In Episode 2 of Mnet’s “BOYS II PLANET”, aired on July 25, the show featured the training process for the signal song test. With debut preparations officially underway, the master panel provided rigorous feedback and coaching to push the trainees toward improvement.
A major spotlight was placed on the selection of members for the signal song’s killing part, as well as for the rap and dance units. Zhou An Xin, despite his dedication during practice, made a fatal off-key mistake during his performance. The vocal mistake was significant, prompting him to express concern, “I think I’ll be demoted to 2-star.”
The masters initially withheld a final judgment, issuing a “grade pending” status. However, to the surprise of many, Zhou An Xin ultimately maintained his All-Star rank and was even selected for the killing part, taking the coveted center position. His visual appeal quickly went viral online, drawing attention despite his earlier mistake.
This situation mirrored that of another trainee, Lee Sang Won—a former BigHit trainee and debut front-runner—who also experienced pitch issues in the July 24 broadcast of “Planet K” but still retained his All-Star status.
These developments have left many viewers questioning the show’s fairness. Online commentary includes criticisms such as “Isn’t this biased?” and “It’s clear the production is favoring certain trainees.” Accusations of preferential treatment have reignited distrust toward Mnet’s survival format.
This comes six years after the infamous “Produce X 101” rigging scandal, where X1—formed from the show’s final lineup—was disbanded following revelations of vote manipulation. The show’s producer was later sentenced to two years in prison for tampering with paid SMS vote results.
Adding to the controversy, one of the current “BOYS II PLANET” contestants from CJ ENM subsidiary WakeOne was introduced as an “independent trainee” on air, only for the truth to surface later. Following public backlash, WakeOne apologized and terminated the contract with the trainee.
Now, with WakeOne-related issues resurfacing and All-Star status maintained for Zhou An Xin and Lee Sang Won despite mistakes—while skilled vocalists like DRIPPIN’s Lee Hyeop are eliminated—viewers are expressing growing frustration. As a result, “BOYS II PLANET” is facing serious backlash for its alleged lack of transparency and fairness, just a few episodes into its season.
Daum
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