Well-Known HYBE Idols Face Heartbreak Following Company’s Mismanagement Post-Debut
SEVENTEEN is facing controversy over harsh treatment after debut, revealed by members Seungkwan and DK.
The backlash started with Seungkwan’s show Boo Seungkwan’s Bibabu, where DK appeared to promote their unit debut. They talked openly about strict and painful experiences under Pledis Entertainment.
Seungkwan dramatized it by saying,
“That’s when World War II starts.”
Both idols detailed getting scolded for simple things like bringing bags into training rooms. Phones had to be handed in and were off-limits for a whole year during promotions.
Pledis even scolded them for trying to make friends with idols from other groups. The members couldn’t even rest properly — Seungkwan said they had to wake each other up while commuting to schedules because they weren’t allowed to sleep.
The pressure extended to their bodies. Seungkwan admitted he gained weight due to the tough schedule and food, but getting scolded if clothes didn’t fit.
Fans are outraged. Many called this child abuse since half of SEVENTEEN were minors or barely adults when debuting. The treatment wasn’t just for debut year but started predebut.
Here’s some Twitter reactions:
this is abuse. child abuse. i hope all of pledis burns down
— tiny issue club: yaoi committee (@boonisol)
When they debuted, half of them were minors and the other half were barely 18 or 19. What Pledis did was literally child abuse. And it wasn’t limited to their debut year, as they had been suffering this mistreatment since predebut…
— ｃｅｌｅ | ⁴³ ⁴⁴ (@passsage_)
no privacy + no rest + no social life + overworked + body shamed + facing immense pressure + in the public eye i guess u can really only laugh bc the alternative is to riot
— boozi eater (@321gyu)
feeling like a criminal for sleeping is actually crazy what happened to basic human rights wtf
— ren | 문해 (@soobsungie)
No wonder why:
-DK and SK said they couldn’t do it again (BibbidiBobbidiBoo)
-Woozi said he just did it angrily (Nana Tour)
-Joshua got drained to the point of quitting
-Jeonghan saying to Joshua “You quit, I quit”
Our boys really endured so much just to achieve their dreams
— BBHumbleEris (@BBHumble_04)
The full video from Boo Seungkwan’s Bibabu is below to watch for yourself.