Ahn Bo Hyun’s past scandals brought to light, is it because of fans’ alleged toxic reactions?
Ahn Bo Hyun’s current situation is among many unfortunate cases of stars dating in K-pop.
Short-lived happiness replaced by unexpected criticism
On August 2, BLACKPINK Jisoo publicly announced that she has been dating the “See You in My 19th Life” star Ahn Bo Hyun.
YG Entertainment and FN Entertainment quickly confirmed the news, stating that the two stars were getting to know each other.
On the surface, Ahn Bo Hyun benefited from the sudden surge of attention. However, more than a week after the dating news came out, Ahn Bo Hyun has been the target of negative criticism.
The actor is embroiled in multiple accusations about his bad personality and poor attitude toward women and female staff members. In response, the actor had to address each scandal one by one. The people involved in his controversies also stepped up in defense of the “My Name” actor.
At the same time, Jisoo is also the target of criticism for dating an actor who was “beneath” her, according to netizens.
A gloomy outlook for idols who go public about their relationships
Before Ahn Bo Hyun, other rumored lovers of Jisoo also received the same treatment. Fans criticized Son Heung Min for having a complex past with female idols, under-acknowledging the fact he was a world-famous Korean soccer player.
Other K-pop idols also went through criticisms when they publicly dated someone. Fans turned their back on EXO Chen after he announced marriage and sold all his merchandise. Late SHINee Jonghyun broke up with Shin Se Kyung after he received mounting backlash from fans.
Why are a majority of fans against idols dating?
Idols refrain from dating publicly, partly because their company forbids them from dating, and partly because they don’t want their career to go up in flame due to fans’ backlash.
The issue of idol dating became a buzz on social media. When a Reddit post asked why some fans were against idols dating or having kids, an answer gained major attention and support. The answer focused on the parasocial relationship created between an idol and their fans. When an idol got into a relationship or married, that parasocial connection would be destroyed.
Koreaboo gave a more nuanced take and revealed that the treatment an idol receives varies based on their popularity, seniority in their field, age, the way they reveal their relationship, and the gender ratio of their fandom.
In 2017, when Suzy publicly dated Lee Min Ho, she gained backlash from her male fans but support from her female fans. However, because the actress boasted a good reputation to the general public, she was not heavily affected.
Nonetheless, Taeyeon and EXO Baekhyun received more severe reactions. When the couple was confirmed to be dating in 2014, fans showed overwhelmingly negative reactions, and the couple had to end their relationship almost immediately.
Source: KB, Allkpop, Reddit
