The controversy stems from a past interaction between Hyeri and two popular female idols Yena (formerly of IZ*ONE) and Chaewon of LE SSERAFIM. In the clip, Hyeri asks Yena about her weight at the time. After Yena shares the number, Hyeri brings up Chaewon and remarks, “I can lift Yena up, but I can’t lift Chaewon. There’s a 3kg difference between you two.”
Chaewon appears visibly uncomfortable as her weight becomes the topic of discussion on camera. The moment has led some netizens to accuse Hyeri of subtly body-shaming her junior colleague.
Online forums quickly filled with criticism, with some commenters questioning Hyeri’s image. One harsh remark read, “Why are people surprised? Has Hyeri ever really been the type to support other women?”
Past Attitude Controversies Resurface
Following the renewed backlash, past attitude-related incidents involving Hyeri have also been brought back into discussion. In 2015, Hyeri and her fellow Girl’s Day members were criticized for allegedly displaying rude behavior toward MC Choi Koon during an AfreecaTV broadcast. Viewers claimed the group appeared uninterested and dismissive during filming. The incident led to public criticism, and both the group and Hyeri issued apologies.
Later that same year, Hyeri faced backlash during a music show when she was seen reacting stiffly after senior group Girls’ Generation was announced as the winner on Music Bank.
Even earlier, in 2014, she was criticized by fans of Highlight (then known as BEAST) after mimicking member Son Dong-woon’s greeting at the Melon Music Awards. Although Hyeri later apologized, some netizens questioned the sincerity of her statement.
While Hyeri has built a successful career transitioning from idol to actress, repeated resurfacing of past incidents continues to shape public discourse around her personality. As conversations about body image sensitivity and respectful conduct grow more prominent in the entertainment industry, even older clips are being re-evaluated under today’s standards.
Sources: K14
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