Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, K-Pop idols sought new ways to connect with fans, leading to the popularity of video call events. As this form of artist-to-fan communication gained traction, companies worked to establish guidelines to protect artists during these interactions, and netizens developed their own fan etiquette to ensure a positive experience for both fans and artists.
Since the inception of fan calls, instances of winners displaying disrespectful or inappropriate behavior have surfaced. In some cases, artists’ staff members had to intervene and prematurely end the calls due to untoward incidents.
Recently, a video call featuring Stray Kids’ Felix went viral, highlighting a disheartening and unnecessary situation faced by the member. The original poster shared the TikTok clip, where they apologized to Felix for changing biases within the group. Despite the awkward revelation, Felix remained professional, attempting to lighten the mood by joking about being “cheated” on.
As the fan call gained attention, netizens expressed their discontent with what they perceived as a disrespectful interaction. Social media trends such as “JYPE PROTECT FELIX” and “RESPECT_FELIX” emerged, with fans calling on JYP Entertainment to implement better measures to safeguard their artists during fan calls.
The incident has sparked discussions about fan etiquette during video call events, with netizens advocating for proactive measures to create a safer space for both idols and fans. This is not the first time Felix has faced what netizens deem as “disrespectful” and “uncomfortable” fan calls, raising concerns about the need for improved guidelines and protection for artists in such interactions.
Source: KB
