Red Velvet’s Irene Fan Signing Event Sparks Allegations of Power Harassment: “Staff Touched My Chest”
On December 9, posts began circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and online communities, where a netizen claimed they were sexually harassed by a security staff member at Red Velvet Irene’s fan signing event.
User A shared the story on behalf of an acquaintance, B, who reportedly experienced the incident. Explaining their decision to bring the matter to light, A stated, “I’m just a Red Velvet fan, and although I’ve faced dehumanizing treatment at fan events before, this incident was truly terrifying.”
A recounted, “They asked B to roll up their sleeves above their elbows and jump up and down (presumably to check for recording devices or equipment) and even asked for permission to touch their body. Fans must follow staff instructions or risk being expelled. How many could confidently say, ‘No, don’t touch me,’ in that situation?”
A also revealed, “At the ‘Cosmic’ fan signing event, a security staff member discreetly stared at the chest area, supposedly to see if anything was hidden there. Even as a same-gender interaction, it was uncomfortable. Why is recording even prohibited? Fans aren’t out to spread malicious content; they often spin things positively.”
Frustrated, A wrote, “If fans attending the events are treated like criminals who might pull out a bomb to threaten the members, then just don’t hold fan signings. Fans endure not being able to get photocards signed, take photos, record, go home before the members, use the restroom, or even look at their phones. But touching our bodies? That’s sexual harassment,” tagging SM Entertainment and Red Velvet’s official accounts.
Another fan commented on the post, sharing a similar experience, “I was also touched under my armpits during a fan signing. I was wearing a padded jacket, and they said, ‘I’m going to touch briefly,’ then proceeded to touch from my arms to my armpits and sides.”
The online community responded with outrage, “How do they view fans?,” “Why go this far when it’s not even free?,” “They should be reported to the Human Rights Commission to wake them up,” “This is stricter than airport security,” “When will this degrading treatment of fans stop?,” and “Fans are precious individuals too.”
This isn’t the first time such issues have come up. Last year, at a fan signing for HYBE’s group &TEAM, fans complained about invasive security checks, like “underwear inspections” and “lifting clothes to check for devices.” These led to sexual harassment allegations and public backlash. HYBE later apologized, promising to improve by using non-contact security measures and ensuring a better experience for fans.
Meanwhile, Irene recently released her first solo album, “Like A Flower,” on November 26, which has been well-received, surpassing 330,000 album sales within its first week.
Source: Daum