A member of KiiiKiii is facing backlash after making a disparaging comment about a bandmate during a livestream.
During a recent live session, JIYU mentioned “the udon we used to eat as trainees,” when HAUM suddenly joked about SUI, saying her head was “full of udon noodles” ― a jab that reads as “airhead” in Korean ― leaving the room awkward.
When JIYU cautioned that the comment could get her in trouble, HAUM tried to play it off as a joke about SUI’s stomach, then added that SUI was “dumb,” which only stirred more backlash. Other members immediately pushed back, questioning what she was doing and calling the tone disrespectful.
Some viewers chalked it up to roughhousing between close friends, but many fans criticized using a pejorative on a public livestream. With all members 19, calls grew for Starship Entertainment to step in with guidance.
KiiiKiii, labelmates with IVE under Starship Entertainment, is a five-member girl group consisting of JIYU, LEESOL, SUI, HAUM, and KYA. The group debuted in March.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)