K-Pop Fans Accuse Mexican Talk Show Hosts For 'Sexually Harassing' Super Junior Idols
Some Mexican talk show hosts were slammed by K-pop fans for alleged aggressive and inappropriate behavior towards a member of Korean boy band Super Junior. However, some netizens called the kissing incident as "normal" in the Mexican culture.
The K-pop group Super Junior is currently on a world tour. Among the stops for their Super Junior World Tour Super Show 7 was in Mexico. During their stay in the country, the K-pop idols appeared on the popular talk show Monste & Joe.
The Super Junior appearance on the show sparked controversy after the hosts unexpectedly kissed the Korean artists. One host wrapped her arms around Leeteuk and kissed him on the cheek. Another female host abruptly kissed Siwon on the lips. Shindong also got a kiss from the same host, but the K-pop idol reciprocated the gesture with a kiss, too.
Some fans were not pleased with what they had watched and accused the Mexican TV hosts of inappropriate behavior towards the Korean singers. Fans took to social media sites and K-pop community forums to express their disappointment. Allegations of sexual harassment against the hosts for forcibly kissing the Super Junior members were shared online. Some also called out the Mexican hosts.
"@MontseYJoe @Montserrat33 why u still did it to super junior at your show? I know Mexico has many cultures. You should look at their faces. They were uncomfortable. How can you kiss someone on the lips whom or whose culture you don't know? This isn't entertaining but disrespectful," one fan wrote on Twitter.
"Some even try to pass it off by saying 'Oh it's our culture' and 'It's normal here' I am so mad!!" another fan commented.
Other fans, however, argued that there is nothing inappropriate in the kissing incident and the Super Junior members themselves doesn't seem bothered by the kiss. Many Super Junior fans find it "cute" and "normal," saying many only find it unacceptable because of cultural differences. Another pointed out that is it common in the Latin American culture to give a friendly kiss on the cheek.
There are also fans who explained that it was actually a Super Junior member who starting teasing the hosts. Apparently, when one of Monste & Joe show hosts told the Super Junior members to take their seat, Leeteuk jokingly asked if he could sit on her lap. In return, she kissed him on the cheek.
But, furious fans fired back by comparing the incident if the guests were female K-pop members and the hosts are male. The fan said it would definitely spark outrage from everyone.
"If SNSD had been on a Mexican talk show and a male host had Taeyeon sit on his lap and kissed the members pretty sure it would be a different reaction," a fan said.
Super Junior is currently promoting their latest repackaged album Replay and its lead track "Lo Siento." The song features the K-pop group and U.S.-born Spanish singer Leslie Grace. "Lo Siento" debuted at the No. 1 spot on iTunes Top Albums in 31 countries and No.2 on the World Digital Song Sales Chart. It also peaked at No.13 on Billboard's Latin Digital Song Sales chart, making the Super Junior the first ever K-pop artist to be featured on the said chart.
