The prominent dancers Honey J and AIKI from 'Street Woman Fighter' have come under fire for inappropriate remarks in a YouTube reaction video. Particularly, just a day earlier, Honey J received praise for delivering a 'national heritage level performance' during the BUMSUP mega crew mission stage, making the shock and disappointment among fans even greater.
The controversy began on the 21st from a reaction video posted on dancer Hyojin Choi's YouTube channel, 'Today is Also Choi Hyojin,' which features Mnet's 'World of Street Woman Fighter' (Street Woman Fighter 2). In the video, Honey J found herself in the spotlight after making the remark, 'Hey, is that dancing? That's XXing,' after watching the performance of the Japanese crew Danica. Some viewers took the remark as sexually harassing and expressed strong criticism.
In the same video, AIKI also fueled the controversy by using the insult, 'You XXing b*tch.' Following the video's release, disappointment among fans continued, and the two quickly moved to apologize.
On the 22nd, Honey J expressed through her social media, 'I deeply apologize to those who were hurt by my careless words and to the many who support me for the disappointment and discomfort I have caused,' adding, 'The intense expressions I made in the heat of the moment were thoughtless and unacceptable.' She continued, 'I directly conveyed my apology to the dancers of the opposing crew,' and stated, 'I feel acutely aware of my shortcomings in not properly recognizing the weight of my expressions.'
She noted, 'Through this incident, I realized how much impact one’s words and actions can have,' and stated, 'From now on, I will not take any words lightly. I will deeply engrave all criticisms in my heart and act more cautiously.'
The reason why this controversy surrounding Honey J feels even more regrettable is that just a day prior, she was receiving enthusiastic responses. The mega crew mission stage of BUMSUP, which was unveiled on the 18th through Mnet's official YouTube channel, 'The Dance,' surpassed 11.13 million views as of the 21st, garnering explosive reactions.
Honey J expressed on SNS on the 21st, 'Surpassing 10 million views in 3 days. Thank you very much,' conveying her gratitude to her fans. 'I'm relieved that many people recognized the meaning I wanted to convey, and as various interpretations are added, the work is deepening,' she remarked, expressing humility by saying, 'I hope to do well in the future.' Jay Park cheered, saying, 'Honey J, and that comment was really dope,' while fellow dancers Hyojin Choi and Leejung applauded with messages like, 'Our leader is the best,' and 'That was insane. You did it.'
Meanwhile, the stage led by Honey J received high praise as a 'national heritage-level choreography' for its original direction that encompasses both tradition and modernity, showcasing a new possibility for K-dance.
However, fans cannot hide their disappointment and sadness at the recent backlash over the insults, which erupted before the aftermath of praise had even faded. In just one day, from accolades to apologies, this incident has left deep reflections and heavy lessons for dancers Honey J and AIKI.
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