push him to his limits, one day he’s gonna lost it," one other fan added.
Fans reacted to Anton's appearance in many clips, stating that he appeared pissed at the circumstances. They expressed their anger and suggested that Anton should have started "flipping off" the phones of those alleged fans.
"I need anton to start flipping off the fans who shove their phones to his face next time," one fan commented.
"The boys over the last week have looked so heavy, they just look constantly stressed and tired even when they look ‘happy’ I just feel so bad for them like this is what ot6 have done," another fan mentioned.
"This is not normal. why do they think this is okay. I hate this, free them from rude and invasive fans," another fan remarked.
International fans and major K-pop retail stores join global boycott over Seunghan's removal from RIIZE
On October 13, 2024, SM Entertainment's subsidiary label, Wizard Production, announced that Seunghan had been removed from RIIZE. The news followed 48 hours after the label confirmed Seunghan's return to the group after an 11-month hiatus. However, on October 12, some Korean netizens sent protest wreaths to SM Entertainment, demanding his removal from RIIZE.
As soon as the label announced his exit from the group, international fans lashed out at the company and Korean netizens for their "toxic" culture that crucified K-pop idols for dating. They trended hashtags like #NO_SEUNGHAN_NO_PEACE, #SMwantsourmoneynotouropinion, #SMSupportsBullying, and more, and called a global boycott.
Major international K-pop retailers, including SubK Shop, KPOPNARA, and Stardust K-pop, joined the boycott, suspending RIIZE's album stocking and sales. Over 121 K-pop retail stores across the United States, India, Germany, and more joined the movement.
Here is the complete list of major international retailers from the K-pop sales business who have joined the boycott:
- Kpop Kastle, Florida
- SubK Shop
- Oppang K-pop Store, North Carolina
- KPOPNARA, New York City
- KPOPNARA, Chicago
- EVEPINK, Texas
- Boutique Musica, France
- Boutique TAI YOU, 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
- Nolae, Germany
- SeoulStation, Germany
- Kpopowo, Poland
- Sklep Kpopowy, Poland
- KpopSzop, Poland
- K Stars, the United Kingdom
- Kpop.omo
- K-pop utopia, Wisconsin
- Aling 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
- U Desser Eats, San Diego
- Cokodive
- Kpop Fanstore, Indonesia
- Tienda Humo, 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, RIIZE consists of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee, and Anton. The group released their comeback mini-album, RIIZING, on June 17, 2024.
