Stray Kids’ Bangchan Defends Girl Group Amid Fan Backlash

Bangchan Faces Backlash After Calling Out Fans for Disrespecting TWICE

Bangchan, leader of Stray Kids, is in the spotlight after openly criticizing his own fans for disrespecting senior girl group TWICE.

The controversy began when Stray Kids announced their Latin American tour, STRAYCITY, on May 22 (KST), revealing concert dates in Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico. This sparked excitement among SKZ fans but upset many TWICE fans. TWICE had canceled plans to add Latin American stops to their ongoing tour, leading some fans to accuse JYP Entertainment of favoring Stray Kids over TWICE.

Fans took to Twitter blaming the agency:

“same dates twice were supposedly coming… what exactly do they expect us to think? jype is the worst company ever” — ria (@iny3album)

“So you’re telling me TWICE has 0 shows in LATAM while SKZ gets a whole ass STRAYCITY? The misogyny in this company is sooo disgusting.” — ICONIC ONCE (@ICONICONCE)

“So JYP sacrifice Twice in Latam to focus on them huh?” — i saw Nayeon (@entenzibly)

The situation escalated as the two fandoms exchanged insults about each other’s groups. Then, Bangchan shocked fans by stepping in directly.

While he didn’t address the claims that Stray Kids “stole” TWICE’s Latin American tour dates, Bangchan firmly called out his fans for disrespecting TWICE. He urged them to:

“just appreciate and be grateful for TWICE,”

adding that the TWICE members are his friends and he holds them in high respect.

Bangchan’s message sparked mixed reactions online. Many TWICE fans praised him for speaking up:

“bangchan has always been alright with me, ever since we found out he snuck food for the girls” — Tzuyus❾nly (@tzulovelyy)

“I may not like his fuck ass fandom but Bang Chan I fuck with you heavy” — ⁹ (@twjyjeong)

“i don’t even go here but i really respect him for speaking up for twice against stays, he didn’t have to do it and he knew it’d upset some fans but he said it anyway” — lala ⋆‧°????ּ???? (@channieluuvr)

On the other hand, some Stray Kids fans expressed disappointment and anger, accusing Bangchan of siding with another fandom at their expense:

“@bangchan love you bad but i only care about stray kids you can keep that gratitude to yourself because their fandoms drag skz daily and the girls don’t even mention you anymore bye” — ☆ (@_lyneho)

“your noonas dont say a single word when their fans dehumanize you unprovoked and call you disgusting names but hey” — dibs (@dibsondiva)

“The idea that Chan watches fanwars and then goes and defends another group, treating STAYs like they’re children and stupid, and saying we should be grateful to every group he’s grateful to is disgusting! Who asked you to talk about something that doesn’t concern you?” — ᵈᵒ ⁱᵗ (@03SKZ25)

” Ass kissing isn’t getting anyone anywhere btw, I’ve stopped defending him personally since forever, most of you don’t have pride and would like to be treated like fools. Stay strong out there.” — (@0325ism)

Some fans from both sides called for peace, urging fandoms to stop the fighting for the sake of the artists:

“need a twice member to do this bc both fucking fandoms to fucking annoying hating on twice and skz” — ???????????????????????? (@AgentSheryl)

“Nah. Cause who took it too far? Yall know skz and especially Chan respects twice soo much. And both groups clearly like each other. So why tf are the fandoms fighting??? Just be grateful for once and stop engaging with the miserable ppl on this app, it’s not that hard. ” — ༺༻ | Hellmate (@cherrisugrsweet)

As the feud continues, Bangchan’s call for respect highlights the tension between the two fandoms amid the Latin American tour controversy.