From Hype to Heartbreak? K-Pop trainee turned independent artist, Beomhan, faced harsh online criticism after the release of his debut “Me Myself & I”.
Beomhan wasn’t a stranger to the spotlight. Fans followed his journey as a trainee through social media updates and fan events, witnessing his struggles and celebrating his triumphs. This fostered a unique bond between him and his supporters, who cheered him on every step of the way.
Me Myself & I
But even after leaving FM Entertainment and chasing his dream independently, Beomhan wasn’t immune to the harsh realities of online scrutiny.
His January 31st debut with “Me, Myself & I” was met with mixed reactions, some veering into the harsher side of online K-Pop culture. Brutal criticism flooded online spaces, raining down on Beomhan’s creation.
beomhan solo being hot doodoo serves him right for being an unfunny pick me pic.twitter.com/0bwISxxRVv
— nourahae yoohoo (@zozyjh) January 31, 2024
‘Unannouncing’ his debut
Unlike many idols who stay guarded from online commentary, Beomhan acknowledged it. While seemingly lighthearted, his subsequent message on Instagram revealed the negativity’s deeper impact.
I hate that he even posted this. I'm not a die hard beomhan stan by any means but Jesus christ people have some basic kindness for a guy who put so much work into debuting independently after being mistreated by his company for so long. pic.twitter.com/9t1vKjpXCy
— mack – coming to you LIVE (@avibeyvillain) January 31, 2024
Fans worried that he had internalized the hateful comments, saddened that he felt the need to apologize for his debut.
Muting his voice
But the situation took an even more concerning turn when Beomhan released a new performance video for “Me, Myself & I” titled “MUTE VERSION.”
The title spoke volumes. With vocals silenced, only the dance remained, leaving fans to wonder if the criticism had pushed him to mute his voice.
The reality of being an idol
This incident shows the dark side of K-Pop fandom. While constructive criticism plays a role in artistic growth, negativity, and personal attacks can get too much for someone.
https://twitter.com/crynte/status/1752978657390493711
Seriously fuck kpop stans. You all claim to care about idols’ mental health but none of you give a shit. I don’t care how bad you think Beomhan’s song is. It does not warrant the atrocious comments that are being made toward him.
— Ray 🕸 (@spideryeo) February 1, 2024
Fans rally behind Beomhan
Remember, idols are people with dreams and feelings, worthy of respect regardless of musical preferences. When expressing opinions, choose empathy and kindness over hurtful remarks.
hating on beomhan when we as a community already know how bad his mental health is pic.twitter.com/xsiY0bbu2A
— sev! is seeing W2E🧟♀️ (@gemfotlover) February 1, 2024
If you disagree with a song, offer genuine feedback that focuses on specific aspects and suggests improvement. Silence can be powerful too. Instead of perpetuating negativity, uplift fellow fans and artists, celebrate successes and offer constructive feedback when necessary.
I will go down FIGHTING for Beomhan bro, you do not understand. Not only has he helped me through some dark ass times, he also just straight up DOESN'T deserve this shit pic.twitter.com/NDQGxvzzJu
— ·˚Ellis (or Elliot apparently)₊˚ˑ (@starsbecomelost) January 31, 2024
Well, I’m still proud of Beomhan for making an effort
Yall like to act like you could have done better ,, pic.twitter.com/HQFZZLpQ7b— riize is 7 #boycottSM🪴| saw svt 8.14🧡 (@ming__carat) February 1, 2024
